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Passive solar heaters
rdak
Posts: 2 Newbie
Hi
Wondered whether anyone in UK has ever made a passive solar heater? Lots of videos on YouTube of people in USA building them to heat outbuildings and even homes. They are simply a large shallow wooden box painted black and filled with channels of empty cans or insect screen mesh. A pipe at the top then channels the hot air created. This can be assisted with an extractor fan.
In the USA or at least in some parts they seem to work well but before building one to warm the garage (to try and prevent mould) wondered if anyone in UK has tried? Thanks.
Wondered whether anyone in UK has ever made a passive solar heater? Lots of videos on YouTube of people in USA building them to heat outbuildings and even homes. They are simply a large shallow wooden box painted black and filled with channels of empty cans or insect screen mesh. A pipe at the top then channels the hot air created. This can be assisted with an extractor fan.
In the USA or at least in some parts they seem to work well but before building one to warm the garage (to try and prevent mould) wondered if anyone in UK has tried? Thanks.
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Comments
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How about a passive solar heater combined with a passive solar light? Also called a window.
Seriously though, if the aim is to prevent mould in a garage, heat is not really important. I would suggest you improve the ventilation firstly.
If its completely unventilated you could use a dehumidifier, but no point combining a dehumidifier with ventilation - that's just wasting electricity.0 -
Ok thanks. I thought heat and ventilation would be more effective than just ventilation but I guess warm places can still can get mould too. Have already set up an extractor fan at one end of the garage to expel air and may set up another one at the other end to introduce air. If that doesnt help then may try the passive solar heater.0
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Is your extractor solar powered? I am building a south facing glassy extension and want a solar powered extractor to remove the hot air in summer. Ideally it would be reversible so in spring and autumn it would pump the warm air into the rest of the house. This is the closest I've found yet: http://www.solarshop.co.uk/solar-powered-ventilation/solar-wall-vent-101-white.html0
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I'd try a much simpler idea. On the side of the garage that gets most sunlight, fit some close to ground level vents, no electric required. Then on the cool side of the garage fit high level vents.
The idea is cool air is sucked in the warm side of the garage and the warmed air rushes to the cool side to exit via the higher vents as it will have risen, taking moisture with it. It is after all how clouds are formed
New PV club member. 3.99kW system. Solar Edge with 14 x 285W JA Solar panels. 55° West from south and 35° pitch.0
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