DIY solar heater constructed with aluminum cans

A solar-powered air conditioner doesn't do one much good during a Vermont winter, but rather than cranking on the heater (or huddling under the heated Hello Kitty mat) just to heat things up in a relatively small garage, a clever DIYer set out to concoct his own solar heater using scrap parts and a bit of free time. The solar wall was primarily built with black-painted soda cans, a wooden wall, plexiglass cover, and an inlet and outlet to channel the air around. The homegrown "solar furnace" captured the sunlight beaming onto the south side of the building, and as cool air found its way into the toasty cans and rose through drilled out portals, it managed to heat up a respectable 15-degrees Fahrenheit before escaping into the garage. The creator did note that his next attempt would sport a relocated inlet and be much larger in size, but if you're interested in putting a few in-the-way parts to good use next winter, be sure to hit the read link for a pictorial how-to.

[Via HackNMod, thanks Joe]

[Kev50027 @ Apr 30th 2007 12:58PM]

Good idea, but wouldn't having a small fan help heated air flow better?

[granny down east @ Apr 30th 2007 1:09PM]

Back in the late 40s a number of homes in SoFla were built with passive solar water heaters on the roofs. The were basically the same arrangement as this. Copper tubing was enclosed under jalousie windows which fed into an insulated tank. The water did get very hot. My dad and I did repairs on it ourselves. We didn't have an electric water heater until...maybe 1960??
I wonder if there are any of those left.

[stitifier @ Apr 30th 2007 1:33PM]

I'm moving to TX in a month. I am SO building one of these.

[KC @ Apr 30th 2007 2:27PM]

Heheh... redneck solar heater!

[Raz 4 life @ Apr 30th 2007 7:44PM]

I built one of these a few years ago... didn't work that great for how much room mine took up.

[Manoel Netto @ Apr 30th 2007 9:51PM]

An eco-initiative from Brazil has created a water solar heater made with recicled material such as plastic bottles and longlife milk packs. The invention was patented so it cannot be industrialized, comercialized on any forms.
Check release here, in portuguese : http://www.tecnocracia.com.br/arquivos/agua-quente-para-todos

[Rusty @ May 1st 2007 11:36AM]

Or you could just paint the side of your garage black.

[Charles C Stirk Jr @ May 6th 2007 5:15PM]

This is standard stuff in South America ....

[MattyG @ May 7th 2007 7:03AM]

15 degrees farenheit? surely you mean celsius as that is -9 degrees celsius ie freezing