Electric Radiant Home Heat

Radiant electric heat may be a good choice for your home. You have many different systems to choose from, from under floor radiant heat to ceiling heating systems. Our updated radiant home heating section has a lot of information to help you choose a system.

Radiant Solar Heat

Radiant solar heat generally takes one of three forms, water or air. And there are two basic types of systems, active or passive.

In an active radiant solar water heat system, a solar collector is used to heat water. The water is then either stored in an insulated tank, or circulated in a heat sink. A heat sink consists of an object, like a huge concrete pad or bed of rocks which, because of it's mass, it can store heat. Water heated by the sun can be circulated through the heat sink, which is then circulated back through the home.

A passive solar radiant heat system would involve large tanks or vessels of water placed in a sunroom or other place where the sun will shine directly on them. These tanks or vessels would need to be painted black, or another very dark color. The sun heats the water in the tank, warming it. The heat in the tank is then released slowly after the sun stops shining.

In an active solar radiant heat system, air is heated in a solar collector and circulated through a heat sink. The heat in the heat sink is then allowed to radiate back into the structure after the sun sets.

Radiant Heat Panels

Radiant electric heat panels are made to mount either on the surface of the room's ceiling, or some types may be recessed into the ceiling for a less obtrusive fit. Most may be painted to match the home's decor, using an acrylic latex paint. Sizes of the panels range from two foot by two foot to two foot by eight foot. The panels are one inch thick.

Radiant electric heat panels work by heating the objects in a room, as opposed to convection type furnace systems which heat air, move it to the room and then warm the room. There is much less loss of energy with radiant heating systems because the heat is produced in the room it is used in, as opposed to being produced in a remote location and moved to the room needed. This type of heatiing system allows different heating zones to be set up with different heating needs. Some rooms may be kept warmer, some cooler, as opposed to convection heating systems in which the entire home needs to be kept the same temperature.

Radiant electric heat panels can provide either supplemental or primary heating needs for a home or office.

Ceiling Electric Radiant Heat Cables

Electric ceiliing heat cable systems are wired as zonal systems. This means that heat in each room in a home can be controlled individually. Rooms which need to be warmer, like a nursery or bathroom, may be kept so. Other rooms which may be kept cooler can be cooler. This saves on energy costs. Ceiling radiant heat has been in use for many years, but recent technology has made it much more reliable in recent years.

Electric cables are installed over the ceiling drywall. Plaster is applied over the cables. Then insulation is installed between the ceiling joists to force the heat downward. The objects in the room below are heated by the radiant heat produced by the cables.

Electric Radiant Ceiling Heat

Electric radiant ceiling heat is available in several different types. You will find either surface mounted heating units which install over the existing ceiling. There are heat panels which install between the ceiling joists above the plaster. Fiberglass insulation is installed above the panels, forcing the heat down. You will also find some systems which utilize cables which install on the plaster board of the ceiling and are plastered over, concealing them. Another cable system uses cables inbedded right in the gypsum panels.

All these electric ceiling radiant heat systems work on the same principal. Radiant heat works by heating the objects, including the occupants, of a room. It is the most efficient form of heating available, with very little loss.

Solar Powered Power Packs

Solar powered power packs are units which contain a battery which is charged by a solar panel. The power packs vary in size from very small units which can be carried in a backpack, to larger units suitable for running a campsite. Some have the added versitality of charging from a auto cigarette lighter or A/C plug. Solar powered power packs will contain an inverter which allows you to plug A/C appliances into them. Use the solar powered power pack to run small electric devices and tools for short periods of time at a campsite, outdoor parties or worksite. Some of these things also pack enough power to start a stalled vehicle.

Solar Powered Battery Chargers

In your home you use a lot of batteries. Batteries power your kid's toys, clocks, flashlights, and many other gadgets you use every day. Solar powered battery chargers are products which use light energy to charge rechargable batteries for use again and again. You will save money in two ways - by not having to continually purchase batteries, and you will save on the energy needed to recharge them.

Generally, you will find two basic types of solar powered battery charger. The simple battery charger has the capability to charge the small AA and AAA batteries which power so much of our world. These are usually small, compact unit which use either sunlight or indoor light to charge batteries. It will take three to four hours of sunlight to fully charge most of these small batteries.

Larger multi-use solar battery chargers will charge these small batteries and also have enough capacity to charge GPS units, cell phones and twelve volt batteries. The solar cells on these units fold up and are compact and light enough to take along on a hiking or camping trip to keep small electronic units like flashlights, radios and cell phones working while in the great outdoors.

Solar powered battery chargers will find a lot of work in the modern world keeping all those batteries charged up and ready to power our electronic toys.