i am going to make this and see one question i was thinking to put it up against a big double glazed sliding door and velcro it on the inside of the window/ door.... would it heat up okay...would like some advice
Hi! Nice instructions. I live in an apartment so I can't remove screens to put hoses through anything. You suggested in a pop up just putting it in a window. The sunlight comes through my back window really brightly between 10am and 4pm. If I made a box and put in on the Inside of my window, It should still work, pulling in air and heating it in the black cans and pushing out warm air at the top?? I guess I should start asking my friends to save their soda cans. Would this work with food cans?
Very cool! Er, I guess hot... Nice to see such a simple approach. This is how I will make my first one for sure. I plan on attaching it to a dehydration box to dry fruits, veggies and meats. Seems like it will pump more than enough hot air to make it happen. Thanks for sharing your great research. Kudos!
@richallenmusic Hey thanks. I've been watching your videos for the last few days and decided to build one. Got a shell created last night, only 3x4 (mostly because I can't fit 4x8 anything in my little car.) I hope to finish up an initial build today.
Why 2 holes ? And the size of the 2 holes , would this make wind pressure the smaller the holes ? Doesnt the styro foam melt at 170 ? Would it not be better to have the inside lined with tins foil behind the pop cans kind of like a mirror ? Would glass be better then plexi glass ? I must sound like a 3 year old but trust me im not ?
Great videos. Right on! Trying a idea since dont have many areas sun stays (only 2) One by front screen door, thinking of making ytour light weight box one and ataching to screen porch door. Can you please tell me how ((high)) ((you made the sides)) . Thanks, :)
An added thought.. the important thing is to have the air pass more surface to collect the heat. A can in itself doesn't produce so much resistance so the effect isn't optimal. I think, in theory anyways, that smashing up a can so there is a lot going on and the air has to pass a lot of "arms/stick-outs" etc. + dropping in some steel wool would make it even more efficient. Another factor is of course isolation of the box. Perhaps even a double glass with vacuum inside will increase performance.
How would it be putting some steel/brass wool inside the cans, as well as using thicker isolation? Hmm.. need to drink up some more beer and then try ;P Good work man.
Oh this is a great idea for me. I get lots of sun in my kitchen window but it is very cold here! I will watch other videos as you recommended but I think your basic design is good enough...- Maybe my porch too... I have no windows there but could punch holes for pipes... xoxo
GREAT VIDEO ! I BET YOU CAN MOUNT A SMALL SOLAR CAMPING FAN INSIDE THERE AND BLOW THE HEAT WHERE YA WANT IT ! MAYBE SOME FLEXABLE DRYER HOSE ? JUST THINKING OUT LOUD lol ! GOO JOB MAN
Thank you so much! I am going to make this tommorow. The kids are gonna have to drink alot of Red Bull though lol (ok, maybe not). I am going to make a clothes dryer out of mine. Also, I want to heat my garage in the winter, even if it only brings it up a few degrees. Great video Mr. Allen, thank you for taking the time to share. Best wishes!
I am so inspired. I am pretty clueless. Once you make this, how do you use it to heat your house? It only works during the sunny day, right? not at night? How do you connect it to a room and how do you spread the heat around? IS there someplace that shows this? What kind of hose? Do you need a fan on the house? Or what?
Some people are just trollin or fail to see the logic behind this really.
Now let's say it freezing out there and the sun is shining you still get heat from it.
Ive been looking all kinda stuff and I'm going to combine all this with solar and wind generators. Also I'm thinking about building my own water heater, also I'm thinking about to let someone drill a big hole to get my water from and I'm good to go to stop paying bills.
with the temp inside the heater being over 100 what was the temp of the outside at the time? and what is the heating like in winter does it still each similar temperatures?
So, by building the box out of the foam style insulation, I can make these any size I want right? I will need boxes not as wide, but, taller. Great idea. Can I use this idea and try it out in our green houses? I will give you ever ounce of credit.
This won't work to heat a room... once you add a fan to circulate the room's air through your box, the cold air will blow past the outside of the cans (half touching the cold glass, and half touching the hot cans. The result will be pretty luke warm. If you force the air through the cans only, you will collect all of the heat from the cans and it will be more effective.
Here's the deal to the naysayers... Run some tubing with antifreeze/water and route it to a radiator mounted in your regular duct work (if you have any) and allow the reg heater fan to blow the hot hair through the home with the existing thermostat. And remember, MEALER 2012, I am running third party POTUS.
How do you USE all the heat generated from this marvelous, simple heater? It looks like one of the easiest techniques yet, but how would I use it to heat water, for example? That's what we need first where I am in Guatemala. That, and we're going to test out the Solar Bottle Bulb (good in the daytime, at least). CatherineTodd2 at gmail
High heat mortar, or what kind of silicone? I would like to test this out in Guatemala where I live part time. Any chance for more details, please? CatherineTodd2 at gmail
Now, all you need to do is add a muffin fan that is powered by a small solar panel on the outlet and it would be even better! I cannot believe that there is one douche-bag that dislikes this. No, it is not pretty, but free heat is great; free anything is great!
Way to go Rich, great job. We're finding it doesn't take a rocket scientist, your not a rocket scientist are you Rich, to build a solar heating panel. Sometime maybe I'll do a video on my natural flow cooling system that uses metal pipe buried.
awesome, soft metals transmit heat better, ie copper aluminum, also you could try using sheets of tin, like barn roof tin, painted black, it gets very very hot. another idea is adding stones or bricks to the unit to hold heat a while after dark
Has me thinking of an enclosed window-shade system where the shade slats would serve as the POP cans and the main house heat loss in winter coming by way of the window areas (front what I understand). A front door sun-facing would work if you could trade out the light attracting properties between winter/summer.
i wonder why would you want your house at 180 degrees hot ?? if the sun is out would your house be hot enough ?? i guess if you are useing it to cook your food that would be useful or heating a water heater ,turning it into solar power. alot of unanswer questions we have please respond we need to know ;-}
@richardheadIII its for the winter to help out with heating when the sun is out please check out some other vids on pop can heaters to see how people are using them thanks
@richardheadIII you also gotta remember that the air isn't being forced through it like a furnace, its "stale" air so it heats higher faster. when you move air through it it will maintain a lower temperature. if you dont believe me, check a gas furnace when its blowing. you'll see the fire shooting through tubes heating the air rapidly. once this is pushed through the system, it will heat the house/shed to a nice temperature.
