What would it take to make a heater for a small solar panel. I am looking into making a heater for a livestock tank to keep ice melted. I know that heaters take alot of energy to run, but my theory is that if heated mirrors on a car can melt ice with low voltage and im sure not extreme heat (40-60 degrees) then making a heater with just high enough temperature to keep from icing over and melting ice is possible. Where do I start? I would like to use an inexpensive solar panel that will generate enough heat to keep ice from forming and melt it at the beginning of the day. How can you make such a heater and apply Ohms law so that it will function correctly, what Wattage will the pannel need to produce to generate enough heat for the heater. The device will only have to be large enough to melt a spot large enough for an animal to drink.
Short answer is yes. Good to start out a large tank, or big rock to mount your collectors on. Something the stock won't eat or push over. I would start with a swimming pool solar collector. It is just a big piece of black plastic aimed at the winter sun. A collector with insulation and covers will give more heat per sq foot and cost more. Big mirrors and a black painted stock tank might be enough. Insulation of the tank might help a lot. Is the water liquid when pumped up the tank? Do you truck the water in? Is there any electric power wired there or near by? Electric solar collectors can pump and heat water and charge batteries, but it is also possible to circulate water using a thermosyphon set up. You don't have to use photocells. If it gets cold enough some collectors can freeze solid and damage themselves. There are collectors that contain two loops one water the other antifreeze.
Absolutely. But I see your point about the Ohms law. I think you'd need technical schematics to get the raw details.
