How to make a heater from heating element. How to make an electric heater from scrap materials with your own hands


The article will look at an example of how you can make the simplest heater using available materials. Of course, this is just a sample showing the principle of operation of the device, the process of its assembly, and so on. But based on the described scheme, you can assemble a more powerful option, with which you can heat a garage or house without any problems.

The device operates directly from a 220 Volt network, no power supplies are required.

Materials and tools for creating a heater:
- two pieces of glass (you can cut whatever you need);
- some aluminum foil;
- an ordinary candle;
- sealant, glue, etc.;
- a cotton swab or any other similar item;
- a piece of wire with a plug (two wires);
- it is advisable to have a multimeter;
- soldering iron.


Heater manufacturing process:

Step one. We create an analogue of thermal film
First, the glass must be thoroughly washed and cleaned; there should be no traces of dirt or grease on it. Next, take an ordinary candle, light it, and use it to thoroughly smoke one half of the glass. In total, the author moved the glass back about 4 times so that it was well smoked. You also need to take at least three pauses before “smoking”. That is, smoke the glass the first time, then the second time and again the third time. The more smoked the glass is, the more the heater will heat up.

Step two. Assembly of the structure
Now you need to take a cotton swab and carefully collect excess pieces of soot on the glass. In total, you need to clean a distance of about 0.5 cm along the edge. Next, you need to take the foil and cut out two electrodes from it; their width should be the same as the width of the remaining soot on the glass.

Now you can assemble the device. Electrodes are placed on the soot, and glue is applied along the edges of the glass. Now you need to carefully press the halves together and let the glue dry. That's all, the heater is ready.


Step three. Heater tests
As a result of testing a homemade heater, it was possible to determine that it has a resistance of 40 kOhm. The thicker the soot layer, the lower the resistance and the higher the temperature, and vice versa. As a result, the calculated power of the sample was about 1.2 W.

When the heater was turned on, it began to heat up very slowly, and at the 40th minute its temperature reached 37 C degrees. The temperature did not rise higher, apparently this is the turning point at which a balance was reached between heating and heat transfer.

As a result, the device works normally and a larger sample can be collected. By the way, the pattern of soot can be varied; it does not necessarily have to be a stripe. Thus, you can make any picture that will warm you up just as well. In any case, this is just a sample and there are still many ways to improve the system.

A person's need for heat especially increases during the off-season, when cold weather sets in. However, not everyone can buy factory-made heating equipment, the cost of which is often high. In such situations, an alternative option is to make a home heater yourself. First of all, you need to decide what kind of device you need. Making a structure yourself is not as difficult as it seems.

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    Advantages and design requirements

    Any home heating devices, regardless of design and complexity of production, must meet certain requirements. Among them:

    Among all existing types of heating elements, quartz, electric, infrared and ceramic devices are considered the most powerful and efficient. Homemade devices for heating a dacha, apartment or private house have significant advantages compared to factory ones. Some of them:

    🔥 DIY INFRARED HEATER (for garage or workshop)

    Today it is possible to make infrared heaters yourself, which are considered the safest and most efficient in operation. If you need a more powerful device, you can make an alcohol or oil heater, a battery-powered unit, a gas appliance, or a heat gun.

    There are also craftsmen who prefer kerosene devices, but such designs are less common compared to others.

    Infrared heaters

    Modern infrared designs for heating rooms are practical and economical. In addition, they have good efficiency values. Such units emit currents that, without contact with air, quickly heat various surfaces in the room. As a result, electrical energy is quickly converted into thermal energy.

    The most affordable option for manufacturing at home is a film system, which is based on a heating film. Necessary parts for work:

    The structure must be assembled sequentially. Step by step guide:

    How to make a 700℃+ Heater 🔥 from Clay Pots with your own hands

    Oil system

    Homemade oil units are characterized by reliability and safety. In addition, you can make your own heater from a battery. It is permissible to use such structures both for heating residential and some technical premises. The product includes a metal body, which is subsequently filled with coolant (water, industrial oil).

    To make a powerful oil heater with your own hands, you will need certain materials. Among them:

    All manipulations are carried out using an electric drill and a welding machine. Step by step guide to making an oil heater:

    Do-it-yourself autonomous heater

    Gas heating devices

    How to make an electric heater with your own hands has already been described above, but not many people think about the fact that there are devices that can work without electricity. These products include gas structures. The unit heats the room using infrared radiation and air convection. For production you will need the following materials:

    All manipulations are carried out sequentially. Step-by-step instruction:

    The cheapest email heater for garage.