@molligemozes beter late than never? Answer 1. Water boils at 212 degrees so no it wouldn't boil water. 2. seriously? steam? not a lot of electricity will be created by using the heat of 180 degrees of small air current directed into some water to create steam and then direct the steam into something that will generate current. 3. possibly a light bulb's worth of energy can be created using the "light to can to air to water to steam to generator" method, but probably not.
Excellent vid! I like the simplicity! My only problem is: does it offgas the paint and/or black caulk? I imagine the smell goes away, but what about replacing the caulk with Great Stuff foam and Metal tape and maybe painting the cans with some of that all swedish natural organic nontoxic Linseed Oil Fireplace paint. It's a little pricey but it might ensure that there is no toxic offgasing into the heated air. I'm not sure what the caulk is made...Guess I could check it.. Thanx for the vids!!!
thanks, finially this i believe I can handle..I dont have tools or know how in carpentry.I want to try using aluminium dryer piping.what do you think I am so excited to try to do this, again thank you
@WickedCustomz hi dont have a garage but if you get good sun and build you a big one you should get good heat check out some other vids on you tube theres a lot of solar heaters on here
Hey this is a great idea, but neglects to tell how you would then go about hooking it up so that it will actually heat your home. Do you use a fan to get the air going through it, or...?
@mandalagrace hi please watch some of my other videos i have 3 hooked up to my house just click my channel also theres a lot of videos with units hooked up on youtube
every winter our electric bill goes to $400+ and usually the neighborhood has too many rolling black outs so I am going to build one of these for each window. Thank you so much!
lol answer me ....hmm im from montreal. in winter time lets say that thing would be outside ,the cold hitting the window would neglect all the uv it gets....and lets say you hoockit up with a fan to circulate air it would surely cool your inside lol
Do you think there is any benefit of doubling the amount of rows? I've got myself a box but it's a bit deep. And I'm wondering if I can use up the extra space by putting an entire row of columned cans. Or am I better off just reducing the size of the box?
Hi, Rich; great idea. Nice things don't have to be expensive. I have some PV solar panels and got much more power by building an inexpensive yet sturdy tracker. Please watch my channel - eltunene
Thanks for the idea, I live in a rental unit so I cant put any holes in walls for intakes so I think I'll try your idea for just setting it inside the window. I really like your video's, good work and thanks again!
i think heat absorbs more on a rougher texture thats what i heard anyways i would try cutting and smashing the cans up then paint black. love the idea im gonna make one tomorrow its freezing in new york state. im going to try to put 3 or 4 levels inside it using insulation so the hot air has to snake up that might help. i also had an idea to have a mini wind turbine hooked directly to a heating element no batteries only heat when wind blows if anyone can make something like that mail me please
This is simple. I wonder if you used this simple built thing to test different stuff like put a layer of roofing singel in first then cans and test it. Then try mirrors. Try mulch. Try straw. Have people make suggestions and see what the hay works best.
can't i belive that to.. - but what if we could fill all the cans with water and make the instalation with velves and electronic regulators of temeprature coming in to a house...??
Hi Rich! This is impressive. I did not read all the comments and do not know if you mentioned the outside temperature. Maybe you do not remember what it was but I can see that you are wearing a winter coat. I guess that it was about 45 to 50 degrees because I did not see any steam coming out of your mouth when you were talking. I like your use of wire mesh. I will be building more wind turbines with wire mesh myself. Thank you for the show.
@tdk1955 whatever works for you please check out my new video also i think you could use heavy plastic like you put over windows i did a small test with a garbage bag for a cover got a temp of 153 degrees will do the same test with my newest heater will try to post vid
I think you are onto a great idea here. I know you didn't invent the original concept, but you've proven that there is no real need for tubes. What do you think of building a similar box and just filling it up with crinkled aluminum foil? Painted black of course. That's even cheaper and easier than the cans (at least if you don't drink beverages that come in cans - and anyway you don't need to clean the foil). Any thoughts?
Hi Rich, Thanks for your efforts, good thinking. I am putting up a variant in my shop and am going to start looking around for a summer use for it. The Crosley brothers (best known as radio pioneers) had an invention they sold as the Icy Ball that ran without electricity and cooled an icebox. Google it for more info. Heating AND cooling...free???
Do you think there is any safety issue with heating styrofoam? Do you think it will release formaldahyde into the house? Also, RTV black caulk is better than mortar...will hold up to any heat you'll make by the sun. You expirementation is helping a lot of people. These are becoming popular and your practical research is helping. Please keep at it and please keep posting the results. Your solar tracking invetion made from a shop vac was FANTASTIC. You have a great mechanical mind. THANKS!!
someone did it look up "crushed can solar air heater" here on youtube.i think i have the words in order?? he sure needed to finish it before the post.
someone did it look up "crushed can solar air heater" here on youtube.i think i have the words in order?? he sure needed to finish it before the post.
Question? Have you played with over unity any? I've had an idea for over unity using a battery to run a motor and generator with getting more energy out than in. Any ideas?
