Solar panels as heaters.

Author	Message
Solar Mike Guru Joined: 08/02/2015 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1228	Posted: 08:42pm 25 Jun 2023       I imagine a large PV panel 180-300W would make an excellent flat infrared heater. You would have to remove the bypass diodes and power it from a constant current driver power source of a higher voltage than the panel like a couple of outside PV panels in series. Paint the rear of the panel silver or leave white and the glass side satin black with a spirit based paint so it will stick. Bolt it to a wall or suspend from the ceiling with the black side outwards. The max input current will be limited by the size of the small inter cell connection wires, so I wouldn't go much above the panels short circuit current rating stamped on the back. Would be an interesting experiment. Cheers Mike