Homemade radiator: features of registers, convectors, oil radiators, heaters from car radiators

This article is dedicated to homemade heating devices. Sometimes they do not shine with beauty; however, the opportunity to provide heat to a garage or workshop with your own hands at minimal cost certainly attracts many of our readers. We will get acquainted with several structures of varying complexity, made from recycled materials, old pipes and other extremely affordable materials.

Homemade heating devices can have the most unexpected designs.

Do-it-yourself radiator made from a copper tube - Metalist's Guide

Despite the fact that the price of a modern heating battery is not so high, you can do without purchasing such devices, because you can handle their assembly yourself.
In this article we will talk about how and using what materials homemade batteries can be made, which in terms of energy efficiency will be practically not inferior to their factory counterparts.

“Warm baseboard” made of copper pipes

Assessing your capabilities

It is clear that not every person can assemble a homemade oil radiator, since such a design is complex, but making a device through which water will circulate as a coolant is not so difficult.

"Warm floor" - a type of radiator

According to the principle of operation, home-made heating devices also do not differ from factory-made analogues, however, it is not recommended to install these products in centralized systems with high pressure.

Homemade pipe heating radiators are the most common type of homemade heating devices. And this is not surprising, since soldering a sealed system from a pipe is much easier than making a heating device using factory technologies.

Products assembled from a single pipe or combination of pipes are called a register. The register is a sealed system through which one or another coolant circulates. The energy efficiency of the register is determined by the diameter and configuration of the pipes, as well as the material from which they are made.

The practice of assembling radiators with your own hands shows that the most appropriate solution is to use smooth-walled steel pipes with an internal cross-sectional diameter of 32 - 200 mm. In order to achieve maximum heat transfer surface area while maintaining compact dimensions, the device is given the shape of a coil or the register is made sectional.

The choice of steel pipes for installation work is not accidental, since they are easy to weld with household welding machines.

Tip: In order to make a register, it is not at all necessary to go to a metal depot to purchase new pipes. After all, to carry out the planned work, you can use old pipes that do not have visible defects caused by mechanical deformations or corrosion.

Homemade Device Configuration

Copper tube coil

Homemade heating radiators made of copper or steel can be made in two design options:

• Sectional registers consisting of straight pipes of large diameter with sealed plugs at the ends, connected by pipes with a smaller cross-sectional diameter.
• Serpentine registers with an S-shape or a more complex configuration.

Important: For optimal heat transfer, the coil register configuration should have a distance between adjacent pipes that is 5 cm greater than their diameter.

Let's take a closer look at the design features of the listed configurations:

• A sectional register consists of several pipes located horizontally.

The photo shows a sectional register

To circulate the coolant, the horizontal elements of the register are connected to each other by pipes of smaller diameter. As a result, the coolant begins to move along the upper pipe, reaching the connecting pipe, through which it flows into the lower section, and so on.

In the factory version, such structures are made for heating entrances and other auxiliary premises, where the aesthetics of the appearance of the device is not so important.

Operating principle of a sectional register

The inlet and outlet pipes are made threaded. In some cases, to speed up installation work, the pipes are simply welded tightly.

The location of the transition pipes is selected as close as possible to the end of the section. This is done for better coolant circulation and to ensure greater strength of the prefabricated structure.

The optimal materials for self-assembly of sectional registers are galvanized steel pipes with an internal diameter of 76-160 mm. The structure should be welded so that the tightness of the seams is maintained at an operating pressure of up to 13 atm.

Important: The optimal register configuration is one with no more than 3 horizontal sections. Excessive accumulation of sections will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of heated air circulation inside the room.

• Serpentine registers are structurally similar to the selection analogue. The main difference is that the function of the jumper here is performed by the bend of the main pipe.

Coil welded from steel pipe and fittings

A significant disadvantage of coil structures is the difficulty of self-assembly, since it is difficult to bend large-diameter pipes and therefore you have to weld two elbows at each bend.

