@Tri3Dr Since the time I did this video I switched to a 12 volt car heater blower that I run off of my solar battery bank. It blows more air than the one in the video. now both panels are putting about the same amount of air thru. The car heater blower had 2 small blowers run by a center motor. I don't know the RPM for it.
You probably were getting some solar heat thru the windows anyway. It would be good to leave the sun come through them and put the boxes alongside them. you could make something to bring the duct thru at the bottom of the window or top. I thought I would have to cover mine for summer but they don't seem to be a problem. I just unplug the power to the blower on them.
These are great, if the sun is out of course. WE actually used our south facing windows and put ours inside those (used the foam insulation to make the box). So in the Summer months we simply take them out of the windows.
I am getting a lot more running time on these now that the sun is out longer. They are working well. I'm starting to think about ways to cover them over for summer to prevent them from getting to hot. I might make a removable water tube setup to heat water for summer.
I started with 2 fans and went to just the one. I have plenty of airflow with one. I figure I use less electricity this way. Only thing I'd do different is mount it midway between the 2 and add a few baffles.
i have a 2 ft x 4 ft one on my house and it runs about 6 hours a day in mid jan.. but i live in tenn.the blower i got from home depot and only cost $2 per winter to run CHECK IT OUT ON MY CHANEL-every thing but the snap disc i got at home depot .
I have outside temp of 4 degrees now, getting 115 out of the one closest to the fan( left panel) and 96 degrees out of Right side. one blowing out 115 with fan on has pop can lids not cut out. started blowing air at 9 AM will probably run til 2 PM. Its Jan 2.
That is a really great looking installation you have done! Very Impressive! I hope you'll make another video when you get the blower enclosed. I know from your handy work on the outside that it will look great too!
Lookin' Good! Yes you are correct about the other heater being not as hot due to the position of the intake and exhaust ports. They should always be on opposite sides for the best performance. This makes an "Even Flow" configuration.
Mine are helping heat my house here in NC. I use the same 115-90 snap switch. At this date they're running from 10am to 4pm, on sunny days of coarse.. Before 10am they get no sunlight as they are positioned. My house faces SW.
@STARFIRESOLAR What are your outlet temperatures around 11 AM? I am finding out that leaving the pop can tops on is producing more heat than the one with the cans tops cut out. probably because it's forcing more air to the outside of the cans around the downspout.
Today at 11 am my output temp was about 135 or so. The reason you are experiencing more heat with the tops on the cans is because there is more metal that is being heated and therefore more heat exchange area that the air touches. The sun heats the exposed metal and heat radiates from them. However radiant heat doesn't heat air very good, it heats metal or other objects. Direct contact with the metal heats the air. The tops provide more metal that is heated for metal to air heat exchange.
Good job! Way to go, re-purposing the tin cans. When you build the box around your blower, will you be incorporating some sort of filter, to keep dirt and dust out of your heater?
@GoatHollow I probably will, but there isn't much dust. My cold air returns for my regular furnace have a lot because I'm on a crawl space. Blower has enough pull that the filter wouldn't restrict it much. could just put the filter over the hole on the other side of the wall.
How 'bout making intake which is closer to the blower, smaller? It would cause more air to go through second intake.
Right size would be found by doing some experiments. :)
Tri3Dr 2 months ago
@Tri3Dr Since the time I did this video I switched to a 12 volt car heater blower that I run off of my solar battery bank. It blows more air than the one in the video. now both panels are putting about the same amount of air thru. The car heater blower had 2 small blowers run by a center motor. I don't know the RPM for it.
wiboater4 2 months ago
You probably were getting some solar heat thru the windows anyway. It would be good to leave the sun come through them and put the boxes alongside them. you could make something to bring the duct thru at the bottom of the window or top. I thought I would have to cover mine for summer but they don't seem to be a problem. I just unplug the power to the blower on them.
wiboater4 1 year ago
These are great, if the sun is out of course. WE actually used our south facing windows and put ours inside those (used the foam insulation to make the box). So in the Summer months we simply take them out of the windows.
sc00b3rt 1 year ago
These are great, if the sun is out of course.
sc00b3rt 1 year ago
I am getting a lot more running time on these now that the sun is out longer. They are working well. I'm starting to think about ways to cover them over for summer to prevent them from getting to hot. I might make a removable water tube setup to heat water for summer.
wiboater4 2 years ago
I started with 2 fans and went to just the one. I have plenty of airflow with one. I figure I use less electricity this way. Only thing I'd do different is mount it midway between the 2 and add a few baffles.
wiboater4 2 years ago
i have a 2 ft x 4 ft one on my house and it runs about 6 hours a day in mid jan.. but i live in tenn.the blower i got from home depot and only cost $2 per winter to run CHECK IT OUT ON MY CHANEL-every thing but the snap disc i got at home depot .
a1boywonder 2 years ago
I have outside temp of 4 degrees now, getting 115 out of the one closest to the fan( left panel) and 96 degrees out of Right side. one blowing out 115 with fan on has pop can lids not cut out. started blowing air at 9 AM will probably run til 2 PM. Its Jan 2.
wiboater4 2 years ago
looks good
kestasn 2 years ago
That is a really great looking installation you have done! Very Impressive! I hope you'll make another video when you get the blower enclosed. I know from your handy work on the outside that it will look great too!
STARFIRESOLAR 2 years ago
Lookin' Good! Yes you are correct about the other heater being not as hot due to the position of the intake and exhaust ports. They should always be on opposite sides for the best performance. This makes an "Even Flow" configuration.
Mine are helping heat my house here in NC. I use the same 115-90 snap switch. At this date they're running from 10am to 4pm, on sunny days of coarse.. Before 10am they get no sunlight as they are positioned. My house faces SW.
Thanks for the update video!
STARFIRESOLAR 2 years ago
@STARFIRESOLAR What are your outlet temperatures around 11 AM? I am finding out that leaving the pop can tops on is producing more heat than the one with the cans tops cut out. probably because it's forcing more air to the outside of the cans around the downspout.
wiboater4 2 years ago
Today at 11 am my output temp was about 135 or so. The reason you are experiencing more heat with the tops on the cans is because there is more metal that is being heated and therefore more heat exchange area that the air touches. The sun heats the exposed metal and heat radiates from them. However radiant heat doesn't heat air very good, it heats metal or other objects. Direct contact with the metal heats the air. The tops provide more metal that is heated for metal to air heat exchange.
STARFIRESOLAR 2 years ago
Good job! Way to go, re-purposing the tin cans. When you build the box around your blower, will you be incorporating some sort of filter, to keep dirt and dust out of your heater?
GoatHollow 2 years ago
@GoatHollow I probably will, but there isn't much dust. My cold air returns for my regular furnace have a lot because I'm on a crawl space. Blower has enough pull that the filter wouldn't restrict it much. could just put the filter over the hole on the other side of the wall.
wiboater4 2 years ago