Solar collecting panel "set-up"
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:57 am
To all you "experts" in solar heating!
I have been giving thought to placing a solar panel outside my home..located on the ground. I just don't like the idea of mounting it on my roof.
My initial thoughts are (forgive my lack of knowledge here)---to somehow run my hot air from the panel through my skirting and connect to my furnace ductwork under the house (about 6-8 ft).
Then I have to figure out how to move the air to the rest of the house using my furnace blower...the solar connector will be at the far end of the duct run from the furnace! Problems?
My main question though is this. I notice that panel set-ups that I have seen online, including Mark's, has a hot air feed and a cool air return going through the wall of the house. IF I can successfully run my feed to my furnace duct, is it ABSOLUTELY necessary to provide a return INSIDE the house back to the panel---OR can I pick up air from the backside (shade side) of the panel and send it through the heating up process in the panel?
Will that work, and will it work adequately?
I will wait for your EXPERT answers!
I won't be doing any of this until Spring now, but just trying to gain a bit of knowledge here now.
Thanks
I have been giving thought to placing a solar panel outside my home..located on the ground. I just don't like the idea of mounting it on my roof.
My initial thoughts are (forgive my lack of knowledge here)---to somehow run my hot air from the panel through my skirting and connect to my furnace ductwork under the house (about 6-8 ft).
Then I have to figure out how to move the air to the rest of the house using my furnace blower...the solar connector will be at the far end of the duct run from the furnace! Problems?
My main question though is this. I notice that panel set-ups that I have seen online, including Mark's, has a hot air feed and a cool air return going through the wall of the house. IF I can successfully run my feed to my furnace duct, is it ABSOLUTELY necessary to provide a return INSIDE the house back to the panel---OR can I pick up air from the backside (shade side) of the panel and send it through the heating up process in the panel?
Will that work, and will it work adequately?
I will wait for your EXPERT answers!
I won't be doing any of this until Spring now, but just trying to gain a bit of knowledge here now.
Thanks