Anyone built a solar powered space heater for their coop?

[buzymom13]

So, I've been thinking of trying to build a solar powered space heater for my coop for the winter. I'm researching it online and trying to figure out how to make it all work. Anyone done this before?

Any suggestions?


Thankx lots!

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I dont know how, but Im subscribing..

ETA.. I also want to know how to run a pump for a pond with solar.

 

[nes]

I've never done it before but if you've got a specific question I do know an electrician who has done some work with solar panels for houses before

.

(as in: I'm married to him...)

 

[buzymom13]

Thankx nes.... If I come up with a specific I'll get back to ya. I'm still at the "reading everything I can find" stage of planning and learning.

I get "obsessed" about things and then I have to research til my husband says, "OK>>OK...let's do it"... LOL

 

[HennyJenny]

I researched this sometime back and it seems possible but I could never get quite clear on two things 1. How many solar panels I needed to obtain the desired affect and 2. Would I get enough sun for the process to work on the days it was needed the most. I may still try it but after you get past the "how" of doing it - those seem to be the biggest obstacles. In the end, an engineer friend is building a mini wind turbine for my roof to run my fan - cool for the summer and wind I've got 365 days a year!

 

[AccioSarah]

Quote:

I'm the exact same way! I researched chickens for two months before I even placed the order!

 

[buzymom13]

So far I've researched and found this to be the most inexpensive and simple way of getting done what I want. I'm still looking it over...


http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/26/almost-free-garage-heat-just-drink-a-lot-of-soda/


Hopefully, I can find some more sites that have the ups/downs of this style.

Back to the search engine....

 

[RocketDad]

For cost effectiveness and efficiency, passive solar works better than photovoltaics. Most of the PV panels we're likely to find today are about 25 - 30% efficient, meaning that they convert that percentage of light to electricity.

Flat black spray paint has an absorption of about 90 to 95%.

 

[whogroomer]

If your looking for a good kit to get started with solar, check this out.... You couldn't run a space heater, but it could run a light bulb in the evenings, and could be used to run a small fan to circulate warm air from a passive solar heater.

http://amzn.com/B000CIADLG


It comes with everything you need except a storage battery. I own one, and was hoping to use with my coop, but I haven't built it yet

 

[sonew123]

Im posting in hopes someone does find something close to this so I can do it before winter again