10-19-11, 10:43 AM | #31 |
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What did you use for glazing on the collector?
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10-19-11, 11:05 AM | #32 |
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I used a polycarbonate sheet made by Sheffeild Plastics called Makrolon. It is pricey, to build another solar heater I would be looking at other options like a double wall polycarbonate sheet. It is suppose to add some R value to help keep heat in.
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10-23-11, 01:16 PM | #33 |
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I started looking at other absorber designs and found the comparison that Gary and Scott did (builditsolar), looks like a double or triple screen design would work well too... just wondering if anyone has done a pop-can vs. screen comparison?
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10-23-11, 03:46 PM | #34 |
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I will see how the Popcan heater works this winter. Then next spring I will look at building one that uses vented aluminun soffit. Then I could do a comparison between those two.
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11-11-11, 12:45 PM | #35 |
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@madmike
just make sure you check with merchant, I think that "double wall polycarbonate sheet" has something like 60-70% light transparency, unlike normal polycarbonate sheet, which has close to 100%. This efficiency loss is significant. Try to cut this cost by build casing according to polycarbonate sheet measures. You can easily find cheaper sheets sold in one piece, rather then custom cut just for you from larger pieces. I will build my next can solar heater just 10% smaller, but cover will be just 50% from original price...
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12-02-11, 12:06 PM | #36 |
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Just a little update, so far my garage has only dipped to -2C one night. This night the temp dropped to -25C with a wind chill of -32C. The day that the temp. dropped to -25C that following day the outdoor temp got to -13C. It was a clear sunny day and the heater brought the temp in the garage to 6C with about 4-1/2 to 5 hours of useable sunlight on the panel. I am pleased with the results so far. Big problem is Mother Nature isn't giving me enough clear sunny days. Oh well just have to take what we get.
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12-02-11, 12:18 PM | #37 |
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I am trying to upload pictures but keep getting an upload error.
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12-02-11, 12:34 PM | #38 |
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Sounds like it's working well for you!
Btw, how big is your garage your trying to heat and how well is it insulated? |
12-02-11, 01:42 PM | #39 |
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Garage is 18 x 24 feet with 8 foot ceiling. There is R12 in the walls (just 2 x 4 construction) and there is R20 in the roof. The big door has 2-1/2 styrofoam glued to panels. Door is well sealed and hasn't opened in about 8 years. I use the garage as a shop, I have a lathe and milling machine and a deep hole drill. I have to replace the walk in door with a better insulated steel door. There is no window any more, that's where the solar panel went in.
Any one have an idea why I get an upload error when I try to upload pics. I have gone through the help thread and I am doing every thing according to the help thread. Last edited by madmike; 12-02-11 at 01:45 PM.. |
12-02-11, 01:54 PM | #40 |
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Have you tried using Photobucket to store your pictures and then just post the links in here.
I used it exclusively and it's always worked great, plus it's free! The problem I run into with using the forums built in uploader is that it limits the size of the pictures you can upload which is a problem for me cause all my pictures are always way bigger than the size limit. Here's some tutorials on photobucket. http://favoriteroads.com/member-foru...otobucket.html http://forums.nicoclub.com/how-to-po...t-t521110.html Last edited by zick; 12-02-11 at 02:06 PM.. |
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air, collector, hot, solar |
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