My Solar Furnace using downspouts on a sunny day 2nd test results

[OurTroopsRule]

I've seen several video's but none touch on evening-time heat. About how long before sunset will this model operate as designed? Thank you.

[chaseme81871]

what kind of glue did you use inside to attach things together? i used hot glue sticks on mine and they melted at 170 degrees. you should check my video out.

[alvinshep51]

Storm doors are a good material to use especially if you can get one with hinge damage. Many doors get replaced because the metal is so thin the holes get loose for screws and the hinge design doesnt allow them to be relocated. This makes them perfect for use like this and cheap to obtain off sources like Craiglist.

[enticed2zeitgeist]

Is that plexi glass? That must make it rather heavy and expensive right?

[alvinshep51]

@enticed2zeitgeist No it is a tempered glass storm door which I picked up at no cost it only has a single pane glass but with a 225F temperature I dont see the need for a double pane glass need.

[kobie8819591]

Is 225 deg a safe operating temp

[alvinshep51]

@kobie8819591 A gas furnace runs around 160F degrees, while a heat pump does about 120F. 225F is a temperature that the unit will get to without any air flow. By installing a snap disc switch set at 120F controling a 90 CFM fan. Your solar heater should be between 160F & 120F. 225F is not a problem however wood seems to be a problem with causing odors never use pressure treated wood with anything in contact with the air flow as they contain formaldahyde.Any new unit will have an odor at first.

[alvinshep51]

@kobie8819591 225F is safe but this temp is only reached when the unit has no air flow. You want your discharge air temp to be above 120F to feel comfortable. So by installing a fan which is controled by a snap disc switch set ar 120F and pushing about 90 CFM your temp will never go below 120F and never above 170F. I think these are good temps to shoot for. Keep in mind all the material you are using never have Pressure treated wood in contact with the airflow and all new units will have an odor

[alvinshep51]

Justin sorry man but actually my hat goes to RichAllenMusic. While researching Solar Heaters on Youtube I found his design to be the best I had seen. Not taking anything away from others, the Newfounldander out of Canada with his Soda Pop Can Heater business being on the Discovery Channel got me interested. Honestly I cant claim any first idea design here. I think God somewhere in the old testament said that everything that is given is for us and for our children forever, I like it that way.

[justinmy300z]

thanks Rich, glad i could be of inspiration.

We are currently cranking out 100+ heat panel units a month, its all thanks to the fun we have had perfecting our trade on youtube! these things sell like hotcakes! Dont waste your time with these ney-sayers, and goofy questions about silly stuff. It took us years to figure this out, they should have just as much fun as we did!

[kobie8819591]

@justinmy300z What type of heat panels do you install?

[gsdmomo]

Hello, thank you for sharing your video. I am looking to build a solar unit that is able to hook into an outlet or power a fan I have on a fireplace insert. The trick is it's got to be cost-effective time is not an issue I have time to build it any suggestions or ideas? I know I will have to covert the dc to ac, but is there any you would do?

[alvinshep51]

Johnnyreb, Hey wouldn't a house awning which doubles as a hot air solar heater be cool. I have plans to do this soon...keep watching...Thanks again.

[alvinshep51]

It is my humble opinion after working with both solar air furnaces and solar hot water heaters. That although solar air can supplement your heating system I believe solar hot water whole house heating is a much better alternative to air. For example, if the sun drops behind a cloud hot air falls instantly. Not so with water, also something which can be stored for use during the night.

[justinmy300z]

you are doing fine, dont listen to all these hvac retards who think they know everything. I deal with moron IBEW electricians all day long who think they should be the only ones to do solar PV, yet i am one of the largest solar companies in Colorado! Keep working with your backyard heating experiments and soon enough it will pay off for you. We sell hundreds of our industrial hot air panels each month, and we started out years ago just like you!

[alvinshep51]

With that said if the exit duct were at the other end then the air flow would run down the trunk line and the end rail would be getting most of the air.

[alvinshep51]

In response to supply and return locations, what you say sounds and maybe true if you were drawing the air through the unit. However in forced air like the type used in residential HVAC. The Residential Duct Systems Manual D says that the air stream enters and blows to the end of the pipe, and at that point the pressure builds up and then backs up in the pipe. Never to put a vent close to the of the trunk line or it will rob all the air from the other ducts.

[777strongcoffee]

nice looking box....

[RETIREMESOON]

Looove this idea !!!!

[TheDudeRulez09]

might also put the return on the opposite end of the panel to the intake, this gives the air more time to travel the full length of the panel instead of in then up and out, great job!! I have never considered aluminum downspouts!! i will have to give this a try!!

[richallenmusic]

great looking heater with temps like that you wont need to hook up return from house im not using a return just heating fresh air on my downspout heater the sun just now getting high enough to let my heater work it was 24 degrees and it cut on at 113 degrees the other day wish i got full sun please do a update when you get it hooked up

[alvinshep51]

My first attempt at working with solar systems. Mistakes I'm finding is locating the unit for the sun. The best location for Nov. when the sun was at 48 degrees at noon. Put the unit in the shade for most of the day in Dec. as the suns angle dropped to 32 degrees on Dec 21st. Other problems that I truly didn't think through was that I primarily need heat at night. This type system is down as soon as the sun is. I'm going to try using old A/C coils to transfer heat to a fluid which I can store.

[johnnnyreb51]

@alvinshep51 All things solar stop working at night. So solar is a nice system to off set the cost of running your heater when solar can be used. Solar during the day normal heat at night. The cost of the solar heater will pay for itself in less then a month.

[alvinshep51]

@johnnnyreb51 Sir, you are right. Why not build it if it's cheap and pays for itself quickly. But I only have so much time to invest in my projects with many plans for different ones and I'd like to get the biggest bang for the time I invest. I just picked up 3- 55 gallon barrels yesterday at $15 each. Im thinking if I can store the hot water I made during the day and then use it at night now I've really got something. Thanks for posting...Greg

[preparedchipmunk]

I sure do hope you show it when it's connected

[michael970]

looks great .TAKE CARE