Built one yesterday before AFC game and lost the sun behind the clouds to get a real run with it. Hope to see it cook today! I'm assuming you don't have holes in the Cinefoil because it's thin and the heat dissipates quickly through it. I used a second piece of tin (painted black of course) and now think it may have too much mass. Probably should have used tin-foil and kept it thin.
Very nice build and great instructional on your site. Job well done! The question was asked and haven't seen the answer here or on the site. Holes seem to only be on the top. Is this true? If so; I assume you tried holes both top & bottom. What were your results? Oops, looks like you did... sorry 'bout that. Then I assume same pattern both top and bottom. Have you tried a low volume fan yet? If so; How did production respond? Again; Very nice job done here and on your site!
@olddawgsrule THANKS... Actually a fan can pull cooler air through to quickly not allowing it to heat up. Heat rises and the farther it has to travel the hotter it gets inside the chamber; which is way you don't need a fan because it is creating its own air flow. Same number of holes at the bottom and the top.
A solar heater in a window, is a waste, the window itself is a solar heater the inside of your house the "box". box is best placed outside the house, were there is no windows. Here the sunlight is just reflecting back into space. The solar box here acts just the same as a window in your house. Efficiency points, keep the air runs into and out of the box short, you can angle the box i would not. input air into the bottom outlet at the top,its proven cans do not help much, baffles are better.
I'm making one for my parents its has aluminum cans and going to sit outside will hairdryer tight plastic work just as well as pexiglass thanks Kevin kevinjaynes@hotmail.com
This is a great project for our house until we are able to get new windows. We lose so much heat that it would be great to get something back from them instead. Thanks for the info! This country was built by those who created and invented, then shared those ideas. Your efforts are appreciated. :-)
P.S. I really dont want to be negative and I encourage your efforts but when people go to the effort to build these and dont get results then it generates negative feedback and hinders the adoption of sustainable energy practices.
techsavvy you are blocking the window with the panels so your not "gaining" any heat in your room ... I guess you may gain some heat from this method (IR) but I would not think it would be very little???? passive solar heating is a great idea but your methods and assumptions are simply incorrect.
@helpmonkey Nope... Monkey, you're wrong... you are assuming that I want to leave my windows open all day to allow all the thieves to look in to see if I am home or to scout it out to see if there is anything they want... The panels are on the sides of the drapes and you can only draw them so far anyway.
Besides... these things only weigh about 2 and a half pounds and mount with suction cups... if I want day light in "WHILE I AM HOME" I can easily take them out of the window.
@googl4ee I am not marketing anything... just showing how you can build one that works very cheap...
I had the jacket on, not because I was cold, but that I just came back inside after shooting the b roll footage for the video and forgot to take my jacket off.
Beside I wear that jacket almost all the time for certain reasons...
Very nice, I know my back room, which happens to be my computer room, can actually get HOT in the winter with the shades up and the door closed, I really coud turn the heat off and this room would still stay warm. I could only imagine what these would do. Plus the added privacy would be a plus for this room.
Harnessing the power I'm getting in these windows would help me cut back on my bills.
Absolutely fantastic Brotha! Love it!! Imagine someone who has a skylight! They could even be free standing outside with minor modification, a silent low-voltage blower (also solar!) and some coil tube going into the home! :) great!
Built one yesterday before AFC game and lost the sun behind the clouds to get a real run with it. Hope to see it cook today! I'm assuming you don't have holes in the Cinefoil because it's thin and the heat dissipates quickly through it. I used a second piece of tin (painted black of course) and now think it may have too much mass. Probably should have used tin-foil and kept it thin.
olddawgsrule 1 month ago
olddawgsrule 1 month ago
@olddawgsrule THANKS... Actually a fan can pull cooler air through to quickly not allowing it to heat up. Heat rises and the farther it has to travel the hotter it gets inside the chamber; which is way you don't need a fan because it is creating its own air flow. Same number of holes at the bottom and the top.
