Solar Power in the Chicken House

[Echetino]

So, what is the final analysis of this project? Success? Not feasible? Incomplete?
I'm going to attempt a similar endeavor. I'll keep you all posted!
Thanks for all the valuable information, Great Stuff.

 

[cutlass1972]

I am still working on mine. I have 3 muffin fans running directly off my solar panels for ventilation, this has been in effect all summer and works fantastically. I need to incorporate my solar charger and a battery, then I can try and work in some other things like the little heat strip to keep the water defrosted, and coop door opener.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I stumbled on this thread and thought you may be interested in this article from Mother Earth News. This solar heater was constructed for the guys garage. If you get a good amount of sun during the winter, I can see how this would work nicely. But, unfortunately, it would only produce heat during the day.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/2006-12-01/Build-a-Simple-Solar-Heater.aspx

This is an article for a solar heated livestock tank. It would be overkill for chickens, but maybe give you guys some ideas that might lead somewhere.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/do-it-yourself/solar-stock-tank-z10m0gri.aspx

I knew a guy back in Wisconsin that had installed piping on the roof of his garage, used a pressure release valve, and installed radient floor heat tubing in the slab of his garage. I believe the piping was in a shallow box, painted black inside, and had old window panes on it as a lid. The sun heats the piping on the roof (the black box helps that and also keeps the wind from cooling the pipes down) and then the pressure from the expanding hot water forces the hot water down into the slab and the cooling of the water pulls the cold water up to the roof panels. There was no electric pump in the system at all, it was completely convection; however, there may have been some sort of backflow preventer in the system somewhere. I wish I cold remember all the details. I do know it stayed warm enough in the garage to work on his cars and tractors in short sleeves most of the winter. It never went below freezing in his garage either.

 

[cutlass1972]

I remember reading the first article. I actually built a passove solar heater after reading it. The clear plastic broke down in the sunlight in less than a year.

 

[CluckyJay]

I know its a little old--but this thread might be helpful to get ready for winter watering.

 

[webrey227]

Quote:
Yeah, it is...The idea of raising chickens has always fascinated me. Solar Power Melbourne , I'd like to mount a couple of solar panels and a converter.

 

[Arielle]

this is the way to--go solar. this thread has inspired me to get going again with solar!

 

[CluckyJay]

Awesome!

 

[johnnystrauss77]

I have found that solar panels have become essential part of our economy in saving electricity. I know it has some remedies but think about only benefits it giving to us by providing pollution free zone. Solar power could be next source of energy for consumption and we all going to depend on it.

Solar Panels Maryland

 

[srothove]

I can't wait to find out how this turns out. Keep us posted, Scott!