How to build a solar heating panel with soda cans

If you have good exposure to the sun on one side of your house, you can take advantage of free heat from the sun with this DIY solar panel, which uses soda cans to collect and transfer the sun's energy in your home.

Sometimes low-tech solar devices are much better than the high-tech home use, as they not only tend to be cheaper to make, but also will last much longe

r before any repairs or maintenance are necessary.

And even better, you can build on some of the components reused or recycled, which is something you do not see very often in new solar devices.

This space solar heater design soda cans used to increase surface area for heat transfer in the interior thereof, and in its most basic design, uses no external power to move the air.

Double-glazed glass or polycarbonate panels make up the front of the device, which the sun's rays to enter it while restricting heat loss to the outside air, and the box is also insulated for greater efficiency.

When exposed to sunlight, the air inside the solar heater begins to heat up, and as it does, rises to the top of the box and can be ported directly to the house.

For more control over the system, you can add small fans, thermostats, so that the hot air enters the house only after the temperature reaches a desired range, and adjustable air system output register allows the system seems almost invisible from inside the living room.


For a complete overview and downloadable plans for this DIY solar heater, see Pop-Can Collector Solar Heating Greg.