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Forum Index : Solar : PV Powered Infrared Panel Heater

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Solar Mike
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Joined: 08/02/2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1205

Posted: 10:01am 30 May 2026

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Though some members may be interested in this project; I'm building a PV powered resistive IR heating panel. Currently we have some unused PV panels sitting above an old chicken coup, 6 x 285w panels, 2 sets of 3 in series, mppt voltage is 93v at 18 amps. Short distance away is our office\reception in a 12m steel container, it gets quite cold in there first thing in the morning, even if its sunny; as the PV array gets sun from sunrise to after midday, perhaps we could utilize that energy to heat an alloy black painted sheet with 100 watt power resistors bolted to its back.

30 of these 100w, 150 ohm in parallel (5r) in full sun will each get 57w, may spread them over two blackened sheets each 60 x 120cm, 15 on each to make it easier to mount. Envisaged some simple box arrangement with the heating panel then fiberglass insulation, mounted facing down from the ceiling, panel temperature to be approx 100°C, this will warm up anyone sitting below. I don't expect full output power in winter, but any sun will provide some heating.

Have designed a PCB, don't have a schematic as yet but will do that before I send the gerbers off. Basically a type of upside down buck voltage reducer with no output capacitors, running PWM approx 10 khz with CPU controlled duty to keep the PV voltage near the arrays mppt value. PCB has provision for a standard wall mounted thermostat switch and a couple of NTC thermistors for sensing the heating panel(s) temperatures, mppt value is set by a 20t trim pot. Power mosfet and catch rectifier mount under the pcb.

Will draw up the schematic next..

PCB 112 x 126mm:

Cheers
Mike

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