Hey Rich, Im a huge fan. 3 things for you. First the camp heater was great. Second, the loose cans work better than the sealed cans. Even transference of heat not restricted by an air channel. Finally, add a 2" pipe of salt or sand up the middle of your furnace. It extends your heat into the night. Salt and sand store heat very well. Similar to oil.
@jobillfleetwood hi thanks for your comments been thinking about adding sand to one to test been working around the house no time for heaters now but the loose can heaters work better than the sealed cans will do more tests later rich
@jobillfleetwood RTV silicone caulk (black) is made for engine heads (rated to 450F) if you want to seal anything in the box. I plan to make one soon and use RTV to caulk all the joints to keep the box tight. Also, if you really want to get a good heat sink, there is nothing like phase change salts for BTU storage. You should look into them, and you could make your own. Without a temp control you will melt a plastic cover.
@jobillfleetwood Soap stone would work too. It radiates heat for hours. Thanks for the tips. I wonder if filling the cans with sand would be good too?
@vpbubbies i got it at lowes but if your going to use something i would use gutter glue the high heat morter i used starts to flake and turn white and get brittle after a while good luck
first I 've started with at small one- I have a frame from a window...
put 33 cans in there , glas on and the outcoming temperature was 50 degree C - outside was about 12-13...so now I am getting seriously interested in this matter! Thanks again, more to follow.
Nice work! I saw a guy who disconnected his electric heating in a clothes dryer. Used several boxes like that to dry his clothes with just suction and the drum turning. Thanks for the demo!
have u tried smashed cans yet?? took me a while to drink all the beer to get cans hahahaa!!!! recycle center wont give cans so i had to get some from friends, hard to get uncrushed ones
Thanks:) Im going to do that:) exept im just going to have it fit 1/4 of my window:) just to test it. Thanks Now i just got to get come chicken wire or something to hold them down
So basically just have to make a case, make it air tight all around the case paint the cans black to attract the sun light which will heat up the cans aswell then cover the cans with a window & also seal the window. the only thing I'm not sure of is the fan?. what king of fan?.....
small 12 volt fan mounted on output to pull air or in put to push air but works without the fan. can be powered by solar or transformer with switch or snapdics see other videos
It seems to me that there is enough gaps between the cans to permit adequate air flow. Since the cans do not have holes on both sides, the air inside the cans heats up and stays in the collector longer. Maybe that is why it works so well? I definitely am going to make one like this for my first attempt. Thanks so much for posting this!
i like your keep it simple approch.question with natural convection temps are great. is the air flow decent?or is really just nothing there?more cfm less temp (with a fan). or less cfm more temp.what produces more heat? thanks
I think this kinda defies the consept of soda-can heaters, as the point is to make the air to get hotter and hotter as it passes trough from one end to the other.
Still - a neat and simple way to get a little thermal mass inside the heater.
the air is still passing in the cans the point is to make as much heat as you can im just trying out ideals this is making as much heat as the other ones rich
problem with the acrylics is that after a few years they start to crack and turn into garbage (especially if it's stressed in a bend.) Lexan/polycarbonates are the way to go but obviously a lot more expensive
As a thing to try. with a lot of cans at my disposal, I cut the top and bottoms off of 5 cans, cut and make them flat,, roll all 5 up into a small diameter cylindar and push them into a relatively small hole I made in the bottom of a 6th can, I then have the approximate bulk of 3 cans inside each can in the heater. Thanks a lot , can't tell you how much I admire your inguinuity.
I did try something similar. I spent the summer capturing hot air in jars. When the weather gets cold, I'm going to take the jars in the house and let the air out.
Thanks for the new video Rich. You'll find that even if you make one that only has 10 cans you will get the same temperature in the collector. The thing is you don't have much airflow there, Increasing airflow with a fan will reduce the temperature drastically on such a small collective area. If you were to connect more together you will increase the temperature of a forced air system. However with simple thermal-siphon flow.you will still only get the temperatures you are getting with one
Thermal-siphon flow out of a 4" hole isn't what I'd call "great" airflow. I'd call it minimal at best. Yes it does put out some heat, but forcing the air(fan or blower) will increase the efficiency of the collector. At a thermal-siphon flow rate, the heat in one small collector will always be the same as the heat from 10 collectors hooked together. It's the collector area and airflow that makes all the difference in efficiency. Remember my dryer video? Test using a fan and see what happens.
Thank you very much. I favorited that one. That is pretty amazing. I was concerned about the weight before for mounting it on the wall of the house. Now with this design, I wouldn't be worried so much anymore. I will keep that design in mind for when I have my own house. It will come in handy to keep the cost of energy down. If I can save 20% I will be happy. Cheers. Mike, London, On.
it took me about 3 hours but i was making it up as i go could do one now in about 2 hours you could make one of these without the glass/plastic to just set up in a window that gets sun would work great
i am going to make this and see one question i was thinking to put it up against a big double glazed sliding door and velcro it on the inside of the window/ door.... would it heat up okay...would like some advice
WELLBRAN 3 days ago
Hi I think it would work fine good luck. Rich @WELLBRAN
richallenmusic 1 day ago
@richallenmusic rich, okay i have a test project that i will start up soon just a small box first and i will let you know how it goes
WELLBRAN 1 day ago
Hi I tried cat food cans but took longing to heat pop cans are so thin they heat up right. Awaygood luck let me know how it works out for you. Rich
richallenmusic 1 week ago
Hi! Nice instructions. I live in an apartment so I can't remove screens to put hoses through anything. You suggested in a pop up just putting it in a window. The sunlight comes through my back window really brightly between 10am and 4pm. If I made a box and put in on the Inside of my window, It should still work, pulling in air and heating it in the black cans and pushing out warm air at the top?? I guess I should start asking my friends to save their soda cans. Would this work with food cans?