    Heat gun

    An electric heater operating on the principle of a heat gun can also be made independently. For production you will need the following parts:

    The assembly of structures is carried out step by step. The manipulations are carried out as follows:

    Efficient DIY heater

    The simplest fan heater

    There is another option for a homemade unit. The assembly process will take no more than 2-3 hours. The main advantage is the ease of manufacture, as well as the availability of parts. The downside is the fact that oxygen is burned during operation of the device. To make the system you will need:

    It is necessary to cut out 2 parts from PCB, the size of which corresponds to the base. In addition, to connect the unit to the network and switch operating modes, you will need a cord and a switch. A structure is cut out of PCB that looks like a frame. Then, using a drill, 2 holes are made on opposite sides, shifting them relative to each other. The ends of nichrome wire are placed in them, and electrical wires are soldered to the free ends under the frame.

    Then the transformer, cooler and diode bridge are closed into a single circuit. It is important to remember to connect the switch. A diode bridge and a transformer are needed to power the cooler. Then the spirals are connected to the structure. The main thing is that during the assembly process they do not come into contact with other parts. The only exception is the textolite frame.

    Next, the fan is installed in the container. Fastening is done using U-shaped brackets. When the unit is turned on, the coils of wire will warm up, and the fan will blow warm air over the structure.

    How to make a heater for a tent/Do it yourself

    To ensure access to oxygen, multiple holes are made in the walls of the container and the lid. The assembled unit is connected to the network and its functioning is checked. This product is well suited for quickly heating small areas.

    Making a heating element with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Of course, you can buy an electric radiator or other factory-made designs, but homemade units will help significantly save the family budget.

We continue to talk about, and our new master class touched on electric heaters - very useful things in everyday life that have saved many people more than once in the winter. In fact, assembling a simple heating element at home is not difficult even for an inexperienced electrician. You just need to have some available tools available to everyone, and a diagram according to which the assembly should be carried out. Below are some interesting ideas with photo and video examples that you can use to make your own heater for your home, garage, and even your car!

Warning

Before assembling homemade heaters, you need to understand that these devices are sources of increased danger; if assembled and used incorrectly, they can lead to fire and fire. Therefore, they should never be left unattended and should be used with caution. Particular attention should be paid to testing the device: they should be carried out away from flammable objects.

Idea No. 1 – Compact model for local heating

The simplest way to make an electric heater is this one. To get started, prepare the following materials:

  • 2 identical rectangular pieces of glass, each with an area of ​​about 25 cm2 (for example, dimensions 4 * 6 cm);
  • a piece of aluminum foil, the width of which is no greater than the width of the glass;
  • cable for connecting an electric heater (copper, two-wire, with plug);
  • paraffin candle;
  • epoxy adhesive;
  • sharp scissors;
  • pliers;
  • wooden block;
  • sealant;
  • several ear sticks;
  • clean cloth.

As you can see, the materials for assembling a homemade electric heater are not at all scarce and can be at hand for everyone. So, you can make a small electric heater with your own hands using the following step-by-step instructions:


Using this technology you can make an electric mini heater with your own hands. The maximum heating temperature will be about 40 o, which will be quite enough for local heating. However, such a homemade product will, of course, not be enough to heat a room, so below we will provide more powerful options for homemade electric heaters.

Idea No. 2 – Mini heater from a can

Another original model of a homemade electric heater, which is suitable for local heating in a garage or room. All you need for assembly is:

  • coffee can;
  • transformer 220/12 Volt;
  • cooler;
  • nichrome wire;
  • square-shaped textolite with a side equal to the diameter of the can;
  • drill with a thin drill bit;
  • soldering iron;
  • cord for connecting to the network;
  • push button switch.

This instruction is even simpler and you can make an electric heater from a jar with your own hands in 1-2 hours. To begin with, you need to remove the foil from the PCB and cut out the middle in it, as shown in the photo below:

After this, use a drill to make diagonal holes. We fix nichrome wire of a certain diameter and length into the holes (we provided a separate calculation of the length in the article:). We calculate these parameters using (U=R*I). Then we fasten the wires.

