How I made my Pop Can Solar Air Heater

My solar air collector heater. A how to video on the build of it. A more detailed, fast version than other videos on KZbin.

[@increaseenergyeffici]

thanks for sharing your video on how you build your solar heater.. great job..

[@cdomeier122112]

this dude is like seriously legit. like it seems to me ha made it the best way possible. its nice to see someone actually put some thought into a production. love the cinematography too !

[@startsavingenergy1]

this is awesome.. been searching for an easy way to build solar heater.. thanks to this video. I can start building now..

[@henricragnvald124]

a well made film that was fun to watch and very educating. Thank you

[@amandaperez7305]

great job on sharing this video, glad I watch it..

[@nelsonpamphile2227]

Awesome Solar Heater.

[@homevalueglass3809]

Thanks a lot for the video! I was wondering how these would preform in the winter time; I live in Minnesota. I'm thinking about making one and adding a 2nd outside window for an insulated air space. That should help prevent some heat loss from the box. Also, I'll probably try adding low-e mylar film to the inside pane outside surface to trap solar energy in the box, get it like an oven in there. Maybe add a layer of ceramic tiles over the insulation and paint that black. Probably use tempered glass if it'd get too hot in there so it wouldn't crack. If someone had a hunting shack out in the middle of nowhere, a few of these could be a SWEET way to supplement the heating in the winter so they wouldn't have to rely solely on wood or gas.

[@flyty2134]

I love it very informative thanks so much for sharing. God bless.

[@balltungoball9111]

To increase the efficiency use a flat mirror on the ground to reflect sunlight onto the cans. Also instead using cans use ceramic pipe for more thermal mass.

[@howtosavepowersavingtips685]

This is awesome video, thanks for sharing this, this is very inspiring..

[@savingelectricfromho]

thanks for this vidoe now I know where to start with this project..

[@MishaDaBear]

NB Power stated that dark green absorbed more energy faster than matte black and if the science is solid, green should heat a bit faster or a bit hotter!

[@alexmbr]

They really work. I made a small one ( 150 cm x 50 cm). I tested today with a sunny day, with the glass off, and it reached a temp of 63º Celsius. The room temp was around 23º C( South oriented). And my idea is to make a bigger one, and to move this heated air to the other side of the house, where it have no Sun during the day. ;)

[@Thevaluegeek]

Thanks!

[@kngofbng]

Nice numbers, the heater really works. I do wonder how many fingers you have left 9 years later using that technique of pulling the wood towards the saw, though. Hopefully you learned better without needing a trip to the ER.

[@1islam1]

​@@Thevaluegeek🔴 What Is Islam? 🔴 Islam is not just another religion. 🔵 It is the same message preached by Moses, Jesus and Abraham. 🔴 Islam literally means ‘submission to God’ and it teaches us to have a direct relationship with God. 🔵 It reminds us that since God created us, no one should be worshipped except God alone. 🔴 It also teaches that God is nothing like a human being or like anything that we can imagine. 🌍 The concept of God is summarized in the Quran as: 📖 { “Say, He is God, the One. God, the Absolute. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him.”} (Quran 112:1-4) 📚 🔴 Becoming a Muslim is not turning your back to Jesus. 🔵 Rather it’s going back to the original teachings of Jesus and obeying him. More .....👇 🔴 THE RETURN OF JESUS

[@billc.4584]

Clever project. On a side note; I hope that is the nine years since you posted this you've purchased some clamps and a table saw. Some of the work you did with a circular saw made me more impressed you could still count to ten than your wood working skills. Peace.

[@londonpickering8675]

That is slick! Thanks for posting this vid...

[@ProgressiveVegan]

1. Do you block off the holes during summer? 2. Did you experiment with using a push fan (bottom) or pull fan (top) or both or have you left it as passive (hot air rises) air flow? 3. Have you experimented with heating water this same way? I saw one of these that heated air and water. Excellent video. Thanks. I've watched dozens of these videos. Yours is one of the best I've seen.

