Free heat! (well almost, gotta run the fan) - Page 2

Originally Posted by jghilino

you could put a solar panel on the roof and then run a 12 volt fan off of it and a 12 volt pump to circulate the coolant?

You could run a pump or fan in a variety of ways. You have to do the math. You would need a battery of some size to regulate the voltage.

For example, one of the fans I put a link to was 2.5 amps. You can very inexpensively get a solar panel that puts out 2.5 amps, but as soon as a cloud passes by you will no longer be getting 2.5 amps, which obviously affects the fan (not enough juice to run). This would happen all day and most likely burn out the fan (or pump). A simple, cheap, 5ah battery solves this problem.

I personally would want a bigger battery, it would seem that a 10ah battery would be a better choice as it will run the fan for 4 hours unassisted by the solar panel.

What would end up happening is that you will use a little of the juice from the battery from time to time, but it would quickly charge in the morning when the heater hasn't reached a high enough temp to cut the fan on but there is sunlight.

I used the 12 fl oz aluminum variety.. (What occupied the volume before terminal use is up to the builder.. )

I just can't see how you'll cut the tops off of aluminum drink cans and have anything left that's usable ; )

Originally Posted by Bear

I just can't see how you'll cut the tops off of aluminum drink cans and have anything left that's usable ; )

Basically all you want is a thin membrane to absorb the solar rays and conduct the heat on its natural rise upward...

Originally Posted by KzScrapper

Been stock piling parts to build a waste oil heater that will have a copper coil around it to heat water that will end up running thru a box with a a/c coil and a fan or a car radiator that still has the 12v fans attached.

Do you plan on setting up the burner unit (firebox) outside? This is the setup employed up here in rural areas. In my area, it's difficult or almost impossible to get house insurance having an indoor furnace burning waste oil, wood or whatever.

Second question - how are you going to filter the oil or are you just going to let it settle?

I would be very interested to hear your results on this project.

You guys are all awesome. Just wanted to throw that in. Been offline for a while and this was the first post I saw.

This has me thinking. How about taking some corrugated tin and stacking one on top of the other with the ridges creating the air channels? I think I'm going to start tinkering and see what comes of it.

Inside some computer power supplys theres a little board added that starts the fan up, depending on the tempature.
The fan is connected directly to the matchbox sized board.

That counld be used so the fan only works when the air in the heater is hot enough, rather than forcing air thru it all the time.

Originally Posted by Ironhunter

I use a snap thermostat on mine, turns the fan on at 120 and off at 90 degrees.

Oh, I forgot, I think the board makes the fan change speed so it stays at a constant tempature.