We connect the transformer, diode bridge, cooler, nichrome wire and switch into one circuit. We need a diode bridge to power the cooler, since it requires constant voltage.

We mount the fan in the jar using glue, after which we attach the PCB as shown in the photo:

We place all the elements of a homemade electric heater in a jar, drill holes in the lid and check the functionality of the device!

If you want to make a more powerful device with a spiral, we recommend watching the video tutorial below:

Review of a homemade electric heater with a power of less than 2 kW

Idea No. 3 - Economical infrared heater

So we move on to more powerful electric heaters, which you can easily make yourself at home. To make an infrared heater we will need the following materials:

  • 2 sheets of plastic, each area 1 m2;
  • graphite powder, crushed to flour fraction;
  • epoxy adhesive;
  • two copper terminals;
  • cord with plug for connecting to a 220 Volt network.

So, you can make an indoor infrared heater with your own hands according to the following instructions:

By the way, in order for the structure to be more durable, it is recommended to place the infrared heater in a wooden frame, which you can also make with your own hands. Before connecting, do not forget to check the resistance of the device and calculate the power, otherwise the plastic may start to smoke and even catch fire! Therefore, during testing, carefully monitor the heating.

Idea No. 4 – Oil device

Another device model that is recommended to be assembled for either other outbuildings in the country. All you need is an old battery, a tubular heater, oil and a plug. You will also need a welding machine, welding skills and some free time. The photo below shows one of the options for a homemade oil heater.

A tubular heater is installed at the bottom left, and a plug for draining/filling oil at the top. A simple design of an electric heater, which will be enough to heat a small room.

The video below clearly shows how to make an oil heater with your own hands:

Review of an oil cooler made from improvised materials

Idea No. 5 – Automotive electric oven

Well, the last version of a homemade heater is a device that runs on 12 Volts from the car’s on-board network, which can be used to heat the interior of your own car. For assembly you will need the following materials:

  • case from an old computer power supply;
  • nichrome wire;
  • remnants of ceramic floor tiles;
  • fasteners: bolts, angles, plates.

Making an electric car heater yourself is not that difficult. It is recommended to view the assembly process in the master class in photo examples:


The disadvantage of such a heater is the increased risk of fire in the car, because nichrome wire is practically not protected. In addition, you need to correctly calculate the power of the device so as not to damage the car’s wiring. Ohm's law will help you with this.

That's all the ideas for assembling a homemade electric heater. As you can see, a simple electrical device can be easily made from various available materials, if desired. If you liked the master classes, share the recording with your friends so that they too know how to make a heater with their own hands for your home, garage or car!

DIY heater

Today it is not a problem to buy a fairly expensive device designed to heat a small room.

In any specialized store you can find countless different heaters that operate on the basis of different operating principles.

At the same time, the cost of these devices can be in a very different price range - from fairly inexpensive and affordable for most citizens, to very expensive products with a bunch of additional functions and technical characteristics.

But experts assure that constructing a heater with your own hands is much more interesting and in some ways even more profitable, especially since it is not at all necessary to buy any expensive materials and components to create it. Surely any home handyman has all of them in stock.

Compact heating devices are designed for heating small rooms. The scope of application of such devices is not limited in any way. So it can be used with equal efficiency both to create comfortable conditions in the autumn-spring periods, during periods of shutdown of municipal heat, and for heating a summer house, vegetable storage or garage (Read how to make a heater for a garage).

Such a very useful homemade product can be placed in a greenhouse in order to shorten the ripening period of the crop grown there. Regardless of where it is used, a self-made heater shows equally high efficiency indicators and performs all the functions assigned to it by the creator.

It is unlikely that any of the craftsmen who are ready to make a heating device with their own hands are ready to take on an unnecessarily complex job.

The need to spend a lot of money on various complex elements and technical components can also discourage the desire to design, especially if their total cost is almost the same as a heater manufactured in production.

In addition to the fact that hand-made production must be expedient, the resulting device must become:

  • quite productive;
  • convenient;
  • completely safe in any aspect of its operation;
  • economical in terms of the electricity it consumes

It's no secret that almost all homemade products that exist today are based on those devices that are manufactured in factories. In this article, we propose for consideration a device that is manufactured using the simplest technology using thermal film.