[@akmediascope]

really great!

[@colorado14k80]

You would get more surface area by cutting the cans in half and screwing them to the backplane. Leave a 1" free area above the can tops for air to circulate and a small fan and you should improve the effective heat held by the larger surface area.

[@sylviahoyt9079]

Added questions if you would be so kind. What are the pros - cons of window frames as opposed just a sheet of glass or glass like material? In your view are cans advantageous over downspouts or screening as heat absorber? Would internal baffles to created a serpentine channel be advantageous? How does the heated come out? Is there an exhaust fan or do you use passive airflow?

[@royalmaster203]

cool, ROI is @ 3 years, thanks for showing how to make this..

[@normaa3328]

You did show everything needed but what steps I have to do to make the heat circulate inside the house. Do I need to install pipes for out and intake air? I was very happy, until I got to the end of the video, you let me hanging. I did like the fact that you gave the list of tools and materials needed. The person taking the video, need to stay still so we can see exactly what need to be done. Thank you.

[@fagica]

Congratulations. One comment: you are young and can bend down easily on the floor. For everyone else i recommend two saw horses and a nice large board so you can work at waist level.

[@davidw.potter1087]

May I suggest taking more time, and cutting the tops and bottoms off all the pop cans? A tough pair of scissors will do, and you cut some of the flare off the top and all of the bottom off. This gives a short, inward-flared-top tube. Smooth out any crimps along the bottom edge, then press the bottom of one down on another top, and you find they'll stick pretty tight--no glue, adhesive, etc., aiding thermal transfer along the tube. Painting each long tube then, before you install in the box also aids heat transfer. As a test of this design, I put about 10 cans together, painted it, stood the tube up on the floor in front of a window with Sun shining in, and in 10 minutes I could feel the warm air coming out the top. I also made a similar heater using pineapple juice cans, but that was a lot of juice! I'd say the best way to install these is to use the passive approach using the 'hot air rises' principle. This may require more store-bought pieces but worth the improvement. Set up a cold-air duct in the dwelling in the floor or bottom of a wall, and run it to the bottom of the heater leaning against the outside Sun-exposed wall. Connect the top of the heater to the dwelling with similar ducts, coming out physically above the cold. Or, if you can, set up the cold exit in the floor, and the hot entrance elsewhere across the space, also at a low spot.

[@Thevaluegeek]

David W. Potter Wow, love it.

[@davidkinzie8998]

Your solar heating will work at A higher efficiency if you drill out both ends of the can and use A higher capacity fan. 140 degrees is too high A discharge temperature. More air and a discharge of around110 degrees would be more efficient. I liked your build with reused windows. I'm building one now for my shop using cardboard instead of Styrofoam insulation. Nice job!

[@71160000]

I'm going to make a couple of suggestions here. I built a solar plane can heater about five or six years back and use it every winter. To start with ditch all the wood. I used a double layer of foil faced styrofoam. It's strong and weighs next to nothing. I used corrugated green house panels for the clear top. Mine has held up through hail storms. Since my house is basically a split level my windows are around ten feet off the ground. I built my heater with an added section at the top that comes off at an angle that allows the can section to sit at a 90 degree angle to the sun during the winter. Now the solar plane comes in as a plenum that fits in the window allowing room air to feed down into the heater at a level below the cans and then at the bottom enter the cans and blows back out above the plenum and the the entire end fits in a window like a window ac would. I take it out in the spring and set it back in late in the fall. It's made from liquid nails as a glue and caulk to seal the panel on top. Foil faced duct tape seals and holds all the joints together. The only wood is at both ends of the cans. The entire unit weighs likely under 15 pounds but heats inside air from forty to fifty degrees for around six hours per day. It convection blows a pretty fair amount of air out of it without a fan. I can't remember if I used cheap flat black paint or stove paint but in truth the inside never gets above 150 degrees so I imagine cheap paint is good enough. I do have a panel of styrofoam that I put into the plenum end when the temp drops to seal it off until the temp rises the next day. I keep an outside temp. sending unit in the end so I know when it's warm enough to open the unit up in the morning. All told I admire anyone who tries to reduce their heating cost. Right now I'm working on installing a geo thermal system using 900' of poly buried 10 feet down and going through a radiator in the basement of my home. Ground temp in my area is supposed to be around 71 degrees so it can work for summer or winter.

