Mini-Greenhouse Design

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Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1384967563	Reply with quote #1

Here's a sketch design for a mini-greenhouse I'm intending to build around my basement-laundry window. Instead of duplicating information, more details are available HERE: http://simplysolar.supporttopics.com/post/mini-greenhouse-by-gh-6579333 G_H Footnote... Quote: There are some conflicts between using an attached greenhouse for space heating, and using it for plant growing. For maximum space heating of the attached house, the greenhouse space should have little thermal mass in order to provide a maximum of heat to the house during the sunny period. A low thermal mass greenhouse of this type will not be suitable for growing plants year round in cold climates, as the night time temperatures will go below freezing -- however, it may still be useful for extending the plant growing season. On the other hand, greenhouses intended for growing plants year round need more thermal mass to keep their heat overnight, and will have less heat to transfer to an attached house. Footnote quotation curtesy of http://www.builditsolar.com Attached Images MINISERRE.jpg (93.04 KB, 117 views) __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

solardan1959

Registered:1353153771
Posts: 1,845

Posted 1384977431	Reply with quote #2

Hermit, Is that a mini greenhouse or mini sunspace? ( want to make sure your in the right group ) Dan

Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1385006490	Reply with quote #3

Well spotted Dan ! Actually, I think it is BOTH ! -- hence the hesitation ! Guess we need another topic - "Hybrid Lean-to Designs", but maybe that would be getting excessive G_H __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

solardan1959

Registered:1353153771
Posts: 1,845

Posted 1385007273	Reply with quote #4

Hermit, I think yours is closer to a sunspace, mine is only a green house when I describe it to the wife. Tonight I was in there grilling sausages, drinking Newcastle "cabbie" black ale, and listening to Joe Walsh's "life's been good to me so far" And it seemed like it was for a while. Outside it was about 40 at 6 PM, 65 in the Sunspace, but on it's way to -20 F on Saturday with a high of 17 F. At least it should be a little sunny so it will be warmer in the sunspace! Dan

gbwillson

Registered:1352981942
Posts: 2,263

Posted 1385008300	Reply with quote #5

Quote: Originally Posted by solardan1959 Hermit, I think yours is closer to a sunspace, mine is only a green house when I describe it to the wife. Tonight I was in there grilling sausages, drinking Newcastle "cabbie" black ale, and listening to Joe Walsh's "life's been good to me so far" And it seemed like it was for a while. Outside it was about 40 at 6 PM, 65 in the Sunspace, but on it's way to -20 F on Saturday with a high of 17 F. At least it should be a little sunny so it will be warmer in the sunspace! Dan The great thing about frigid weather is it usually means lots of sunshine for solar heat! Greg in sunless MN

Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1385027452	Reply with quote #6

Have to agree with you, Dan - it must be a Mini-Sunspace ! Glad that your Maxi Sunspace is turning out OK and doing what it was supposed to - namely, providing heat as well as a place to drink "newkie" and listen to the radio, while collecting ideas for your upcoming book, "MEMOIRES OF A SOLAR DAN" G_H __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1385131641	Reply with quote #7

I have been looking at this PVC stuff for my glazing: It is UV treated and looks highly transparent. Thickness = 3 hundredths of an inch (0.8 mm). I am thinking of building two sheets into a double-glazed panel... I would have the ridges running vertical, from top to bottom - length about 1.5 meters (5 foot or so). Perhaps a half-inch airspace between the two sheets, then sealed (gunked...) into a metal channel. If anybody has experience or other ideas to offer, I am a taker ! G_H __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1386824000	Reply with quote #8

Another design re-think: I bought several corrugated sheets to start the build, and made an initial panel, 6 foot by 3; however, after a trial assembly, I did not like the configuration So now I am going for the "PVC frame" route, with a quarter round "tunnel" design... Initially this will be a simple cylinder, with fixed ends that I'll make out of plexiglas. If it works out, later on I might consider an extension at the R/H end, and a transition at the L/H end, to go round the corner & pick up a bit more area... See attached files... (Apologies for the usually high-quality draftsmanship...) (not to mention the usually low-quality twinwall-effect photografix...) G_H Attached Images twinwall-effect_corrugated_panel.png (125.42 KB, 82 views) Attached Files PVC_TUNNEL_VISION__post.pdf (909.27 KB, 18 views) __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

cutnchop

Registered:1367380080
Posts: 30

Posted 1387068484	Reply with quote #9

Hi GH, I think having the corrugations run the other way makes it easier to wrap and seal at the ends. The corrugated PVC doesn't bend as well the other way. Here's a normal garden bed made with this - http://backwoodenterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Raised-Bed-Hoop-.jpg Running the PVC the way you suggest is more in line with drainage as suggested by the manufacturer.

Garage_Hermit

Registered:1359070732
Posts: 2,240

Posted 1387068748	Reply with quote #10

Aw, Cut'n'Cop, thanks for that photo, brilliant - very encouraging as that is just the look I am "looking" for ! I like those solid ends, also ! I purchased my 32-mm PVC tubes today, I might get started tomorrow, if it's nice enough to work outside ! G_H __________________ (1) "Heat goes from hot to cold, there is no directional bias" (2) It's wrote, "voilà" unless talking musical instruments...

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