Thermal film is distinguished from most heaters by the fact that the heat it generates is, first of all, directed to individual objects, and then from them into the environment, thereby avoiding the inappropriate consumption of thermal energy for useless heating of air masses.

This device practically does not run idle; all the heat it generates is distributed exclusively to objects located close to the users.

And only a small part of the thermal energy can be consumed during its transportation through a dense air environment. This means that such homemade heaters are capable of delivering maximum heat at a minimum cost.

Making a heater from foil

Necessary tool

All consumables and necessary elements will hardly need to be found for a long time.

It is quite possible that everything you need can literally now be found somewhere in a closet or on a balcony and you can get down to business directly.

The only thing is that not everyone has a multimeter at home, which is necessary to test the resulting device, but you can always borrow it from your neighbors.

Necessary materials:

  • 2 identical pieces of rectangular glass, with an area equal to approximately 20-25 square centimeters;
  • a small paraffin candle;
  • a piece of food-grade aluminum foil;
  • two-core cable and plug;
  • silicone sealant;
  • epoxy adhesive;
  • soldering iron and scissors;

For a paraffin candle, you can use a regular disposable syringe as a kind of handle so as not to burn your fingers. You may also need a rag and cotton pads to clean the glass from soot and remove excess dirt.

Step-by-step instructions for performing the work

Prepared glass blanks must be thoroughly cleaned of dust, traces of paint, grease deposits, etc.

Step 1. In order to form the necessary conductive surface, it is necessary to smoke both pieces of glass over a lit candle, and the soot should be applied only to one side of each glass piece.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the glass, before a layer of soot is applied to it, is best pre-cooled. By increasing the difference between the initial temperature of the workpiece and the flame temperature, it will help optimize the deposition of the required plaque.

Glass after smoking

Step 2. Using a cotton swab, you should carefully remove all excess soot from the edge of the glass blanks, so that you get a kind of transparent edging of 0.5 cm.

Step 3. Then two strips are cut out of aluminum foil; their dimensions must exactly match the dimensions of the previously created conductive surface, so they will replace the electrodes.

Step 4. It is necessary to apply glue to the surface smoked with soot, after which the prepared foil electrodes are laid; they must at least partially extend beyond the workpiece.

Step 5. The top of the future heater is covered with a second piece of glass, after which all connections are carefully sealed.

After this simple production cycle is completed, the resulting device must be tested to determine the power of the homemade heater and determine the resistance of the conductive layer.

Formula for calculating heater power

If the calculations made show that the power of the resulting heater is within the standards established by law, you can safely connect the homemade device to the power supply. If an excess of any basic value is detected, then it is best not to get upset and make another heater.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that as the soot layer increases, the resistance decreases, which means that the heating temperature of the glass surfaces also increases. And vice versa.

The final stage of design

The ends of the electrodes made of foil are wrapped over the edge of the lower workpiece and fixed with epoxy glue.

The base formed in this way must be checked on a special contact pad, which is very easy to make with your own hands.

Homemade contact pad

As soon as the device is connected to the power source, it heats up at a slow pace, this happens until it reaches its maximum temperature - 37-40 degrees, which is the optimal balance between heat generation and heat release.

Today on the Internet you can find quite a few schemes from home craftsmen that allow you to create quite productive and extremely useful devices at minimal cost. What might be remarkable about the described option?

First of all, the fact that even a schoolchild can cope with the manufacture of such a heater. Secondly, it is quite cheap and economical, although before operation it is necessary to ensure its reliability and compliance with modern regulatory documentation.

Homemade heater

Experienced car enthusiasts know that a lot of time and effort is spent on repairing and maintaining their favorite car.

As a result of violation of the vehicle maintenance rules, the “iron horse” is capable of bucking at any moment. In winter, at sub-zero temperatures, when it is necessary to identify and repair car faults, it is very important to create comfortable conditions for repairs.

A heater of a simple design will help here, which is quite possible to make yourself.

Even if the garage is connected to the central heating supply, but it does not heat the room enough, a heater will help out here. According to the rules for car maintenance, the required temperature in the garage should not be lower than +5 0 C. In addition, in the cold season, the heater will help start the car by defrosting the antifreeze.