[@justmakeit2616]

how.much heat does such an installtion produce in the winter period

[@71160000]

@@justmakeit2616 It depends on ground temp at the depth of installation along with linear footage of the tubing. Water is circulated through the tubing and a fan blows air through a heat exchanger. It can likely run 24hrs per day as cheaply as a couple of light bulbs.

[@justmakeit2616]

@@71160000 Ow i meant the sun can heater. How much heat does that produce during the winter. A geothermal heating is not for me at the moment. But a solar heat exchanger that i can built myself thst i find intresting

[@71160000]

@@justmakeit2616 As I said in the post it raises my inside air temp passing through it by forty to fifty degrees, puts out heat for perhaps six hours. It's enough heat into my den that it shuts down my heating thermostat in the hallway for most of the day. I will occasionally turn on my central heat fan to circulate the added heat from the solar heater throughout the house. Don't expect it to get your home warm and toasty but if you add a couple it will likely be able to do that provided you have south facing exposure and full sun. Mine is hemmed in by large trees although they have dropped their leaves by that time of the year and I still get five to six hours of good heating out of the unit. I would say mine paid for the cost of materials the first winter and I've used it for around five or six years now. I'm beginning to saw out cans to build a second one for this winter.

[@justmakeit2616]

@@71160000 Ah okay and how big is your heating element. I want to make one facing south is easy for me. Im thing aboit makimg one that 'is about 3 feet by 6or. 7feet

[@arealcanadian548]

Your holding the wrong end of that board in your first cut, let the piece your cutting drop -avoids kickback and potential finger loss.

[@ishikaagarwal6945]

hi well i have a question how r we further going to use the heat trapped by the solar panel?

[@johnprocidano3783]

Looks great . . .How do you vent the warm air to the inside of the building .?

[@momstheword11]

did you say it give 1/5 of the heat you use? what about at night? thx for the video

[@cianusaurelius8183]

Am I right to assume that the air moves passively without need for a fan? Have you any idea what rate the air moves at/circulates?

[@secretwaystolowerele]

so how does it works after 3 years.. is it still working the same as you first try this or not..

[@jantonio0099]

muy buen video

[@arjankooyman]

How did you measure the energy? (in GJ)

[@mrb7080]

I know it isn't cheap but do you think using reflective plexi glass against the back board would make more heat against the pop cans

[@louf7178]

Are the "tubes" (connected cans) even needed at this point?

[@alennnnn]

Anyone know if you have to make air intake at the bottom? Doesnt seem like he has one in this video but other videos do. I kinda cant decide and don't know if it is necessary.

[@rickdee1983]

Nice I have been wanting to build one of these. Do you have a set of plans with the dimensions? I tried searching for a set online.

[@Amitsharma-fm2kz]

sir is there any electrical device to be use for suck the air inside or it is natural?

[@danc2014]

How does it connect to the house ? How does it compare to the purchased units? Snow on the others mean your will be covered with the flat surface.

[@besttroutlures9725]

why does it have to be "high heat" paint? High Heat paint is meant to withstand high temps like on a grill. I think all you really need to a flat black. something that is non reflective. I don't know that the "High Heat" paint is bad, but I don't think you specifically need that, unless someone can explain it to me. Still a cool design and nice video. This is not a negative comment.

[@wisdomgametv4594]

Lucky to still have a thumb.

[@kngofbng]

*hand

[@plumbingtanzaniaplumber7570]

Wat kind of glass did you use?

[@geraldlucas8770]

You're not going to have all your fingers very long.

