Tons of links - Solar hot water heaters - Solar hot air heaters etc.

[Nifty]

I was up really late the other night watching a ton of YouTube videos. My FIL build a huge solar oven and so I thought I'd send him some of the links. Well, since I had them all in an email I figured I'd post them here for reference:

Ive been thinking about your solar oven and it reminded me of a few projects Ive seen over the years:


Hot water heater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfv9QenZBSM&feature=relmfu
Another hot water heater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBAi_TVNaiM
And one more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXXOwfZA2Rk (I like this guys projects!)
Ok, just one more I stumbled on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjfR_rmOgc8&feature=related


The ones that really excite me are hot air heaters. Every Winter I feel the hot sun outside but it is freezing inside and Id love to find ways to get the heat from the sun outside to come inside!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9bBnRQWRro&feature=channel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHdH4t8TNwM


Also a few other things you might be interested in:
My conversion to upside down fires: (from my blog) http://www.nifty-stuff.com/upside-down-top-down-fire.php
Swedish fire torch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfRovJ1KcCg&feature=related


And my favorite project for some day: rocket stoves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtFvdMk3eLM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bsUd5zLcLw
http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp

 

[Denim Deb]

I've modified your upside down fire, and use it to start fires all the time. I've found it works better for me to put the kindling on top of the paper-especially if I'm building it outside. But, I love that method. It doesn't take the same amount of tending as traditional methods do.

 

[Nifty]

I know, right!?!? It's amazing how well it works.

I was at some friend's house and we were going to start a fire in a pit outside and they didn't believe it would work... boy were they surprised!

I would probably still use the "traditional way" (log cabin, teepee, etc.) if I need a big fire fast since the upside down can take a little longer to start (in my experience).

 

[Denim Deb]

That's why I've been doing the kindling on top of the paper. The kindling holds the paper down, and seems to catch better. I might have to add a bit more kindling while it starts to burn, but once it's going good, it's great!