Basic requirements for a garage heater

Considering that the garage is a small space, it is necessary that the heater in it meets the following requirements:

  • the amount of oxygen burned during operation of the heater, as well as the level of toxic substances released, were minimal;
  • compliance with fire safety technology - it is necessary to exclude the threat of explosion and fire;
  • a compact heater should not make it difficult to move around the garage area, taking up little space;
  • a good heater heats the room in a short time, maintaining the temperature level for a long time;
  • the financial costs of creating a heater should be less than the cost of a factory analogue.

All these requirements are met by a heater that is easy to make yourself. You will need sheets of PCB, a roll of nichrome wire and glue.

Creation of a future prototype and stages of work

Heater "Good warmth" as a prototype of our

The design of a homemade heater is based on the principle of operation of “Good Heat” heaters.

They gained popularity due to the rapid heating of small rooms. Despite the fact that energy costs are low, the heat in the room is distributed evenly.

The design of these heaters is simple and practically safe. The fact is that the main heating element is enclosed in a material that eliminates the possibility of fire. In addition, the compactness of the device will allow it to take up little space in the garage.

By connecting a timer to such a homemade heater, you can regulate its operating mode. For the winter season, it is enough to set the mode “one hour on, two hours off.”

In one hour, the heater will completely warm up the garage for quiet car repairs over the next two hours without its operation.

How to make a balcony heater

For warmer times of the year, the timer settings can be changed.

Preliminary testing

Nichrome wire (thread) as the main heating element

A preliminary experiment is needed in order to determine the required heater power.

Financially, you will not suffer, since the materials are usually used at hand.

Nichrome wire is a semi-finished product made from an alloy of nickel and chromium. It is characterized by high electrical resistance.

The percentage of nickel in this alloy is up to 80%, providing ductility and corrosion resistance.

The presence of chromium in the wire adds increased hardness and resistance to high temperatures.

If the resistance of the nichrome wire is unknown, then it is advisable to install it yourself. To do this, twist a spiral from a piece of wire 1 m long.

Having placed a thermometer inside it, connect the wire to a power source with a transformer.

At the moment when the temperature on the thermometer reaches 40 o C, it is necessary to record the readings of the ammeter and voltmeter.

They will help determine the conductor resistance.

Also, if the diameter of the wire is known, you can find out its resistance from the calculation table:

Nichrome wire resistance table for heating device

Next, given that a homemade heater will operate from a 220-volt outlet, you need to find out the amount of wire to obtain an alternating current power of 100-120 units. For example, for a 100 Watt heater you will need 24 m of nichrome wire with a diameter of 0.3 mm.

Heater manufacturing process step by step

Fiberglass as a basis for fastening nichrome thread

To make a homemade garage heater, you will need a sheet of PCB up to 1.5 cm thick.

This will serve as the base for the wire heating coil. Divided into two parts, fiberglass will not only protect against hot wire, but will also quickly heat a cold room.

The entire surface of the textolite sheet is heating. However, to heat a garage, a piece of 0.5 x 0.5 m of material on each side of the heater is enough.

The heater does not have to be square; any rectangle shape will do.

It is more important here that the parts of the PCB are the same, and that the base for attaching the spiral reliably covers it.

Schematic diagram of a garage heater

  1. Textolite sheets on the inside of the future heater are processed with sandpaper.
  2. Next, markings are applied to the base. A margin of 2 cm is left from the bottom and top edges, and a margin of 3 cm from the side edges.
  3. Having marked the boundaries of the wire placement, it is necessary to calculate the number of its folds for a length of 24 meters. The length of the winding pitch is equal to the height of the marked frame on the base of the heater (do not forget that the upper and lower fields are not taken into account).
  4. After calculating the number of folds of the wire, you need to note the distance between its turns. For our heater parameters it is 8-13 mm. According to calculations, small holes are drilled along the edge of the marked frame into which marks - matches or toothpicks - are inserted.
  5. Next, two more holes are drilled for the output wire to connect to the power source.
  6. Without tension, carefully lay the wire in a “snake” pattern. Here matches help form the heating element. Having laid five to seven turns of the “snake”, you need to secure them with paper strips. Paper, 1 cm thick, fixes the filament using Monolith glue.
  7. The edges of the “snake” are also glued using strips of paper after removing the matches.
  8. Metal rivets are inserted into the drilled holes for the network wire, onto which the end of a wire “snake” is wound.
  9. A washer is attached to the rivet on the outside of the heater. It is needed for reliable fixation of the electrically conductive contact.

