Solar on a Shoestring: Mother's Automatic Collector Control

(Page 2 of 2)

March/April 1980
By the Mother Earth News staff 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

You can start the installation by lifting the upper panel of corrugated fiberglass (if you've already built your corrugated collector) to expose a point about a foot from the top, and two "channels" over from the air intake. Drill a 1/2" hole through the Thermax insulating board and the wall, and run two wires through the opening. Then use screws to fasten a 70-160°F warm air fan control to the collector surface, and attach each of the wires to a pole on the control. The positive wire will go to a power source inside the house, and the neutral wire will connect to one terminal on a 115V thermostat located near the main thermostat for your heating system. (WARNING: Before you make the "hot" connection to your home's electrical system, BE SURE TO SHUT OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR THAT SECTION OF YOUR ABODE'S WIRING TO AVOID SHOCK.)

RELATED CONTENT

Once the hot-wire/control/thermostat circuit is complete, you can set the temperature scale on the collector's sensor to about 120-130°F and close the corrugated fiberglass again. Next, run a wire from the remaining lug on the interior thermostat to the positive pole on the blower, and then connect the ground post on the fan to any available ground in your house's wiring.

Now you can flip the circuit breaker back on again and set the interior thermostat to a temperature a few degrees higher than your main furnace control. As long as there's heat in the collector, your energy-consuming traditional heating system will be taking a moneysaving rest. As a matter of fact, Dennis has found that—on a clear, crisp winter day—the blower will kick in as soon as 20 minutes after sunrise and keep his home warm all day long. And best of all, his heating bills have already dropped from $90 per month to a little under $40!

Page: << Previous 1 | 2 |
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

  • Robert Eidt 12/28/2008 6:02:54 PM

    Nice and simple, but no mention that the fan control is a "Normally Open (NO)" thermostat. I think it's obvious to most but I thought I might clarify.

    This means the collector must reach a preset temp before it closes its contact. While in this state, if the thermostat inside the home calls for heat then, while both conditions are met, the blower will run. If either the hose comes to its preset temperature, or the collector temperature drops below it's preset temperature, the blower will turn off.

    -Thanks!!

Add Your Comment

Please note that there is currently a problem with the comments function and your comment may or may not post successfully. We are working to correct the problem and thank you for your patience. 

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Mother Earth News readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Mother Earth News?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.