Heating my greenhouse

Discussion in 'Allotments Discussion' started by Notty1975, Jul 14, 2017.

  1. Notty1975

    Notty1975 Gardener

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    IMG_2079.JPG IMG_0490.JPG IMG_2077.JPG Hi all just joined the forum after reading a good few posts and think it amazing
    Got my plots last year and built my shed and sorted my rain water harvesting out my next step is the green house I'm planning a 8x24 as below made from reclaimed Perspex sheets I'm planning on sectioning it off into 3 (8x8) each and making double glazed units out of the Perspex for the roof and front part of the centre section in the hope the outer sections will help insulate in the winter? I have a good soler set up running pumps lights etc but I'm looking for a renewable way of heating it my ideas so far
    Get an old fridge/freezer and use it as a heat exchanger with either the exchanger in the centre part using a fan blowing across it or
    Make a new exchanger and put it into a recycled hot water tank filled with oil (heats up quicker than water) and then pump that oil into radiators for heating using a inverter to power
    Other options would be get a oil filled radiator and convert the element to a 12v dc one
    I've done loads of research but can't seam to find anything on which will be more efficient and effective
    Sorry for the essay hoping for ideas thoughts and suggestions
    Thanks all
     
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    • CarolineL

      CarolineL Total Gardener

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      If you are trying to build a heat pump to transfer heat from (say) ground to greenhouse, then it works optimally when temperatures are close. Otherwise the heat pump can use a significant amount of energy. Are you expecting your solar power system to power the pump for the heat exchanger? Don't think it'll produce enough oomph when you need it in the cool spring and skies cloudy.
       
    • Notty1975

      Notty1975 Gardener

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      No was planning on putting the cooling part on the outside then the heat exchanger in one of the way mentioned my solar system will easily power it it's only around 150w drain my system is running around 1k with a mppt controller and 6 110a/h leisure batteries but in the winter when the heating will be used it's only around 70% efficient otherwise I would have thought about using a fan heater
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      Take it you'll be insulating all the non perspects bit? :)
       
    • Notty1975

      Notty1975 Gardener

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      Yep it will all be insulted probably with kingspan
       
    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      That's rather rude and disrespectful of them! :)
       
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        Last edited: Jul 15, 2017
      • Notty1975

        Notty1975 Gardener

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        Confused as to what you mean lol
         
      • toppington

        toppington Tiny garden, always on the cheap!

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        @Notty1975 you wrote that "it will all be insulted probably with kingspan"

        Think @Scrungee was just saying having kingspan insult your greenhouse would be really horrid of them!

        Hopefully they will be insulating it instead! :snorky:
         
      • Notty1975

        Notty1975 Gardener

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        Omg didn't even notice that lol heads not quite been with it been busy on the land putting a fence up
         

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        • CanadianLori

          CanadianLori Total Gardener

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          @Scrungee naughty boy. No trolling :)

          You need a spanking! :heehee:
           
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          • BeeHappy

            BeeHappy Total Gardener

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            @Notty1975 :wow: loving your fencing - some great ideas and plans you have - busy, busy you'll be but excellent start for next years growing season :yes:
             
          • ricky101

            ricky101 Total Gardener

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            Hi,

            Have you got the perspex sheets ? How thick are they ?

            Having seen a friend trying to replace some glass with 3mm perspex on a greenhouse with standard 2ft sheets you could see they flexed to such a degree that they were almost coming out of the retaining clips.

            Looking at your pictures it seems you are going for 3ft panels, so you may need additional struts to prevent bowing and allow a much wider rebate at the edges to hold it securely.

            If you can get 10mm twinwall polycarbonate its much stiffer and has high insulation properties.

            For your heating, so many green ways to do it, but would suggest in one of your sections where you house your best plants, that you uses a main electric 1 to 2kw fan heater and a good electronic thermostat thats set to 3 or 4 deg c so you ensure its kept frost free.
             
          • Notty1975

            Notty1975 Gardener

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            The Perspex is 6mm thick and will make sure the rebate is quite deep it's not going to be held in with clips there's going to be beading holding it in
            As for the heating the fan heater I think would put a lot of strain on my solar setup but have been doing a good bit of research and think I'm going to go down the jean pein method as there are 4x4ft cubed compost bins right next to the greenhouse so should be able to keep nice and warm
             
          • CanadianLori

            CanadianLori Total Gardener

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            4x4 is fairly small for a Jean Pain method ... I do hope it works though and will look forward to seeing updates and pics of your project. :)
             
          • Notty1975

            Notty1975 Gardener

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            It is a bit small but am currently trying it with a rad in my shed and the compost is running around 65c it has been for 2 weeks now it's doing a good job I think I may have to put fresh compost in more frequently that's all which is not a bad thing plenty of good compost plus free heating win win
             
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