The power cord can also be connected inside the heater, not far from the incandescent coil. To do this, the stripped ends of the electrical wire are wound around rivets on the inside of the heater wall.

Functionality check, testing and appearance

One of the final moments in the manufacture of a heater is checking it for safety and performance. To do this, first connect the heater to an ohmmeter, and then to the mains power supply.

To increase the strength of the electrical appliance, the inside is coated with a layer of epoxy glue. With the dimensions of our heater (0.5 x 0.5 m), at least 150 g of epoxy will be required. The composition is applied along the “snake” of the glowing wire.

The structure is closed with a second sheet of textolite. In order for the structure to “grab”, a load weighing about 40 kg is placed on it.

After 24 hours, the home-made heater can be used. The surface is decorated with some finishing material (for example, vinyl film or just fabric).

Textolite sheets can also be riveted by installing additional fasteners on the surface for wall mounting. Just when leaving the garage, do not forget to turn off electrical appliances, especially homemade ones.

This method of producing a heater is simple and low-cost. In addition to acquiring theoretical knowledge that allows you to make a high-quality heater for the garage in 2 days, both the process of work and the result will bring pleasure.

How to make a heater with your own hands: step by step

Until recently, infrared heaters were a curiosity. Now they are becoming common devices that are used everywhere: at home, in the country, in production workshops and even in open areas. It has gotten to the point that many “Kulibins”, having frozen in the garage, use improvised materials to make an infrared heater with their own hands. Below we will look at several ways to make IR from improvised materials.

How does an infrared heater work?

Unlike other types of heaters, IR does not heat the air in the room. It works on the principle of our luminary: heats up objects that get in the way of infrared radiation. And heated surfaces share heat with the surrounding air.

Scheme of heating a house in different ways

An infrared heater consists of two main elements:

  • heating element-emitter;
  • reflector (reflector).

Both of these elements are assembled in a heat-resistant housing.

The reflector is made from aluminum or polished steel. The reflector's task is to generate a radiation flux and direct it to the desired area.

Lamps are used as a heating element (emitter):

  • halogen;
  • carbon and quartz.

Heaters with halogen lamps are cheaper than those with carbon or quartz lamps. But they have one drawback that does not favor the use of the device in residential premises: their operation is accompanied by the glow of a lamp. Agree that you can’t put such a heater in the bedroom, or in the nursery either. Although, on balconies and loggias, if they are not combined with the main room, it is possible.

Unlike halogen lamps, carbon and quartz lamps do not produce light (but their price is higher). Actually, this is their only difference from halogen lamps. Some sellers claim that carbon and quartz, in addition to heating the room, also improve the health of residents. Such statements should not be taken seriously: doctors clearly state that infrared heaters do not have any effect on human health.

In addition to the emitter and reflector, the heater design contains a fire hazard sensor and thermostats. The first ones automatically turn off the heater when it overheats or tips over, the second ones serve to maintain the set temperature.

Did you know that infrared radiation is also widely used in the “Warm Floor” system?

Do-it-yourself heater: technology for assembling simple and effective structures

Read about infrared heated floors on the balcony and how to install it yourself on our website.

You will learn about the benefits of using energy-saving films on windows from this article. How to glue them correctly to achieve maximum effect.

Before installing heating devices on the balcony, it must be insulated, otherwise there will be no benefit. Detailed information about the insulation of balconies and loggias is on this page http://balkonsami.ru/uteplenie/stenyi/kak-pravilno-uteplit-balkon.html

Making your own infrared heater

IR heater from an old reflector

You will need:

  • Soviet-made reflector;
  • nichrome thread;
  • steel rod;
  • fireproof dielectric.

Tip: As a dielectric, you can use a plate of any diameter made of glazed ceramic.

Your actions:

  • thoroughly clean the reflector reflector from dirt and dust;
  • check the integrity of the power cord, plug, connection to the terminals for connecting the spiral;
  • measure the length of the spiral wound onto the ceramic cone of the device;
  • take a steel rod of the same length and thread a nichrome thread onto it. Winding pitch – 2 mm;
  • upon completion of winding, remove the spiral from the rod;
  • lay the spiral in a free state (its turns should not touch) on a fire-resistant dielectric;
  • connect the current from the power outlet to the ends of the spiral;
  • turn off the heated coil and place it in the groove of the ceramic heater cone;
  • connect it to the power terminals.