Metqa 1 week ago
Oh boy. Husband jumped up after watching this and is running around building one!
acefrapple 2 weeks ago in playlist solar air collector
Great passive system
losttreasurehunt 3 weeks ago
Very cool! Er, I guess hot... Nice to see such a simple approach. This is how I will make my first one for sure. I plan on attaching it to a dehydration box to dry fruits, veggies and meats. Seems like it will pump more than enough hot air to make it happen. Thanks for sharing your great research. Kudos!
EdibleAcres 1 month ago
Hey thanks for posting this. What was the outdoor temperature when you did this?
madwilliamflint 1 month ago
Hi I think it was around 40 degrees @madwilliamflint
richallenmusic 1 month ago
@richallenmusic Hey thanks. I've been watching your videos for the last few days and decided to build one. Got a shell created last night, only 3x4 (mostly because I can't fit 4x8 anything in my little car.) I hope to finish up an initial build today.
I was shocked how much 0.093 plexi costs.
madwilliamflint 1 month ago
I know its a rip off.good luck @madwilliamflint
richallenmusic 1 month ago
Hello, thanks so much for the very informing video. Have you tried one with crushed cans yet?
natdiz 1 month ago
Cool stuff thanks for sharing
OJA23122011 2 months ago
I have questions .
Why 2 holes ? And the size of the 2 holes , would this make wind pressure the smaller the holes ? Doesnt the styro foam melt at 170 ? Would it not be better to have the inside lined with tins foil behind the pop cans kind of like a mirror ? Would glass be better then plexi glass ? I must sound like a 3 year old but trust me im not ?
Thanks in advance : Tim
Lotum4n 2 months ago
Great videos. Right on! Trying a idea since dont have many areas sun stays (only 2) One by front screen door, thinking of making ytour light weight box one and ataching to screen porch door. Can you please tell me how ((high)) ((you made the sides)) . Thanks, :)
GospelTruth37059 2 months ago in playlist *****POP CAN / DOWNSPOUT HEATER / FURNANCE
This looks so useful for Colorado! sunny and cold :) i want to make one!
TamarinTorpedo 2 months ago
An added thought.. the important thing is to have the air pass more surface to collect the heat. A can in itself doesn't produce so much resistance so the effect isn't optimal. I think, in theory anyways, that smashing up a can so there is a lot going on and the air has to pass a lot of "arms/stick-outs" etc. + dropping in some steel wool would make it even more efficient. Another factor is of course isolation of the box. Perhaps even a double glass with vacuum inside will increase performance.
Optisoft 2 months ago
How would it be putting some steel/brass wool inside the cans, as well as using thicker isolation? Hmm.. need to drink up some more beer and then try ;P Good work man.
Optisoft 2 months ago
Oh this is a great idea for me. I get lots of sun in my kitchen window but it is very cold here! I will watch other videos as you recommended but I think your basic design is good enough...- Maybe my porch too... I have no windows there but could punch holes for pipes... xoxo
brendahodgins 2 months ago
GREAT VIDEO ! I BET YOU CAN MOUNT A SMALL SOLAR CAMPING FAN INSIDE THERE AND BLOW THE HEAT WHERE YA WANT IT ! MAYBE SOME FLEXABLE DRYER HOSE ? JUST THINKING OUT LOUD lol ! GOO JOB MAN
MultiGuitarman53 2 months ago
Thank you so much! I am going to make this tommorow. The kids are gonna have to drink alot of Red Bull though lol (ok, maybe not). I am going to make a clothes dryer out of mine. Also, I want to heat my garage in the winter, even if it only brings it up a few degrees. Great video Mr. Allen, thank you for taking the time to share. Best wishes!
naturecakes 2 months ago
A good addition to your heater box would be to.....
1) find or build yourself a box (if you have room, an old oven works well).
2) cut a hole at the bottom and top of this box.
3) run the outlet of the heater box to the bottom hole of this box.
4) fabricate some racks in this box
5) Voila !!!! you got yourself a food dehydrator / jerky maker !!!!!!!!!!
We did this years ago growing up out in the country.
oneandonlytinman 3 months ago
Best line in the video...."Gee.....that's amazing, I've been doin all this work.....puttin' all them cans and stuff together" :-)
Sometimes the best things are the simplest things. Don't need no drilling & glueing.
Nice job Rich.
oneandonlytinman 3 months ago
I am so inspired. I am pretty clueless. Once you make this, how do you use it to heat your house? It only works during the sunny day, right? not at night? How do you connect it to a room and how do you spread the heat around? IS there someplace that shows this? What kind of hose? Do you need a fan on the house? Or what?
SusanBasko 3 months ago
how much was this?
TheUnknownpersuader 3 months ago
Thanks just began to build mine
condessarte 3 months ago
Some people are just trollin or fail to see the logic behind this really.
Now let's say it freezing out there and the sun is shining you still get heat from it.
Ive been looking all kinda stuff and I'm going to combine all this with solar and wind generators. Also I'm thinking about building my own water heater, also I'm thinking about to let someone drill a big hole to get my water from and I'm good to go to stop paying bills.
EddyStolk 3 months ago 5
Snowy is main caracter here ;)
spacepathfinder1 3 months ago
with the temp inside the heater being over 100 what was the temp of the outside at the time? and what is the heating like in winter does it still each similar temperatures?
vodkablond 4 months ago
nice
sleepymasterthe1 4 months ago
Big points for the Red Green reference, love these boxes, I'm going to try them out this winter.
jrichtman 4 months ago
So, by building the box out of the foam style insulation, I can make these any size I want right? I will need boxes not as wide, but, taller. Great idea. Can I use this idea and try it out in our green houses? I will give you ever ounce of credit.
sandrajeanification 4 months ago
so do you heat the outside? how do you use it inside or could you make a window with it
MrOrlandobob2 4 months ago
Great job RichAllen.
