How to build cheap solar heater / solar panel (Beer Can Passive Solar Heater)

How to build cheap solar heater (Beer Can Passive Solar Heater).

First of all you need some empty beer cans (beer cans are made of aluminum generally)
Next you need some tools:

• drill (or better table drill) to drill each can at the top and the bottom of the can
  
• 44mm (1.73 inch) Bi-Metal holesaw to drill in aluminum
• some kind of hand-made tool to protect your hands while drilling cans

• heat-resistant adhesive to glue the cans, I used black Soudal silicone, it's heat-resistant up to 200 °C (392 °F)

Instruction::Building solar heater made of beer-cans in a few steps:

1. tests of the solar energy temperature measurement, etc.
2. drilling cans
3. gluing drilled cans together
4. testing matt black lacquer which is better for "collecting" sun energy
5. painting the solar heater
6. making the stand for the solar
7. solar heater - first part is ready
8. test of the first part of the solar
9. second part of my solar is ready
   
10. whole solar panel is finished
11. final tests
12. how my solar heater is working
    

My solar heater::how it's working

On the image below, you can see how my solar panel works and how does it affect temperature inside my house.

Beer Can Passive Solar Heater::Final Tests

So, after a few days I can present final tests results.


maximum measured air temperature at the top of the solar heater :: 44.6 °C (112.28 °F), temperature outside - about 7 °C (44.6 °F)

I think it's quite good, my first solar heater is working great!!!

Beer Can Passive Solar Heater::Finished

My first Beer Can Passive Solar Heater is finished, up and working :-)

Second part of my solar heater

This is the second part of my solar heater

First real tests of my solar heater

Now it's time to make some real tests, let's check what that crazy solar heater can do...

First test::partially cloudy weather

• measured air temperature at the top of the solar heater is about 23 °C (73.4 °F)

Second test::some more sun, but not the "clear blue sky"

• measured air temperature at the top of the solar heater is about 32 °C (89.6 °F)
  

Third test::almost clear blue sky :-)

• measured air temperature at the top of the solar heater is about 41.5 °C (106.7 °F), temperature outside - about 10 °C (50 °F)
  

My solar heater::up and "running"

First part of my special beer can solar heater "is up and running" :-)