[Stoatus]

I'm tempted to have a go at constructing something like this to provide solar heating in my greenhouse. Before I start guzzling the requisite cans of beer, has anyone else tried it?

If not, can anyone think of another excuse for drinking huge quantities of beer?

http://www.hacknmod.com/hack/free-heat-using-pop-cans-and-plexiglass/

[DD.]

If not, can anyone think of another excuse for drinking huge quantities of beer?

You need an excuse? :shock:  :shock:

[Stoatus]

You need an excuse?

To be honest, no! I occasionally feel the need to explain my consumption levels to my wife though. This would be a handy prop!

[richyrich7]

Thats a good idea, I'll have to scrounge some beers cans tho'

[Elcie]

So you would build something like that and then have a pipe going into the greenhouse?

I have plenty of empty beer cans and an unheated greenhouse!!

[DD.]

Surely that would only work when the sun was out, or at least getting a reasonable amount of light, which is precisely when you don't need extra heat?

[Stoatus]

So you would build something like that and then have a pipe going into the greenhouse?

Yep. You have two pipes: an inlet pipe to suck cold air out of the bottom of the greenhouse and an outlet pipe to pump the warmer air back in at the top (you would need some bubblewrap insulation to stop the heat going straight out of the top!). If you were feeling ambitious you could provide a solar fan to assist the airflow.

The comments below the article suggest that the can cylinders would be better arranged as a horizontal zigzag to maximise the distance the air travels through the tube and thus the warming recieved from the sun.

There are a few articles about this linking off the one I posted earlier. This one has a video.

http://www.hacknmod.com/hack/how-to-go-green-this-winter-with-diy-free-heating/

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sorry chaps but the design call for soda pop cans NOT beer cans    

[DD.]

I'm sorry chaps but the design call for soda pop cans NOT beer cans    

It's called improvisation!

[Stoatus]

Surely that would only work when the sun was out, or at least getting a reasonable amount of light, which is precisely when you don't need extra heat?

Yep. You would need some insulation to keep some of the heat in and frost off during the night. You wouldn't want it in place in the summer  - unless you wanted to cook your tomatoes as they grew!

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sorry chaps but the design call for soda pop cans NOT beer cans    

It's called improvisation!

Drinking beer is very dangerous Dave  :shock:

[DD.]

I'll risk it.

[FCG]

That a self portrait Sally?

This seems like a great idea - it can easily be expanded with 'bigger' cans  :twisted:

[Poolfield2]

Doesn't an old radiator painted black work? Not as much fun as the beer if you like the stuff.

[Stoatus]

I have seen radiators painted black used in home made solar water heaters but not solar air heaters, but I guess it could still work. Or perhaps you could heat a tank of water in the greenhouse during the day so it slowly releases the energy during the night to keep the frost off :idea: .