SocialMediaTV 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
A solar heater in a window, is a waste, the window itself is a solar heater the inside of your house the "box". box is best placed outside the house, were there is no windows. Here the sunlight is just reflecting back into space. The solar box here acts just the same as a window in your house. Efficiency points, keep the air runs into and out of the box short, you can angle the box i would not. input air into the bottom outlet at the top,its proven cans do not help much, baffles are better.
wildwindsca 1 month ago
I'm making one for my parents its has aluminum cans and going to sit outside will hairdryer tight plastic work just as well as pexiglass thanks Kevin kevinjaynes@hotmail.com
j5ivek 1 month ago
This is a great project for our house until we are able to get new windows. We lose so much heat that it would be great to get something back from them instead. Thanks for the info! This country was built by those who created and invented, then shared those ideas. Your efforts are appreciated. :-)
DezinerDiva 1 month ago
I don't have a lot of tools, but would pegboard work? Tape over the holes in the middle and leave holes in the top and bottom?
rigidheddleweaving 1 month ago
@rigidheddleweaving Also, how about storing the heat in water bottles? Run tubing along the peg board and then let the thermosiphoning begin?
rigidheddleweaving 1 month ago
P.S. I really dont want to be negative and I encourage your efforts but when people go to the effort to build these and dont get results then it generates negative feedback and hinders the adoption of sustainable energy practices.
helpmonkey 2 months ago
@helpmonkey the only negative feedback I see is yours. This is a great project (especially to learn by) that even the most unhandy person can tackle.
SocialMediaTV 2 months ago
techsavvy you are blocking the window with the panels so your not "gaining" any heat in your room ... I guess you may gain some heat from this method (IR) but I would not think it would be very little???? passive solar heating is a great idea but your methods and assumptions are simply incorrect.
helpmonkey 2 months ago
@helpmonkey Nope... Monkey, you're wrong... you are assuming that I want to leave my windows open all day to allow all the thieves to look in to see if I am home or to scout it out to see if there is anything they want... The panels are on the sides of the drapes and you can only draw them so far anyway.
Besides... these things only weigh about 2 and a half pounds and mount with suction cups... if I want day light in "WHILE I AM HOME" I can easily take them out of the window.
SocialMediaTV 2 months ago
It's really funny that all these guys presenting their solar heating stuff wear jackets, like it's very cold in the room where they are :S
But anyhow, i like this and thank you very much for sharing the idea, just work a little on your marketing in the future ;)
greetings from Macedonia
googl4ee 2 months ago
@googl4ee I am not marketing anything... just showing how you can build one that works very cheap...
I had the jacket on, not because I was cold, but that I just came back inside after shooting the b roll footage for the video and forgot to take my jacket off.
Beside I wear that jacket almost all the time for certain reasons...
SocialMediaTV 2 months ago
Are there holes punched in the bottom of the flashing as well as the top? I couldn't tell from your instructions on Instructables. Thanks.
ecrouch77 3 months ago
@ecrouch77 yes... needed to allow air flow
TheSavvyTech 3 months ago
nice job mike? great idea and a practical solution for many people
StoVol70 5 months ago
Very nice, I know my back room, which happens to be my computer room, can actually get HOT in the winter with the shades up and the door closed, I really coud turn the heat off and this room would still stay warm. I could only imagine what these would do. Plus the added privacy would be a plus for this room.
Harnessing the power I'm getting in these windows would help me cut back on my bills.
Thanks.
jpabmx 1 year ago
That is fantastic! I love trhis project, can't wait to show my husband.
Now, if we could find an efficient way to cool as well.
pilarandmike 1 year ago
@pilarandmike I will be working on that later this year. Building a log cabin to retire to in the country this summer.
TheSavvyTech 1 year ago
Absolutely fantastic Brotha! Love it!! Imagine someone who has a skylight! They could even be free standing outside with minor modification, a silent low-voltage blower (also solar!) and some coil tube going into the home! :) great!
AssemblyMasters 1 year ago