I think using firebrick just behind the cans and covering the entire rear portion would tend to hold heat a while after the sun fades. What do you folks think?
Consider a 2'x2'x5' box filled with 4 - 6" rocks paint it all black. Fully insulated or with one side glassed in & taking sun. Flow your heated air thru & it will act like a heat sink/store.
This solar furnace is now disconnected. It worked as advertized while in operation. The foam liner behind the cans expanded enough to pop the silicone seal out at the bottom and middle so it's no longer sealed.The white vinyl hoses cracked and are unable to move air anymore. I'm thinking of a second attempt with the same frame using copper pipe embedded in cement as a thermal mass, with no glass involved. Thinking it through right now.
I had a storm door with two pieces of tempered glass which had broken off it's hinges so I used the glass. I routed the edge the same thickness of the glass then put a bead of clear silicone in the trough set the glass in and held with clear packing tape. I over lapped the glass in the middle about an inch.
So far works great, but when there's no sun dosen't work at all. heat drops off quick. This one lets air travel up through the cans so it can pick up heat, There is no problem harvesting the heat if its sunny so I don't think having thermal mass would be useful as it would still cool off within a half hour.
a buddy just made this design for a window but with sand. It gets up to 130 in good sun and stays warmer than the room for hours after sun down. He is planning on building the sandless version for another window to gauge the difference. .I'm planning 1 with green or brown beer bottles full of water. Keep you posted if youre interested .
I am changing my mind on the use of something to add thermal mass, I now think it would be more useful. I think it would even out temperature swings. and allow longer usefulness.
Two solar panels are Motomaster Eliminater from Canadian Tire. 30 watt models 2.5 amp. One is a old siemens model about 15 years old and 37 watts, all together 97 watts. I plan on doing another video when there's snow on the ground.
The outside temperature was about 25 degrees Celsius. It needs the fan running when facing the sun or the insulation gets to hot and expands. It holds at around 100 degrees with large air flow through it.
The plan was to take a few pic's while building it, but as luck would have it no battery's for the camera. It went together fast over two days, so no real detailed construction pic's. Added a oven probe type thermometer to the top right side later on. Will post a video after snow fly's.
Thanks for posting this, it's the end result of many things I've searched on youtube and other sites and very easy to figure out now that I see one all together.
Hi, I was unable to post a reply, all of the sudden it's all working now, so the best video to look at is from a guy called simple thoughts, right here on you tube. I did it for fun and to steal a few BTU's from the sun. Also do a google search for "pop can solar furnace".
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I think using firebrick just behind the cans and covering the entire rear portion would tend to hold heat a while after the sun fades. What do you folks think?
007westleysadler 3 months ago
So you're pulling cold air from your basement and returning it hot into the basement to basically keep your floors warm?
I was thinking of doing what you did but ducting the heat into the living space. Would that work?
tuckahoeneck 1 year ago
Consider a 2'x2'x5' box filled with 4 - 6" rocks paint it all black. Fully insulated or with one side glassed in & taking sun. Flow your heated air thru & it will act like a heat sink/store.
RikterZilla 2 years ago
I don't like the idea of blowing air I'd breathe over hot painted objects.
Frosttty 2 years ago
If I were to do this over again, the foam insulation would be gone. Use something more temperature stable.
wuberman 2 years ago
@wuberman What kind of insulation would you recommend? I want to insulate mine, but don't want melting foam everywhere either lol. Awesome heater!
qcages 1 year ago
This solar furnace is now disconnected. It worked as advertized while in operation. The foam liner behind the cans expanded enough to pop the silicone seal out at the bottom and middle so it's no longer sealed.The white vinyl hoses cracked and are unable to move air anymore. I'm thinking of a second attempt with the same frame using copper pipe embedded in cement as a thermal mass, with no glass involved. Thinking it through right now.
wuberman 2 years ago
Nice work.
m3141592 3 years ago
Did you use Lexan or glass, and how did you seal/attach it?
raynman66 3 years ago
I had a storm door with two pieces of tempered glass which had broken off it's hinges so I used the glass. I routed the edge the same thickness of the glass then put a bead of clear silicone in the trough set the glass in and held with clear packing tape. I over lapped the glass in the middle about an inch.
wuberman 3 years ago
LUVELY STUFF.. enjoy the free heat
mostvideosolar 3 years ago
how long does it remain hot after the sun goes down? would sand filled cans stay warm longer due to thermal mass?
NWforager 3 years ago
So far works great, but when there's no sun dosen't work at all. heat drops off quick. This one lets air travel up through the cans so it can pick up heat, There is no problem harvesting the heat if its sunny so I don't think having thermal mass would be useful as it would still cool off within a half hour.
wuberman 3 years ago
a buddy just made this design for a window but with sand. It gets up to 130 in good sun and stays warmer than the room for hours after sun down. He is planning on building the sandless version for another window to gauge the difference. .I'm planning 1 with green or brown beer bottles full of water. Keep you posted if youre interested .
NWforager 3 years ago
Hi, any update on adding sand or water, etc. to the can solar air collector? Any efficiency difference? Thanks!
jeevespreston 2 years ago
just wut wuber says. i tried a simple test with 3 brown glass bottles in a sunny windowsill,1 with air ,one with water and 1 with sand.
the water is the most efficient at retaining heat, while the air heats up fast and cools down even faster. the sand is about right in the middle.
jojo808 2 years ago 2
I am changing my mind on the use of something to add thermal mass, I now think it would be more useful. I think it would even out temperature swings. and allow longer usefulness.
wuberman 3 years ago
What is the make of solar panels that you are using to power the fan. Also, what is the wattage on them?
ssiaudio 3 years ago
Two solar panels are Motomaster Eliminater from Canadian Tire. 30 watt models 2.5 amp. One is a old siemens model about 15 years old and 37 watts, all together 97 watts. I plan on doing another video when there's snow on the ground.
wuberman 3 years ago
i just installed my build onto my house today.
no pop cans for me. i decided to use aluminum flex pipes
ssiaudio 3 years ago
what's the outside temperature when you made this video?
rasoros 3 years ago
The outside temperature was about 25 degrees Celsius. It needs the fan running when facing the sun or the insulation gets to hot and expands. It holds at around 100 degrees with large air flow through it.
wuberman 3 years ago
Hey Man,
Very nice
Do you have any detailed pics of the unit.
ssiaudio 3 years ago
The plan was to take a few pic's while building it, but as luck would have it no battery's for the camera. It went together fast over two days, so no real detailed construction pic's. Added a oven probe type thermometer to the top right side later on. Will post a video after snow fly's.
wuberman 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this, it's the end result of many things I've searched on youtube and other sites and very easy to figure out now that I see one all together.
mystykit 3 years ago
Great Job, tell us which sites you whent to.
vlevesque2000 3 years ago
Hi, I was unable to post a reply, all of the sudden it's all working now, so the best video to look at is from a guy called simple thoughts, right here on you tube. I did it for fun and to steal a few BTU's from the sun. Also do a google search for "pop can solar furnace".
wuberman 3 years ago