To make homemade heating radiators from a profile pipe you will need a bending machine

As a result, the welded structure becomes more complicated due to a large number of seams, which can negatively affect the durability and tightness of the register.

Nevertheless, the S-shaped configuration of registers is an order of magnitude more efficient than horizontal sections, since both the horizontal and vertical parts of the radiator are involved in heating the air in the room. Moreover, due to the constant diameter in coil radiators, the hydraulic resistance is significantly lower than in sectional analogues.

Selection of materials

Homemade specimen with vertical sections

The service life, heat dissipation and, finally, the price of a homemade radiator largely depend on the correct selection of production materials.

The selection of production materials is carried out in accordance with such criteria as ease of machining, ease and quality of welding, resistance to corrosive processors and price. In addition, if the radiator is assembled for subsequent use in the bathroom, as a heated towel rail, the pipe should look good.

Homemade garage heater from a car radiator

The following conclusion can be drawn:

• When assembling heating devices for operation in entrances, garages and other utility rooms, it is advisable to use smooth-walled pipes made of ordinary structural steel grade St-3 . The wall thickness should be 2 mm, both for the strength of the entire structure and for better quality of the weld.
• To assemble a heated towel rail, it is advisable to purchase more expensive pipes made of AISI 304 stainless steel (passport designation 08Х17М10) . As a result, the finished coil, subject to high-quality assembly, will look great due to its shiny surface and at the same time will last an order of magnitude longer than an analogue assembled from ferrous metal due to its greater corrosion resistance.

The radiator assembly instructions also depend on the type of materials used. For example, pipes made of ordinary structural steel are welded using ordinary electrodes. To assemble stainless steel structures, it is better to use argon welding, since the use of conventional electrodes will not allow you to obtain a neat and visually attractive seam.

Conclusion

So, we found out what types of homemade radiators you can assemble with your own hands. In addition, we found out what materials the assembly should be used to use. It's a small matter, all that remains is to purchase the necessary materials and assemble the heating device with your own hands.

Do you have any questions that require further clarification? In this case, we recommend watching the video in this article.

Review of copper heating radiators - Home insulation school

Batteries and radiatorsOverview of copper heating radiators

23.11.2015

Every person planning to create or update a heating system is interested in which radiators to use for this.

The choice is really huge, but if you don’t know the features and key criteria, you can waste your money. Recently, you can increasingly hear about copper heating radiators.

What is their advantage? This is what we will try to find out in this article.

Comparative review of popular models

The choice of copper batteries, as noted above, is huge. But when choosing a particular model, focus not only on the cost, but also on the performance characteristics of the device.

So, depending on the individual parameters of the heated room, you can select devices that are designed for 10-22 m2 of area. In this case, the heat transfer of one device ranges from 1 to 3 kilowatts.

Do not forget about the large weight of the radiator - some models can weigh up to 13 kilograms.

The table below shows the most popular models. Check out their features to make the right choice.

Autonomous heaters

What to do if there is no central heating or gas in the garage, and the frequency of your visits to the premises does not allow organizing a scheme with a solid fuel boiler?

In this case, it would be quite logical to use electricity for heating.

Oil radiator

The simplest homemade oil radiator is a welded register already familiar to us with several modifications.

• There are no welds for connecting to the connections.
• The register, as a rule, is made portable, which implies the presence of legs.
• Jumpers between sections are present on both sides. Their diameter is made slightly larger than when assembling a register for water heating. The instruction is due to the fact that natural convection implies a minimum hydraulic pressure, and if so, the hydraulic resistance should also be minimal.
• A heating element or several parallel connected heating elements are installed at the end of the lower section.
• Oil acts as a coolant. Ideally, a transformer one, but even testing will do.
• The register is equipped with a small open expansion tank. As an option, the oil is not added a little to the top of the register, and the weld on its upper section is equipped with an automatic air vent.

Homemade oil radiator.

Warning: installing a safety valve instead of an air vent is a bad idea. When triggered, it can douse the owner of the room with oil at a temperature of 60 - 90 degrees, which obviously will not benefit his well-being and mood.

