You can build a very effective solar space heater for around 400 in parts.
Run a space heater off a solar panel.
Over the course of a sunny day this system can heat a room at zero cost.
It s a question that comes up often for those looking into smaller scale solar installations.
The size shown can heat a small office in the dead of winter as long as the sun is shining or you can build smaller units to distribute around your house.
Most electric space heaters are a minimum of 1000 watts of 120v power.
Solar infra systems solar infra systems has a portable solar air heater that doesn t require installation.
Let s say you could achieve an overall solar array conversion efficiency of 20 and you want to generate 1 2kw of power to run a space heater.
What can you run with a 100 watt solar panel.
So the total sun power hitting your photocells times 20 is the amount of electrical power your photocells will generate which needs to be 1 2kw.
The heater is most efficient in rooms that are 150 square feet or smaller.
There are no pumps fans or moving parts.
Low to medium watt panels designed for camping and outdoor applications are perfect for this end and going with an electrical heater means you never have to worry about running out of heat if you need to work inside your garage at night.
Or a third option would be to convert a traditional electric space heater to solar by plugging it into a portable solar panel.
You would need at least 1500 watts of solar a charge controller batteries an inverter.
The beginning stages of research with solar power is always how much power with how many panels.
It s definitely a smart way to go.
This allows for the inefficiency of the conversion storage units might i suggest a propane kerosene or diesel space heater instead.