[@charronfamilyconnect]

What do you use this for?

[@sylviahoyt9079]

How well has your heater worked over the some 2 years since it was assembled? I've seen dozens of similar videos but there is little information about the long term results. Added questions if you would be so kind.

[@blahblahblahblah2837]

They lose efficiency over time because the sun shines less and less

[@reasonwhyelectricbi1]

Cool video, but is copper tube and soda cans have the same effect or which is much better and which of this two you can save more?

[@Thevaluegeek]

reasonwhyelectricbi1 Aluminum is better.

[@evasanchez2094]

Great video, thank you for sharing. I'm making my own solar air heater right now and I've noticed that you only removed the bottom of your cans, but not the top, like other people do. Was there a reason for that? Maybe that will increase the final temperature because it will slow down the air circulation? Thank you again.

[@brianob1]

Yeah, I don't think it matters much but will affect the design. So if you cut out both sides, you'll probably want a lower cfm. The area of the collector will make the biggest difference.

[@rumahrekayasa3278]

nice...

[@rosettalatham8476]

ok but it doesnt show what you used to pipe the heat from this into the building or what you used

[@mr.gonzalez5132]

so lets say i do it! what do i do after? how do i get the heat inside my house?

[@denisemsummersett9400]

yeah kind of an important part left out, I was thinking that very thing!

[@tianstn2891]

@@denisemsummersett9400 I assume you just blow normal air into the can... the air will go through the heated can & go out from other hole which connected to an air duct inside the target room.

[@sigguy1361]

Very nice. Two questions: What about using galvanized heating duct from the big box stores? Do you think that would work as well as aluminum cans? Also, what about spraying the window (or plexiglass) cover black as well? Do you think that would add to the insulation? Thanks for the help!

[@Thevaluegeek]

Sig Guy Yes, any aluminum will work. No to spraying the glass. You need the light which is energy to come through.

[@sigguy1361]

Thanks!!

[@tonycrossbee]

I wonder if you could heat a small ice shack with it?

[@Thevaluegeek]

It would be perfect for that.

[@bimediacliste6149]

I live in Tipperary, Ireland. Love the idea and will definitely make one. Thanks for the details. This works like a charm in the states, but have you had any feedback from others who have built it in cooler countries?

[@Thevaluegeek]

bí media cliste Cooler countries is a okay. All that matters is sunlight. Google solar power capabilities or something to find how much energy you can get?

[@kylemccourt663]

You can get even higher CFM's if you use a can opener to remove the tops so they are not restricted by the mouth hole. You can then assemble them with foil duct tape (the real stuff lol).

[@flyboyguru6929]

I love this design, but curious what do you do during the night? The nighttime is when you need the heat the most, however I don't think this does any good without the sunlight, no?

[@Thevaluegeek]

That is correct. This would only be a supplement to other heat. .

[@dymondwillow2]

The cans should not touch the glass by the looks of it. I have an old shower door that I could maybe use. Would it be ok if the glass sat on top of the frame? Good video by the way. Thank you.

[@Thevaluegeek]

dymondwillow2 Yes, of course that would be okay.

[@ryudracul8299]

I wander if I put copper pipes inside the cans to mantain the heat. Will it work?

[@Thevaluegeek]

#1. Copper is expensive. #2. It shouldn't help very much.

[@brethager3265]

Wander? Like you're wandering around? English much?

[@fonzyie]

I know you clean the soda cans but was there a smell coming from unit or the air moving through the soda cans?

[@Thevaluegeek]

There is not.

[@jamichponce3777]

Would any type of paint be okay to use to paint the cans?

[@illiollooff]

no. you need flat black paint so it absorbs the heat and not reflect it.

[@onebadasian]

What does the neighbors think? Dis you have to get a permit?

[@santiagopm88]

Question: why bother with the hole drill if only drilling the bottom end of each can? Couldn't you use a regular drill bit to make a similar sized hole in the bottom as is present in the top? I've been wondering if this might in fact increase turbulence and hence improve heat transfer, or at least remove one of the tools you need

[@diddymuck]

how do you get the heat produced inside the house?