Heater from a car radiator

Another interesting solution is a homemade garage heater made from a radiator.

Heater from an old radiator.

The diagram is indicated by numbers:

1. Radiator.
2. Expansion tank.
3. Forced air fan.
4. A casing that protects the fan blades.
5. Water pump.
6. Oil supply pipe.
7. Actuator.
8. Fan drive belt.
9. Electric motor.
10. Frame stand.
11. Drain tap.
12. Block of heating elements.
13. Blinds for adjusting the direction of air flow.

A few tips for assembling this product:

• Partially clogged radiator tubes are not a problem. They will miss the oil.
• Optimal motor characteristics are 300 - 500 watts at 1500 rpm.
• To heat the oil, heating elements with a total power of up to 3 kW are used. It is better to provide stepwise power adjustment by switching them on separately.

Use a block of three 1 kW heating elements with each of them switched on independently.

• Due to the small diameter of the radiator tubes, it is not worth using mining in this design. Transformer oil or antifreeze A-40 is suitable.
• The heater will operate most efficiently at an oil temperature of about 80C. The temperature is regulated by selecting the power of heating elements and fan speed.

DIY copper tube radiator

6 Jan by admin

23.11.2015

Every person planning to create or update a heating system is interested in which radiators to use for this.

The choice is really huge, but if you don’t know the features and key criteria, you can waste your money. Recently, you can increasingly hear about copper heating radiators.

What is their advantage? This is what we will try to find out in this article.

articles:

Copper radiators

Over the past years, traditional radiators made of cast iron and steel have somewhat lost their market position. There are two reasons for this: poor heat transfer and rather low operating efficiency. Moreover, the use of such radiators is not always possible, since heating systems are constantly being modernized, and their technical characteristics are only increasing.

Electric radiators

Previously, we talked about the operating principles and technical characteristics of electric radiators; in addition to this article, we advise you to read this information; see all the details here

And radiators made of ferrous metals are gradually being replaced by copper products - more reliable, high quality and productive.

If they are installed in the heating network, this will not only increase heat transfer several times, but will also reduce heating costs.

Of course, the cost of copper batteries is much higher than, for example, cast iron, but still, due to the excellent characteristics of the popular former, it is only growing.

Main technical characteristics

In the manufacture of modern copper batteries, exclusively high quality materials are used. Copper must be exclusively in pure form, while the ratio of impurities should be no more than 0.1 percent. It is this ratio of components that ensures the operation of the system at elevated pressure, maximum heat transfer, and also eliminates possible corrosion.

Note! Don’t forget that copper batteries in an apartment/house increases the amount of heat transferred by the working fluid by about 2 times.

Finally, copper itself is a fairly durable and strong metal, and therefore radiators made from it work quite effectively even at a working fluid temperature of 150 degrees and a pressure of 16 atmospheres.

– How to choose a radiator?

Heating radiators made of copper, as well as those made of other materials, are original elements that differ not only in their composition, but also in their design features. In most cases, copper heating radiators consist of pipes with a working fluid circulating inside and special finned plates.

Do not forget that the number of pipes (as well as their shape or cross-section) varies and depends on the individual characteristics of a particular battery model.

Moreover, some of these batteries are even equipped with a special protective casing, which not only decorates the wall product, but also increases its performance.

Often, manufacturers offer consumers not just copper batteries, but full-fledged heating devices that have many functions and allow you to control the temperature in order to ensure the most efficient heating of the room.

Such properties are made possible thanks to built-in shut-off valves, thermostats and other fittings. Agree, all this is very convenient, which is why, in fact, such radiators are of high value in heating systems.

Note! There are several basic ways to connect copper batteries to risers and heating lines in general. More specifically, there is a threaded connection and soldering, due to which the versatility of the products increases significantly, they become an ideal option for most systems, but installation costs are reduced.

There are several methods of heating using these devices, let’s get acquainted with them.

