| A solar heater is one of the many solar heating | | | | window for outside solar heaters and use Plexiglas |
| systems that uses the sun as its main source of | | | | if you are building an inside solar heater. |
| energy. Knowing how to build a solar heater can | | | | 2. Build the Frame that will fit the glass that you |
| greatly help save the environment and saving | | | | have. Nail a piece of 1/2" plywood to the back of |
| money at the same time. | | | | the frame |
| A typical solar heating system consists of the | | | | 3. Add Insulation and the Absorption Plate. Line the |
| following: | | | | back of the panel with 1.5" insulation board. Cut to |
| - A solar panel or solar connector- with a heat | | | | fit using a utility knife. Aluminum flashing is used as |
| transfer fluid flowing through it to transport the | | | | the heat absorption plate. |
| heat energy collected to somewhere useful, | | | | 4. Screw Window Frame to Panel. Set the |
| usually a hot water tank or household radiators. | | | | window frame on the weather-stripping and |
| - A pump- pushes the heat transfer liquid (often | | | | screw into place. |
| just treated water) through the panel. The heat is | | | | 5. Add the Baffles. Add strips of insulation board |
| thus taken from the panel and transferred to a | | | | to the sides of the panel. Add the interior frame |
| storage cylinder. | | | | boards and baffles. When the glass is added, |
| A solar heating device can be divided into two | | | | these boards must seal to the top of the glass. |
| groups: | | | | Screw the interior frame boards directly to the |
| - Active solar heating- uses pumps which move | | | | side of the panel. Keep everything at the same |
| air or a liquid from the solar collector into the | | | | height. |
| building or storage area. | | | | 6. Screwed the baffle boards in place by first |
| - Passive solar heating does not require electrical | | | | drilling several holes down through the baffles. |
| or mechanical equipment, and may rely on the | | | | Apply weather-stripping to the bottom of the |
| design and structure of the house to collect, store | | | | baffle boards. Then a screw is driven down the |
| and distribute heat throughout the building. | | | | baffles, through the insulation board, then into the |
| Solar heating also refers to the heating of any | | | | plywood at the bottom. |
| substances, as well as buildings, cars, through solar | | | | 7. Cut Out the Air Openings. Put the openings on |
| radiation. Solar heating depends on the solar | | | | the same side so they wouldn't interfere with |
| emission, surface area, surface reflectance, | | | | some cabinets on the wall. The opening size |
| surface emissivity, ambient temperature, and | | | | should closely match the pathway size. |
| thermal convection from wind. Solar heaters can | | | | 8. Hang the Panel. Figure out where the wall studs |
| be solar water heater, solar pool heater, solar air | | | | or roof rafters are. Fasten your panel to these |
| heater and many more. | | | | studs or rafters. Line up your panel so the air |
| Here are the steps on how to make a solar | | | | intake and outlet doesn't hit a stud or rafter. |
| heater: | | | | This is how to build a solar heater that is the |
| 1. Start with the Glass. Use a double-pained | | | | typical type. |