[@robertsherwoodjr4354]

69 x

[@privatear2001]

When you mentioned the 5.2 million BTU's, were you describing the contribution from this ONE panel only, or were you talking about the panel you built PLUS the other three that were around it? If it is from this one panel only, that's pretty impressive. Also, was the hole saw rated for metal, or did you just use one that is good for wood? I'm not sure if they make one that cuts metal??? I would like to build one to be placed INSIDE a house that has many large sliding doors and some windows that reach to the floor. These face south, so I think I can realize a great deal of heat from these with a solar collector and perhaps some sort of solar mass, as well. Do you have another video about how you did the hookup to the house? That would be good to see too, to make it complete. Thanks again and all the best!

[@brianob1]

I wouldn't put it inside, it basically defeats the purpose. These are like additional windows that don't lose heat, but only add it. While I don't have too much experience in use, it doesn't seem to matter as much how you do it, but the surface area of sunlight you collect.

[@privatear2001]

@@brianob1 I was thinking of putting one inside basically without much in the way of insulation, just a box with blackened cans. I have windows that go from floor to ceiling and receive southern sun. I'm basically thinking of a heat sink that is set inside the house, like a wall of black water jugs (too heavy for my application) or that sort of thing. I think there's no reason you couldn't build a solar collector inside a house as long as enough sun came in through the windows. It should collect heat, at least in the daytime, and release it into the room.

[@brianob1]

​@@privatear2001you could do that. I'm not sure how much heat it will add, but doesn't require any house modification. I think you'll just be getting more heat from what color the room is vs black retaining more of the light heat.

[@privatear2001]

@@brianob1 Well, it wouldn't be adding thermal mass so much as a heat collector that would become hot in the sun causing a thermosiphon effect from the top to the bottom pulling in cold air and releasing it hot at the top. I think it would work inside a floor to ceiling window.

[@sheriefelghandour2760]

I have a quite silly question; how does the produced heat reach the house? What is used to connect any solar air heater or solar electric supplier with the House?

[@Thevaluegeek]

Sherief Elghandour You need to engineer it for your situation.

[@rosettalatham8476]

yes i was wondering same he doesnt show what he used or how he decided to pipe it

[@choppergirl]

The problem I see with these are that most of your heat you need is at night... when it drops down to the coldest. In the day time in the South where I live, you don't need very much heat, if the sun hits your house... but it's at night you need the heat generation. So they could help, but they wouldn't be a total solution.

[@korzenik81]

look into sand battery ;)

[@saveonpowerbill]

What is more effective to build the bigger one or the smaller one?

[@Thevaluegeek]

Obrey Sanchez The more sunlight area it can collect, the more heat it would put out.

[@ProgressiveVegan]

@@Thevaluegeek, There are many unanswered comments on this page below your video in case you want to answer any of them.

[@jokkiossaka3306]

Make first a table, no?

[@brandonkeller2358]

So does using the cans to collect the energy put off any harmful chemicals? I want to put one in my barn but don't want to be breathing in anything harmful because of it

[@janerikrasmussen]

safty!

[@bjl1000]

One problem is Black Mold inside the cans. Or BPA.

[@ThomasJoseph315]

Thanks for posting the video, but it solved a question about what is more cost effective. Tea light heater wins.

[@WellnessWizdom]

Sure.... if you don't want any heat.

[@patriciasalvales5224]

is it necessary to color it black?

[@vadimich6794]

yes becouse black color absorbs sunrays the most effectively

[@jeffkendall6349]

why not use PVC tubing painted black?? would that not be much easier, more efficient?

[@denisemsummersett9400]

no sure, but maybe because the cans were "free" after you drank the soda... or you collected them from along the roadway?