Snailmailtrucker 4 months ago
This won't work to heat a room... once you add a fan to circulate the room's air through your box, the cold air will blow past the outside of the cans (half touching the cold glass, and half touching the hot cans. The result will be pretty luke warm. If you force the air through the cans only, you will collect all of the heat from the cans and it will be more effective.
MonkeyFCoconut 5 months ago
Here's the deal to the naysayers... Run some tubing with antifreeze/water and route it to a radiator mounted in your regular duct work (if you have any) and allow the reg heater fan to blow the hot hair through the home with the existing thermostat. And remember, MEALER 2012, I am running third party POTUS.
jlmealer 5 months ago
"..tellin us that our mother the earth as he said was round like an egg and contained all good things within her"
msa1985 5 months ago
How do you USE all the heat generated from this marvelous, simple heater? It looks like one of the easiest techniques yet, but how would I use it to heat water, for example? That's what we need first where I am in Guatemala. That, and we're going to test out the Solar Bottle Bulb (good in the daytime, at least). CatherineTodd2 at gmail
CommentsSurvey 5 months ago
High heat mortar, or what kind of silicone? I would like to test this out in Guatemala where I live part time. Any chance for more details, please? CatherineTodd2 at gmail
CommentsSurvey 5 months ago
really cool video
914light 5 months ago
Are the intake and outake on the same side?
mfromcanada1 5 months ago
awesome. you get a gold star for this.
misterwarwick 6 months ago
but how long does it retain the heat for?
111Socrates777 6 months ago
Right on Rich, thanks for sharing brother.
CaliforniaCarpenter7 6 months ago
Thanks Rich-you rock brother!!!
polylingue 6 months ago
Everybody likes this guy, thats why no one dislikes him.
Pixel3 6 months ago
what happens if you want one of those cokes? surely too hot
Kazinthegarden 6 months ago
Wow
This is fantastic.
I'm showing this to my brother, in hopes he will build for me.
Just wondering how long the isulation material box last outside in the elements.
Would I need a new one built each season ?
I love you videos. You are creating real value.
Thanks, Jan...prepper1024
P.S. I allways have diet dr pepper cans to recycle.
prepper1024 7 months ago
Now, all you need to do is add a muffin fan that is powered by a small solar panel on the outlet and it would be even better! I cannot believe that there is one douche-bag that dislikes this. No, it is not pretty, but free heat is great; free anything is great!
kc8ntp 7 months ago
@kc8ntp What is a muffin fan?
hammerdoug 6 months ago
@hammerdoug the thin little fans that are used to cool computers.
kc8ntp 6 months ago
Why would you need a heater in the sun? Not being disrespectful or sarcastic, Im just checking If Im correct that you can only use this in the sun.
Afternoon3Run 7 months ago
@Afternoon3Run its used in fall/ winter to help heat when sun is out
richallenmusic 7 months ago 7
@Afternoon3Run its for fall/winter to help heat
richallenmusic 7 months ago
@richallenmusic Ohh right, thanks
Afternoon3Run 7 months ago
@Afternoon3Run Thats whey its called a SOLAR HEATER.
Rockit8 1 month ago
hello, just wanted to know how you conntected this to the house for heat. do you have a blower inside the box? thanks. D.
sdwh1963 7 months ago
@sdwh1963 connect the solar heater to youe house with a dryer hose.
miscelany2 2 months ago
if they are not cut open with a input and output then how are you going to pull the inside air thru the heater , may as well paint the window black
PatriotRadioMilitia 7 months ago
Way to go Rich, great job. We're finding it doesn't take a rocket scientist, your not a rocket scientist are you Rich, to build a solar heating panel. Sometime maybe I'll do a video on my natural flow cooling system that uses metal pipe buried.
RicRenfro 7 months ago
How do you think building an array of soda can heaters would perform heating an 1200 square foot home?
HortHawg 8 months ago
1 person likes to be COLD
awesome, soft metals transmit heat better, ie copper aluminum, also you could try using sheets of tin, like barn roof tin, painted black, it gets very very hot. another idea is adding stones or bricks to the unit to hold heat a while after dark
Venomator1970 8 months ago
Has me thinking of an enclosed window-shade system where the shade slats would serve as the POP cans and the main house heat loss in winter coming by way of the window areas (front what I understand). A front door sun-facing would work if you could trade out the light attracting properties between winter/summer.
b4skin 8 months ago
i wonder why would you want your house at 180 degrees hot ?? if the sun is out would your house be hot enough ?? i guess if you are useing it to cook your food that would be useful or heating a water heater ,turning it into solar power. alot of unanswer questions we have please respond we need to know ;-}
richardheadIII 8 months ago
@richardheadIII its for the winter to help out with heating when the sun is out please check out some other vids on pop can heaters to see how people are using them thanks
richallenmusic 8 months ago
@richardheadIII wow, are you serious? once the heat hits the room, it spreads evenly. Its not like the room is going to be 180 degrees.
d3tach3d 7 months ago
@richardheadIII you also gotta remember that the air isn't being forced through it like a furnace, its "stale" air so it heats higher faster. when you move air through it it will maintain a lower temperature. if you dont believe me, check a gas furnace when its blowing. you'll see the fire shooting through tubes heating the air rapidly. once this is pushed through the system, it will heat the house/shed to a nice temperature.
stevo740 5 months ago
I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND WE DON'T NEED MORE HEAT HERE.WE NEED TO GET COOL.ANY IDEAS???
candigirl1970 8 months ago
@candigirl1970 hang on an ice age comming soon ;)
molligemozes 8 months ago
question one ... can it boil water
q2: can u produce electricity then at same time usin the steam created by it
q3:if u have that energy then for free how much power can one produce a day by simply usin cans ?
molligemozes 10 months ago
@molligemozes no
richallenmusic 8 months ago
@molligemozes beter late than never? Answer 1. Water boils at 212 degrees so no it wouldn't boil water. 2. seriously? steam? not a lot of electricity will be created by using the heat of 180 degrees of small air current directed into some water to create steam and then direct the steam into something that will generate current. 3. possibly a light bulb's worth of energy can be created using the "light to can to air to water to steam to generator" method, but probably not.
