Solar Heated Shop

Luremaker · Nov 19, 2007

For a couple of months now I have been thinking of building a few pop can solar heaters for my shop. I really wish I would have researched this before I actually built as it would have been so much easier to have planned for "built in" solar heating when I actually built my shop than to add it now. My 40' x 60' shop is well insulated and never falls below 40 degrees when left unheated but I think it would have been really nice to have the solar heaters this guy built into his shop. Anyone here every build solar air heaters? There is tons of info on the net on how to make them.

DeSoto Solar Panels In Madison County, Iowa

john_bud · Nov 21, 2007

Interesting design, but what happens at night? I can see that air flow reversing and having a dramatic cooling effect. Adding a thermostatically controlled vent door would be a good addition to keep the room warm at night.

jb

Luremaker · Nov 21, 2007

john_bud said:
Interesting design, but what happens at night? I can see that air flow reversing and having a dramatic cooling effect. Adding a thermostatically controlled vent door would be a good addition to keep the room warm at night.

jb

I was thinking the same think but looked further and found the link below. It explains why that does not happen with those solar panels.

Morris Dovey's Passive Solar Air-Heating Panel

Doc_Bob · Nov 23, 2007

Luremaker said:
My 40' x 60' shop is well insulated and never falls below 40 degrees when left unheated but I think it would have been really nice to have the solar heaters this guy built into his shop. Anyone here every build solar air heaters? There is tons of info on the net on how to make them.

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I love it! I would add "flaps" to the top openings so that when the sun sets, no reverse flow occurs cooling the building.
Bob