[@onebadasian]

$9 or so for a 2x3 down spout.. you would have to buy about 15.. so an extra $135

[@ProgressiveVegan]

Testing has been done and cans with 3 holes are the best including better than down spouts or PVC. Turbulence helps apparently. There's a video about this topic, but I can't find it. This one has some data. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXOvgmWQisqDbdk

[@arminemartirosyan4302]

Hi, I have constructed two panels on my own. I have instaled them on the roof. The two panels are connected and drag the air from one room and pump to another as one. The problems is that on the way from the top (hotest) point of the panel to the fan (approximatety in 2.5m) it loses 70°C of heat. I have inserted a thermo snesor inside the panel, so on the top of the panel the temperature is 106-107°C, while the temperature infront of the fan is 30°C. Did you face any kind of similar problems in your panel's work? What may couse that big heat lost in your oppinion?

[@zeppelin67637]

So, if I made like 40 of these, I could heat my big ole concrete shop! lol It's almost tempting, as it costs about 400 a month just to keep the temp above 40F in winter.

[@have-a-gorepairhero2760]

So your energy bill is only $250 per year? Wow I need to move as mine is £2300 pa

[@goodgirlsguide]

you didn't show fan instillation

[@dreamsat500]

what about night time ? can get heat?

[@SuperSaltydog77]

Can you explain the purpose of the cans in the design?

[@ManolisKatsoulis1357997531]

💐💐💐🌷🌷🌷🤗🤗🤗💖💖💖🌞🌞🌞

[@bjl1000]

By heating those cans you are breathing bpa

[@marcelorak1656]

why are cans on one side opened in full diameter, and on the other side just a fraction, pressure drop is far greater because of more local pressure locations inside tubing that way, and therefore ventilator needs to have more power to circulate the air trough collector

[@marcelorak1656]

btw project looks really nice, good work :)

[@patsygiesler8944]

You are very unsafe with a saw - get some one else to do the cutting.

[@Thevaluegeek]

Patsy Giesler Haha, Yes I am

[@777sillydog]

+The Value Geek yikes! Use clamps, cut away from your hands, please!

[@serg3y]

You don't need cans, all you are after is an air tight cavity, clear front, double glazed for cold climates, black back, insulated back and walls. Why bother with cans?

[@Spinner5151]

Sergey K The cans create a tube that has baffles that slow the air flow. It would help heat the air.

[@serg3y]

to maximize heat transfer you want good air flow and large surface area. Raplace cans with a bunch of black mesh (any material) and you are done. Stop wasting time with cans.

[@alextvmantvman3894]

?????

[@uglyfrog7263]

Here I AM looking for a table, here I am looking for clamps, here i am with no underwear on, here I am rushing to the hospital after drilling a hole in my HAND! Here I am bending over painting my heater, still no table.

[@ziplogix2915]

i subscribed to this channel but after reviewing the comments and how the publisher answered no questions by its viewers tells me this channel is a waste of time..i have a few questions myself but i will obviously have to ask someone else

[@arkansasmountainman]

Yeah, not a lot of interaction even though he says in the video that if you have questions, post them and he will do his best to answer them, lol not so much!

[@michaelwhittaker8424]

This guy does just about everything wrong with his tools.

[@murraymacneill2545]

It would have been nice of you to give credit to the guy in Newfoundland who invented the idea and also posted on utube well before you did. He now does them commercially of course, but the idea was his. It would be more ethical instead of allowing others think you came up with the concept. The way I see it anyways.

[@M5tworude]

Murray MacNeill he never said that it was his idea, he simply took the time to show us how he built his.

[@ProgressiveVegan]

Jim Meaney created this idea of CanSolAir as far as I know. He sells pre-made units. www.cansolair.com/

[@ProgressiveVegan]

Video of CanSolAir and Jim Meaney. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIO9p3R3pt-Lf9k

[@noyezz3690]

only saving 50 dollar a year ... how is that possible :) that's not much at all

[@jtrainer8924]

You must not value your hands…

[@garyjonson1872]

FAKE.