A simple solar heater that is cheap and easy to make. When there is direct sun on the unit it produces heat like a hair dryer.
According to the creator it produces a stream of air of around 120 degrees.
Some suggested tips for improvement:
– Make sure your black paint is matte so it doesn’t reflect the sun.
– The air moves by convection, however, you could add a small computer fan on the outlet and wire it to a 12 volt solar cell the unit to control the air rate.
– The intake size could be adjusted to control air rate as well. Making the intake smaller will give the air time to heat up while passing through the dryer ducting but it will slow down the rate of air flow. You can run it hot and slower or with more air and not as warm.
– A flat plate could be added between the intake tube and inside wall up to a little pulley inside the house. You could then adjust the air rate like this as well and have an on/off option.
– Add insulation to help maintain heat running through the system. Could prove vital for very cold areas.
I have seen similar untis that mount inside the existing window in the house, they are more efficient in that they are not heating outside air.
how about cloudy snowy days
I’d get a fan at Granger to put in the pipe.
Only works in the summer. Why do you need heat in the summer?
Matt Duffy here you go!!!
120 degrees sounds about right. My grandfather and I looked at one back in the day that was sitting out in 30 degree weather and checked the output temperature. With air going in at 30 degrees, the output temp was 105, with no fan moving the air it was moving the streamers they had put on it too.
Jason E. Marsh: What makes you think it only works on the summer? Read my previous comment. Please note also that where we checked it was in Saginaw, MI.
C’mon people, stop buying fossil fuels like you have no other choice!!
How does the intake tubes connect to the frame?
Wood burning fireplace works well too.