Homemade Solar Hot-Air Collectors

Solar hot air collectors are installed outside of your home, ideally on a southerly exposure, where they can be exposed to the sun for the longest part of the day. Solar hot air collectors are positioned just below or beside a ground level window at a 45 degree angle towards the sun. Cool air from the house is fed through into the back portion of the collector; it drops towards the bottom of the collector, is heated on the front portion of the collector then is returned to the house. You easily make one at home.

36 inch by 48 inch sheet of plywood
32 inch by 42 inch sheet of plywood
Six wood squares, 2 by 4 inches
Two pieces of lumber, 48 inch 2 by 4 inch
36 inch 2 by 4 inch lumber
36 inch by 48 inch sheet of Plexiglas
Flat black paint
Duct venting
Two lengths of flexible hose

Instructions

- 1
  Attach the two lengths of 48 inch lumber on the sides of the one of the pieces of plywood. Attach the 36 inch lumber to the bottom of the plywood. Screw the lumber to the plywood through the narrow side so the wood is standing its tallest. This will leave the top end open, where duct work carrying the air will be connected.
- 2
  Screw the six 2 by 4 inch square blocks into the plywood. Attach them so they are laying on the largest side, and only rise 2 inches. These form the "feet" for the second layer of plywood to rest on.
- 3
  Position and secure the second piece of plywood by screwing the plywood into the 2 by 4 inch blocks, leave a gap at the bottom of the collector to allow the air to pass from the back of the collector to the front.
- 4
  Paint the collector with the flat black paint. Let it dry.
- 5
  Screw the 36 by 48 inch Plexiglas onto the front of the collector.
- 6
  Run a bead of silicone around the Plexiglas to seal the collector.
- 7
  Connect the cold air duct vent to the opening on the back half of the collector at the top where the collector rests against the house. Connect the warm air duct vent work to the front half of the collector. All four sides of the collector are now sealed. The top of collector has venting for the cold air supply and the warm air return. Run a bead of silicone around the top of collector to seal the collector and prevent any air from escaping.
- 8
  Position the collector against the side of your house either beside or below the window. Open the window and connect two plastic flexible hoses to the collector. One hose will connect to the duct venting on the back of the collector; this will carry the cool air from the house to the collector. The other hose will connect to the duct venting on the front of the collector and will carry the warm air back to the house.
- 9
  The cold air will draw into the collector, the sun will heat it and it will feed back into your home.

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