1. Convection is when heat is transferred by air currents and depends on the area/shape of the heating devices.
2. Radiation of heat due to the fact that heated bodies are capable of transmitting thermal energy through IR electromagnetic waves.
3. Thermal conductivity is the unique ability of heated bodies to transfer part of their heat to other, colder objects. This indicator depends mainly on the characteristics and structure of the metal used in the manufacture of radiators.

The main advantages of copper batteries

The products described in this article are considered the most optimal option for any heating system, regardless of whether it is individual or centralized.

And if we compare them with other types of radiators, then there are a lot of advantages and unique properties, which can only indicate one thing: copper radiators are one of the most profitable financial investments.

And among the many advantages, it is worth highlighting the following.

1. High degree of heat transfer. As already noted, pure copper is used in the production process, due to which the heat from the working fluid is transferred to the house fully and without any losses. It turns out that this is an ideal choice for many systems, in particular for a centralized pipeline in apartment buildings, where the liquid temperature, as is known, rarely exceeds 60 degrees.
2. Long service life. Copper is resistant to various types of deformation, the action of corrosion inhibitors and other harmful phenomena; Copper batteries can last 15-20 years, and sometimes even 50, without causing any trouble to the user at all.
3. Light weight. The copper from which these radiators are made weighs little, and therefore even the largest products with a large number of sections are light in weight. Consequently, there is no excessive load on the walls, and, accordingly, there is no longer a need to use special reinforcing fasteners.
4. Low temperature resistance. At sub-zero temperatures of the working fluid, copper products may be slightly deformed, but in no case should they burst. For this reason, the risk of defrosting is practically reduced to zero.
5. Economical. In the images in this article you can see for yourself that all copper heating radiators are characterized by a small cross-section. In this regard, little working fluid is required, and the user can save on fuel without any damage to the efficiency of the heating system.
6. The maximum permissible temperature of the working fluid in the system is 250 degrees. This is one of the reasons why copper batteries are the best solution for grids. By the way, according to the instructions from the manufacturers, some models are quite capable of functioning at higher temperatures, achieving maximum efficiency.
7. Possibility of functioning at high pressure. As noted at the beginning of the article, copper batteries also work well with a pressure of 16 atmospheres. As for the crimping pressure, for these products it can reach 25 atmospheres. It is precisely because of their increased resistance to pressure that radiators can be installed in both individual and centralized networks, and the quality of the working fluid does not play a special role.

Note! Experts recommend installing copper radiators in those heating networks where the working fluid contains a large amount of chlorine salts. After all, if you use, say, traditional steel devices for such a liquid, then in any case problems will arise - up to clogging of the pipeline.

In short, buying a copper radiator is definitely a profitable investment that will soon pay off.

Replacing heating batteries in an apartment

Previously, we talked about how to change the battery in an apartment yourself, in addition to this article, we advise you to read this information, see all the details here

Features of device operation

If you plan to use copper radiators in your heating system, you must comply with certain requirements and rules regarding not only installation, but also the operation process.

For example, manufacturers do not advise installing several copper and steel devices simultaneously along the flow of the working fluid, as this can lead to a certain electrochemical reaction that can destroy the entire system.

Note! If you cannot refuse this combined option, then be sure to use brass fittings for the connection. Today, these are sold in almost any specialized store, the assortment is huge, and the cost is quite affordable.

It is also undesirable to install copper devices in those lines that may contain small abrasive particles - the latter will, over time, “undermine” the material and sooner or later lead to wear of the radiators.

Finally, do not install such batteries if the operating fluid is very hard or highly acidic. Although some of these difficulties can be solved by installing additional special filters.

– Installation of a copper battery

What to look for when purchasing?

If your plans include the purchase and installation of copper batteries, then you simply must know about some important points. Let's look at them.

1. The main one, which we have already mentioned in passing, is the following: you should not use elements made of different materials within the same network. If the appliances are copper, then the fittings should be so too. And this need is explained not only by the risk of a special electrochemical reaction that can destroy the system, but also by the fact that different materials have different thermal expansion, which appears under the influence of elevated temperatures.
2. Make sure that the working fluid is free of abrasive impurities. They can damage the internal cavities of heating devices, because copper is a fairly soft material. In short, be sure to install special filters.
3. Connecting fittings must be made of non-ferrous metal - ideally brass.

