Solar On A Shoestring: Mother's Corrugated Collector

(Page 2 of 2)

November/December 1979
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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Once the paint is dry, lay each piece of ripple board on an appropriate frame member, and secure the "wobble wood" with three nails per section. The translucent corrugated fiberglass fits right over the wood, and—after you've drilled a hole that's three sizes smaller than the diameter of the rubber-sealed roofing nails (which secure the covering) through every third bump in both the wood and the glass—you can caulk the surfaces and affix the light—admitting material.

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Finally, tack and carefully apply silicone-seal to a 12-foot strip of "dripedge" along the top and bottom of the collector ... to seal the fiberglass and protect the wood from rain. Then cut a 94 X 8" vent in the vertical 2 X 4 next to the exhaust duct, to allow the collector to breathe during extremely warm spells. (Of course, this hole should be plugged when you're using the solar heater.) In addition, if you live in a very windy climate, you may wish to add an extra layer of glazing for insulation. (We've found the 3M Company's Flexigard plastic, in 3-mil thickness, to be an excellent substance for this purpose.)

To start your solar "heater" up, just insert a blower (about one cubic-foot-per-minute capacity for each square foot of collector) in the intake duct, and let the sunshine warm your home. In moderate climates, two of these devices can heat your entire abode for less than $300 total cost (including the blowers). At that rate, the materials should return your investment in less than a year.

Material List

(4) 2'-foot by 12-foot sheets corrugated fiberglass
(3) 3/4 inch by 4-foot by 8-foot sheets Thermax
(9) 8-foot strips ripple board
(2) 12-foot strips "drip edge"
(1) quart flat black paint
(3) tubes silicone caulking
(7) 8-foot long 2-by-4s
(2) 12-foot 2-by-4s
nails

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Comments

  • hhunt 10/16/2009 11:22:20 AM

    This article is as it appeared in the 1979 isue of the magazine. We have no further plans for this project.

  • Zanne 10/15/2009 10:53:27 PM

    Forgot to add one thing. The article mentions a blower, but doesn't have it in the list of items needed or say exactly what type of blower. I'm assuming it's not electrified - would defeat the whole purpose. Is it just a set of blades that you attach and the warm air moves them? Can someone please elaborate on this?
    Thanks

  • Zanne 10/15/2009 10:49:16 PM

    I too would like to be able to get the plans. These instructions leave a lot to be desired. And what is "ripple board"? I've done a lot of work on my house, but never heard of this before.

    Also, it would help if pics were next to the section being described instead of a separate photo gallery. This goes for all articles.

  • Leslie Newberger 2/9/2009 8:35:33 PM

    I don't see where I can get the actual plans for Mother's corrugated Collector.

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