How to Build a Small Solar Heater
- 1). Draw 20 parallel lines that are each ten inches long and an inch apart in the center of the poster board.
- 2). Covered the lined area with an even coat of spray adhesive and quickly press the ten pennies onto each line about a quarter inch apart. Allow the adhesive to fully dry according to the manufacturer's directions or until it no loner feels tacky.
- 3). Spray the pennies and entire front of the poster board with matte black paint. The color black absorbs more heat from the sun's rays than any other color. Allow the spray paint to fully dry according to the manufacturer's directions or until it no longer feels tacky.
- 4). Cut a two inch wide and ten inch long opening in one of the narrower sides of the plastic tub with the razor blade knife. Cut a half inch wide and ten inch long opening in the other narrow side.
- 5). Press the poster board down into the plastic tub with the black penny-covered side facing up. Bend the board so it runs down along the long sides of the tub and touches the bottom below the vent slats. Cut away the excess poster board that rises above the upper edges of the tub with the razor knife.
- 6). Fix the trimmed poster board into the container by taping it down along the edges with clear packing tape.
- 7). Choose a window inside a room that gets direct sunlight for several hours a day to mount the small solar heater.
- 8). Press the top of the plastic tub up against the inside of the chosen window with the wider vent opening facing up. Secure it to the glass with the clear packing tape.
Source...