TreViceTube 4 months ago
@molligemozes YES!!! You can run the hot end to supply a low temperature differential sterling engine. The output might not be great though rofl.
Jebus495 4 months ago
Awesome video! I think I'll try it!
auntmeme902 11 months ago
Excellent vid! I like the simplicity! My only problem is: does it offgas the paint and/or black caulk? I imagine the smell goes away, but what about replacing the caulk with Great Stuff foam and Metal tape and maybe painting the cans with some of that all swedish natural organic nontoxic Linseed Oil Fireplace paint. It's a little pricey but it might ensure that there is no toxic offgasing into the heated air. I'm not sure what the caulk is made...Guess I could check it.. Thanx for the vids!!!
notoriouslizw 11 months ago
you made it so easy.thanks very much. great work. I just love the simplicity. Thanks for posting
alameerLover 11 months ago
What glass/plastic do you use for the window on the solar heater? Can you just use thick poly plastic?
enticed2zeitgeist 11 months ago
nice job rich thanx 4 sharing
hogi90 11 months ago
Thanx for this vid. You inspired me to build one for my window. I live in the North west. lot's of overcast in the winter though =/
Tanarus20 11 months ago
will do thanks
WickedCustomz 11 months ago
thanks, finially this i believe I can handle..I dont have tools or know how in carpentry.I want to try using aluminium dryer piping.what do you think I am so excited to try to do this, again thank you
tulalipelder 1 year ago
thanks I am going to go builds this for my garage... how does this work for your garage in winter in say 10 degree weather? awesome video
WickedCustomz 1 year ago
@WickedCustomz hi dont have a garage but if you get good sun and build you a big one you should get good heat check out some other vids on you tube theres a lot of solar heaters on here
richallenmusic 1 year ago
Hey this is a great idea, but neglects to tell how you would then go about hooking it up so that it will actually heat your home. Do you use a fan to get the air going through it, or...?
mandalagrace 1 year ago
@mandalagrace hi please watch some of my other videos i have 3 hooked up to my house just click my channel also theres a lot of videos with units hooked up on youtube
richallenmusic 1 year ago
What is the BTU rating of this device?
asimov13647 1 year ago
every winter our electric bill goes to $400+ and usually the neighborhood has too many rolling black outs so I am going to build one of these for each window. Thank you so much!
Ladyhawkwright 1 year ago
lol answer me ....hmm im from montreal. in winter time lets say that thing would be outside ,the cold hitting the window would neglect all the uv it gets....and lets say you hoockit up with a fan to circulate air it would surely cool your inside lol
ericlepiq 1 year ago
@camry6 if you want to check out the numbers watch fearlessthinker vid
richallenmusic 1 year ago
Hey Rich,
Do you think there is any benefit of doubling the amount of rows? I've got myself a box but it's a bit deep. And I'm wondering if I can use up the extra space by putting an entire row of columned cans. Or am I better off just reducing the size of the box?
Thanks
peaches762010 1 year ago
HAs anybody built a combo solar heat system? Using the cans and maybe copper tubing to heat water and air in the same casing?
apunkfromatl 1 year ago
Hi, Rich; great idea. Nice things don't have to be expensive. I have some PV solar panels and got much more power by building an inexpensive yet sturdy tracker. Please watch my channel - eltunene
eltunene 1 year ago
how does it work do you put it in a window or do you put it out side and bring it inside or ...im confused how is it a heater
seahawksfan54321 1 year ago
dude, you just saved me a lot of unnecessary work! Without a fan, the air stays in long enough to get really hot, and just pushes out the top! Yay!
rriverstone1 1 year ago
What if you put a fan behind this one and one of the other ones with the cans glued together. does the high temp. remain the same on both?
dragondack 1 year ago
Thanks for the idea, I live in a rental unit so I cant put any holes in walls for intakes so I think I'll try your idea for just setting it inside the window. I really like your video's, good work and thanks again!
petiekas 1 year ago
i think heat absorbs more on a rougher texture thats what i heard anyways i would try cutting and smashing the cans up then paint black. love the idea im gonna make one tomorrow its freezing in new york state. im going to try to put 3 or 4 levels inside it using insulation so the hot air has to snake up that might help. i also had an idea to have a mini wind turbine hooked directly to a heating element no batteries only heat when wind blows if anyone can make something like that mail me please
518schenectady 1 year ago
@518schenectady
But isn't it the air INSIDE the cans that is heating up? If you smashed them it doesn't seem like it would work.
janefilmore1 1 year ago
This is simple. I wonder if you used this simple built thing to test different stuff like put a layer of roofing singel in first then cans and test it. Then try mirrors. Try mulch. Try straw. Have people make suggestions and see what the hay works best.
tock101 1 year ago
wow!!! you will put the energy companies out of business if this keeps up...
a lot of good people on youtube. Gonna show my friends.
jjhf400 1 year ago
This is great. I can't wait to build one. Thank you so much!
thewhole9yard 1 year ago
can't i belive that to.. - but what if we could fill all the cans with water and make the instalation with velves and electronic regulators of temeprature coming in to a house...??
