Why not make your own?

Cans are not a problem around my shop....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNSfoHs8UpA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I circulate mine through a Life Breath heat air exchanger.

http://www.lifebreath.com/

Picked it up used at Tims ReUseables about 5 years ago on the cheap.

Exactly what I hve been reading further on after posting this. Guess I might have to find a few guys who want to sit around and drink a few cans of brew......like 240 or so of them.

Solar hot air heaters are simple to make and remarkably efficient.

Seen these around, don't know ne 1 that would or has bought one, there just to simple to make. I love that the owner is able to sell a few and bring this kinda thing to public attention and all. Its easy here to stock up on firewood and with a good wood stove get cooking and heating in one. So I got no real plans on building one of my own at the moment.

I keep thinking it would be a good idea to make one for heating in the winter and in the summer pipe it into a dehydrator or simply duct the heat to your water heater.
An even better or bigger one could supply the heat for a water distiller, maybe with added reflectors like a solar oven.

Thanks for the comments. I am going to build one to do some experimenting with and see what I can learn. I am hoping to see that the system would work well to supply day time heating (even in our Alberta winters) to a small 20x24 open cabin. I dont think it would work overly well for nighttime heat, but if it could help save on some wood I see it as an advantage.
So step 1 is build a small unit.
Step 2 then hook it up to a small enclosed space (thinking an larger ICE Fishing Hut, Canvas or poly tent/greenhouse, or perhaps even a garage. )
Step 3 keep track of temperatures inside.

Unfortuneatly living in the City I will have to do this somewhere else as I can already picture the complaints from the neighbors.

Thanks for the comments. I am going to build one to do some experimenting with and see what I can learn. I am hoping to see that the system would work well to supply day time heating (even in our Alberta winters) to a small 20x24 open cabin. I dont think it would work overly well for nighttime heat, but if it could help save on some wood I see it as an advantage.
So step 1 is build a small unit.
Step 2 then hook it up to a small enclosed space (thinking an larger ICE Fishing Hut, Canvas or poly tent/greenhouse, or perhaps even a garage. )
Step 3 keep track of temperatures inside.

Unfortuneatly living in the City I will have to do this somewhere else as I can already picture the complaints from the neighbors.

Thanks for the comments. I am going to build one to do some experimenting with and see what I can learn. I am hoping to see that the system would work well to supply day time heating (even in our Alberta winters) to a small 20x24 open cabin. I dont think it would work overly well for nighttime heat, but if it could help save on some wood I see it as an advantage.
So step 1 is build a small unit.
Step 2 then hook it up to a small enclosed space (thinking an larger ICE Fishing Hut, Canvas or poly tent/greenhouse, or perhaps even a garage. )
Step 3 keep track of temperatures inside.

Unfortuneatly living in the City I will have to do this somewhere else as I can already picture the complaints from the neighbors.

I saw this a few years ago on you tube and thought it was pretty neat. At that time the only one selling in Alberta was in Edmonton. I was almost floored when he told me the price. $2500 for the unit and approximately $500 to install. So I started collecting my own cans. Made a jig out of plywood in a V to hold the cans, used regular silicone to attach them to each other. Painted flat black with paint cans. The test model was only 3X5 feet and propped up by the patio door (no real south facing area) but it worked raised the temp 40 deg F on the small model. No reason why a 4X8 would not work providing you have a good south facing area to mount it.
I would not pay the estimated $3000 they wanted payback would be years away.

I made my own portable 3kw solar/wind system a couple of years ago. The prices of quality solar components has dropped significantly in the last couple of years. I would strongly suggest if you are considering solar take some time to price out the components. Xantrex, Outback, Magna all make good quality inverters. Coupled with good quality batteries you should expect 8yrs min out of the batteries. When you crunch the numbers taking into account fuel/repair of conventional diesel/gas generators solar systems are gain momentum for legitimate reasons.

Insulating your box is made simple by using hydronic in floor heating insulation. Basically a bubble wrap that resists heat with a reflective side.

Works awesome.

I built one and have it installed on my porch. Right now it's covered with a white sheet, so will need to be tested in the fall & winter. Got an old window from Re-Store, have about 90 cans in there. Watched a few videos on you tube and found out that you don't need to fart around baffling the cans and assembling them in a particular way. That just makes a lot of extra work for nothing.

I have been watching some of these you tube videos on solar heaters, for heating floors, air, and water. Am just starting to think about assembling all the bits I will need to build one. I have been looking around at my neighbours and friends to see if any of them could help me empty the cans… not sure ???? Now... maybe you all can understand why I am looking for new neighbours and friends..LOL!
Interested to see how much heat can me generated, without the unit being so big that it draws attention.