In addition to all this, try to buy batteries only from trusted sellers. The fact is that there are a large number of counterfeit products on the modern market.

So, for example, in the manufacture of a battery, cheap low-quality metal can be used, which is covered with a thin layer of copper on top.

What else do you need to know when choosing copper heating radiators? Yes, there are still a few nuances.

1. Temperature conditions necessary to maintain comfortable living conditions.
2. Total area of ​​heated rooms.
3. Condition and number of different types of openings. If required, they can be additionally thermally insulated.
4. Dimensions of the room. One of the main parameters in this case is the height of the ceilings.

Note! It is quite obvious that the number of sections in a copper device will be less than in a similar product made of ferrous metals. It is thanks to this that the rather high cost of radiators is compensated.

Carry out the installation efficiently; ideally, you should involve a qualified specialist in the work if you need to solder copper elements. Do not skimp on this under any circumstances! Copper is an expensive material, and if you managed to find the money to buy batteries made from it, then do not neglect the quality of work.

As a small conclusion

Copper heating radiators are the best option for both a city apartment and a private house, when compared with similar devices made of ferrous metals.

Such products are characterized by high heat transfer, which ensures fast and high-quality heating of the heated room.

Despite the high prices, the radiators will pay for themselves in the near future, since energy bills will noticeably decrease. That's all. Good luck and have a warm winter!

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Reviews of copper heating batteries: advantages and disadvantages

DIY radiator made of copper tubes

In general, after the repair, an extra floor connection point for the battery was formed. Ordinary radiators did not fit into the furniture layout. The idea came to make a decorative battery ala “grill” from a copper tube. The tube was found quickly. Hard quality copper 15X1mm, Germany. The guys from Romstal at the Levoberezhnaya metro station helped to select fittings and consumables. By the way, they are very patient professionals - many thanks to them for that. The story is this: 1. A dimensional layout was made for a niche. 2. Connectors were cut and sawed into tees. 3. Everywhere, all cut chamfers are processed inside and outside. 4. Assembly of the structure and rigid fixation in wood. 5. Soldering. 6. Pressure test 7. Roughing.8. Pilot installation.

9. Continued rough cleaning. 10. Sandblasting. 11. Varnishing. 12. Standard installation.

13. Admiring a lot of wasted time and effort.

PS. There are still 20 meters of pipe left. Cut into 2m pieces. There is a gas burner, a hair dryer with attachments, a good expensive eco-friendly flux paste with solder and the same solder. I will help you make an “exclusive” beautiful external copper water supply system.

Despite the fact that the price of a modern heating battery is not so high, you can do without purchasing such devices, because you can handle their assembly yourself.

In this article we will talk about how and using what materials homemade batteries can be made, which in terms of energy efficiency will be practically not inferior to their factory counterparts.

Heating register - the basis of homemade structures

Homemade pipe heating radiators are the most common type of homemade heating devices. And this is not surprising, since soldering a sealed system from a pipe is much easier than making a heating device using factory technologies.

Products assembled from a single pipe or combination of pipes are called a register. The register is a sealed system through which one or another coolant circulates. The energy efficiency of the register is determined by the diameter and configuration of the pipes, as well as the material from which they are made.

The practice of assembling radiators with your own hands shows that the most appropriate solution is to use smooth-walled steel pipes with an internal cross-sectional diameter of 32 - 200 mm. In order to achieve maximum heat transfer surface area while maintaining compact dimensions, the device is given the shape of a coil or the register is made sectional.

The choice of steel pipes for installation work is not accidental, since they are easy to weld with household welding machines.

Tip: In order to make a register, it is not at all necessary to go to a metal depot to purchase new pipes. After all, to carry out the planned work, you can use old pipes that do not have visible defects caused by mechanical deformations or corrosion.