VictorSeedorsky 1 year ago
we really liked your popcan building!! keep us posted.
mrmetal60 1 year ago
Hi Rich! This is impressive. I did not read all the comments and do not know if you mentioned the outside temperature. Maybe you do not remember what it was but I can see that you are wearing a winter coat. I guess that it was about 45 to 50 degrees because I did not see any steam coming out of your mouth when you were talking. I like your use of wire mesh. I will be building more wind turbines with wire mesh myself. Thank you for the show.
generatorblue 1 year ago
Can you use glass or should you use plexi? Thank you for the idea of loose cans sounds super easy.
tdk1955 1 year ago
@tdk1955 whatever works for you please check out my new video also i think you could use heavy plastic like you put over windows i did a small test with a garbage bag for a cover got a temp of 153 degrees will do the same test with my newest heater will try to post vid
richallenmusic 1 year ago
I think you are onto a great idea here. I know you didn't invent the original concept, but you've proven that there is no real need for tubes. What do you think of building a similar box and just filling it up with crinkled aluminum foil? Painted black of course. That's even cheaper and easier than the cans (at least if you don't drink beverages that come in cans - and anyway you don't need to clean the foil). Any thoughts?
tripleaaaa 1 year ago
Hi Rich, Thanks for your efforts, good thinking. I am putting up a variant in my shop and am going to start looking around for a summer use for it. The Crosley brothers (best known as radio pioneers) had an invention they sold as the Icy Ball that ran without electricity and cooled an icebox. Google it for more info. Heating AND cooling...free???
NoneSoBlind1 1 year ago
@NoneSoBlind1 I googled the Icy Ball. Really great information. I had never heard of this before. Thanks!
214jcf 1 year ago
Thank you sooooooo much. Our electric bill is up to $200.00 per month! We live in a log home and we need to do this. Thanks again for sharing.
inthepresentraw 1 year ago
@inthepresentraw thanks
richallenmusic 1 year ago
Nifty!
jasongiddensviper478 1 year ago
Do you think there is any safety issue with heating styrofoam? Do you think it will release formaldahyde into the house? Also, RTV black caulk is better than mortar...will hold up to any heat you'll make by the sun. You expirementation is helping a lot of people. These are becoming popular and your practical research is helping. Please keep at it and please keep posting the results. Your solar tracking invetion made from a shop vac was FANTASTIC. You have a great mechanical mind. THANKS!!
landslave 1 year ago
How large of a space will this heat? Thank you for your videos.
magicjokerfunshop 1 year ago
@magicjokerfunshop hi im not sure but the bigger you make it the more air you will heat rich
richallenmusic 1 year ago
@magicjokerfunshop So you just build this thing and put in a sunny window in your house and it makes heat ?
billyjo856 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
someone did it look up "crushed can solar air heater" here on youtube.i think i have the words in order?? he sure needed to finish it before the post.
qsk2pc602 1 year ago
someone did it look up "crushed can solar air heater" here on youtube.i think i have the words in order?? he sure needed to finish it before the post.
qsk2pc602 1 year ago
Question? Have you played with over unity any? I've had an idea for over unity using a battery to run a motor and generator with getting more energy out than in. Any ideas?
jobillfleetwood 1 year ago
Hey Rich, Im a huge fan. 3 things for you. First the camp heater was great. Second, the loose cans work better than the sealed cans. Even transference of heat not restricted by an air channel. Finally, add a 2" pipe of salt or sand up the middle of your furnace. It extends your heat into the night. Salt and sand store heat very well. Similar to oil.
jobillfleetwood 1 year ago
@jobillfleetwood hi thanks for your comments been thinking about adding sand to one to test been working around the house no time for heaters now but the loose can heaters work better than the sealed cans will do more tests later rich
richallenmusic 1 year ago
@richallenmusic
I noticed you made this out of styrofoam if I am correct. Wouldn't that melt if it got too hot? Maybe I am missing something.
gbsk12 1 year ago
@jobillfleetwood RTV silicone caulk (black) is made for engine heads (rated to 450F) if you want to seal anything in the box. I plan to make one soon and use RTV to caulk all the joints to keep the box tight. Also, if you really want to get a good heat sink, there is nothing like phase change salts for BTU storage. You should look into them, and you could make your own. Without a temp control you will melt a plastic cover.
landslave 1 year ago
@jobillfleetwood Soap stone would work too. It radiates heat for hours. Thanks for the tips.
inthepresentraw 1 year ago
@jobillfleetwood Soap stone would work too. It radiates heat for hours. Thanks for the tips. I wonder if filling the cans with sand would be good too?
inthepresentraw 1 year ago
cant seem to find any High heat mrrtar, where did you buy it??
Cheers.
vpbubbies 1 year ago
@vpbubbies i got it at lowes but if your going to use something i would use gutter glue the high heat morter i used starts to flake and turn white and get brittle after a while good luck
richallenmusic 1 year ago
Hi Rich...
first I 've started with at small one- I have a frame from a window...
put 33 cans in there , glas on and the outcoming temperature was 50 degree C - outside was about 12-13...so now I am getting seriously interested in this matter! Thanks again, more to follow.
bellis55 1 year ago
Hi, Rick...greetings from Denmark. Today I'm gonna try to make such one...handy woman! I'll let you know. Thanks for sharing!!
bellis55 1 year ago
@bellis55 cool let me know how it turns out rich
richallenmusic 1 year ago
amazing. might try it.. thanks for the vids rich,
ozman - tasmania, australia
ozmanofpeace 1 year ago
Hey great job, I can't hardly belive how well that worked! I definatly want to build a couple thanks again!
Revolutionisnow1 1 year ago
very nice!
