Solar Heater

Step 2 Paint and Add Screen Mounting Boards

Paint the wood and then mount the boards that the aluminum window screen will mount to. Insert a 2x4 horizontally near the bottom leaving room for vent holes, insert 2x2 horizontally at the top; make it even with the 2x4 (look at the drawing to understand this better.)

I notched the middle board for a 2x2 that will later support the glazing.

Comments

[Pivnic]

I've researched this a bit and want to build one...some day I'll get a round tuit and actually make it. Some thoughts/changes to this design to consider. Rather than using metal screens, the design I was planning utilizes empty aluminum cans. cut off one end, punch a jagged hole (provides air turbulence to mix the air and move more heat off of the aluminum insideof the cans) in the other, line them up together, add several columns of them (depending on how large you want your heater) paint them black and insert into your framing. for insulating your framing, the hardware stores have foil sided foam insulation of various thicknesses. this could be used to insulate the box and areas that are exposed (not behind the cans) should be painted black as well. for less than $20 you should be able to find a thermal switch to turn on/shut off a fan to blow the warm air into the house when it reaches a preset temp inside of the collector. I'm not sure of the optimum size/speed of fan to use...possibly something like the big 100 mm computer fans. you can either wire this into the house wiring, or be a little more creative and environmentqally sensitive and wire it to a small solar panel. the more sun, the warmer the collector, the more juice from the solar panel the faster the fan...clouds/no sun, fan slows down/stops, doesn't blow cooled air into structure. good luck, think green!