I'm going to try this with a food dehydrator.
chriskendall1 2 years ago
Nice work! I saw a guy who disconnected his electric heating in a clothes dryer. Used several boxes like that to dry his clothes with just suction and the drum turning. Thanks for the demo!
pgm98387 2 years ago
thanks i saw that video too
richallenmusic 1 year ago
have u tried smashed cans yet?? took me a while to drink all the beer to get cans hahahaa!!!! recycle center wont give cans so i had to get some from friends, hard to get uncrushed ones
infadel13 2 years ago
how much dose this save u on ur electric bill?? w this "global warming" freezing the coast i need one!!!! dose it blow out air easily??
infadel13 2 years ago
Man I'm gonna make one to heat my greenhouse!! thanks again!
jihadacadien 2 years ago
Thanks:) Im going to do that:) exept im just going to have it fit 1/4 of my window:) just to test it. Thanks Now i just got to get come chicken wire or something to hold them down
AtvProjects 2 years ago
So basically just have to make a case, make it air tight all around the case paint the cans black to attract the sun light which will heat up the cans aswell then cover the cans with a window & also seal the window. the only thing I'm not sure of is the fan?. what king of fan?.....
pammypoo100 2 years ago
small 12 volt fan mounted on output to pull air or in put to push air but works without the fan. can be powered by solar or transformer with switch or snapdics see other videos
richallenmusic 2 years ago
great idea
MrWalloping 2 years ago
It seems to me that there is enough gaps between the cans to permit adequate air flow. Since the cans do not have holes on both sides, the air inside the cans heats up and stays in the collector longer. Maybe that is why it works so well? I definitely am going to make one like this for my first attempt. Thanks so much for posting this!
blueguitarrondo 2 years ago
thanks for watching i think thats right about the cans
richallenmusic 2 years ago
go to an auto parts store and buy VHT head and tail light spray on tint and spray it on the glass and it gets alot hotter.
not sure how much hotter i dropped my thermometer the other day.
but ya get some of that its kinda hard to find and alot of people dont know what it is but its basikly tranparent black paint
andrew0901280 2 years ago
i like your keep it simple approch.question with natural convection temps are great. is the air flow decent?or is really just nothing there?more cfm less temp (with a fan). or less cfm more temp.what produces more heat? thanks
qsk2pc602 2 years ago
this had good air flow held up small ac fanto the out put and the heat would spin the fan so very decent air flow rich
richallenmusic 2 years ago
i made on simaler to that but i used coffee cans and glued one pop can inside each coffee can and it reached 163 in about 45 minutes
andrew0901280 2 years ago
did you need to prime the cans before you painted them black??
gileadbalm 2 years ago
no did not prime any cans
richallenmusic 2 years ago
I think this kinda defies the consept of soda-can heaters, as the point is to make the air to get hotter and hotter as it passes trough from one end to the other.
Still - a neat and simple way to get a little thermal mass inside the heater.
Duboisi 2 years ago
the air is still passing in the cans the point is to make as much heat as you can im just trying out ideals this is making as much heat as the other ones rich
richallenmusic 2 years ago
Hey Rich! Thanks for the vid. I like your inventive attitude. Makes me think I can do it too.
priayief 2 years ago
problem with the acrylics is that after a few years they start to crack and turn into garbage (especially if it's stressed in a bend.) Lexan/polycarbonates are the way to go but obviously a lot more expensive
AlcoholLevel 2 years ago
Thanks Rich. Wasn't looking forward to all that work LOL. I can build this one in a couple hours. Keep up the innovation.
eldrama1 2 years ago
As a thing to try. with a lot of cans at my disposal, I cut the top and bottoms off of 5 cans, cut and make them flat,, roll all 5 up into a small diameter cylindar and push them into a relatively small hole I made in the bottom of a 6th can, I then have the approximate bulk of 3 cans inside each can in the heater. Thanks a lot , can't tell you how much I admire your inguinuity.
coyotedee1 2 years ago
cant wait to see vid
richallenmusic 2 years ago
I did try something similar. I spent the summer capturing hot air in jars. When the weather gets cold, I'm going to take the jars in the house and let the air out.
frogbait100 2 years ago
good luck
richallenmusic 2 years ago
I think this is one I might be able to build myself!
frogbait100 2 years ago
Thanks for the new video Rich. You'll find that even if you make one that only has 10 cans you will get the same temperature in the collector. The thing is you don't have much airflow there, Increasing airflow with a fan will reduce the temperature drastically on such a small collective area. If you were to connect more together you will increase the temperature of a forced air system. However with simple thermal-siphon flow.you will still only get the temperatures you are getting with one
STARFIRESOLAR 2 years ago
hi this one has great airflow much better than the others. i am making another one for more testing will post vid soon i hope rich
richallenmusic 2 years ago
Thermal-siphon flow out of a 4" hole isn't what I'd call "great" airflow. I'd call it minimal at best. Yes it does put out some heat, but forcing the air(fan or blower) will increase the efficiency of the collector. At a thermal-siphon flow rate, the heat in one small collector will always be the same as the heat from 10 collectors hooked together. It's the collector area and airflow that makes all the difference in efficiency. Remember my dryer video? Test using a fan and see what happens.
STARFIRESOLAR 2 years ago
New downspouts at Menards are only $4.48 for 10 foot aluminum.
wiboater4 2 years ago
Thank you very much. I favorited that one. That is pretty amazing. I was concerned about the weight before for mounting it on the wall of the house. Now with this design, I wouldn't be worried so much anymore. I will keep that design in mind for when I have my own house. It will come in handy to keep the cost of energy down. If I can save 20% I will be happy. Cheers. Mike, London, On.
msamour 2 years ago
Nice video Rich. Goes to show that it really doesn't have to be fancy or expensive to achieve good heat.
jab0805 2 years ago
thanks i was so shocked on how good it worked im working on another one right now
richallenmusic 2 years ago
How long did it take to make and how much did it cost? Was the plexi was the most expensive part?
bjetTube 2 years ago
i had the plexi and the wire and the high heat morter so it cost me right under 20 bucks
richallenmusic 2 years ago
it took me about 3 hours but i was making it up as i go could do one now in about 2 hours you could make one of these without the glass/plastic to just set up in a window that gets sun would work great
richallenmusic 2 years ago