Made from glass and foil

Necessary materials:

  • glass: two pieces of the same size;
  • aluminum foil;
  • sealant;
  • paraffin candle;
  • power cord with plug;
  • epoxy glue;
  • cotton buds;
  • clean cotton napkin;
  • candle holder.

Materials for making a heater

What we do:

  • remove dust, dirt, grease, traces of paint, if any, etc. from the surface of the glass;
  • light the candle and smoothly move the glass plates over its flame (alternately and only on one side). As a result of this operation, a uniform layer of soot should form on the glass. It will serve as a conductor in the heater;

Tip: If the glass is cooled before processing, the layer of soot will lie more evenly on its surface.

  • Using cotton swabs, we form a transparent “frame” about five millimeters wide around the perimeter of the glass;
  • Cut out two rectangles from a sheet of aluminum foil. Their width should be equal to the width of the conductive layer (the same soot that you diligently deposited on the glass at the beginning of work). The foil strips in our IR will act as electrodes;
  • place the glass plate with the smoked side up and apply epoxy glue to its surface;
  • We place foil on the edges of the plate so that their ends extend beyond the glass;
  • carefully cover the resulting structure with a second glass plate (smoky side inward) and glue the “pie” together, carefully pressing its layers together;
  • We seal the perimeter of the structure;
  • measure the resistance of the conductive layer;
  • Using the obtained result, we calculate the heater power using the formula:

N = R x I2, where

N – power (W);

R – resistance (Ohm);

I - current strength (A).

Ready-made infrared heater made of foil and glass

If everything went well and the power did not exceed the value allowed by regulations, you can connect the homemade infrared heater to the outlet. If you don’t guess correctly, disassemble the device and start all over again.

Note: For orientation, keep in mind that the wider the soot strip, the lower the resistance. Consequently, the heating temperature of the glass will be higher.

IR based on laminated plastic

You will need:

  • paper laminate with an area of ​​1 square. m – 2 blanks;
  • epoxy glue;
  • graphite;
  • copper busbar for making terminals;
  • wood for making a frame;
  • power cord with plug.

Graphite can be “mined” from batteries that have expired.

What need to do:

Graphite for heater

  • mix epoxy glue with graphite until a thick mass is obtained (this prepares a future conductor with high resistance);
  • Place the plastic blank on the workbench with the rough side up;
  • Apply an epoxy-graphite mixture to the surface of the plastic using zigzag strokes;
  • similarly prepare the second plate;
  • we place the plates on top of each other with the treated sides facing each other, and glue them together;
  • We attach copper terminals on opposite sides of the graphite conductor;
  • We construct a fixing wooden frame along the perimeter of the structure;
  • leave the product alone until the graphite-epoxy layer has completely dried;
  • we measure the conductor resistance and calculate the power (see option 2).

The resistance value of the conductor depends on the amount of graphite in the mass. If, as a result of testing, it turns out that the conductor resistance is too low, prepare a new epoxy-graphite composition by increasing the dose of graphite. Accordingly, high resistance can be reduced by reducing the amount of graphite powder in the conductor.

After you achieve a positive result, you can connect the power cord to the terminals and plug the device into the outlet. You can improve the design by installing a simple thermostat.

We have considered only a small fraction of the methods for making infrared heaters. In fact, there are a great many options, because home craftsmen tend to use different things that have served their purpose. Their diversity determines the number of inventions of homemade infrared heaters.

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How to make a heater with your own hands

Today, unlike the Soviet period, you can buy any heater. These can be expensive models with many additional features. Or you can buy simpler and cheaper models. Have you ever thought about how to make a heater with your own hands? Firstly, it’s interesting, and secondly, it saves you a lot of money, because you don’t have to buy components to assemble the heating device, because you probably have them in stock.

Requirements for a homemade heater

First of all, even a small homemade device must perform heating functions. There is nothing difficult in assembling a compact device that can heat a small room. We are talking not only about rooms, but also about the basement, greenhouse, and garage. After all, it is precisely these rooms that require additional heating in severe frosts or light frosts (for example, when seedlings have just been planted in a greenhouse). (See also: DIY greenhouse stoves)

But how to make a homemade heater so as not to buy expensive components for the device, and also not to turn the assembly process into a complex problem that is difficult to solve. To begin with, the future heater must simply meet the minimum requirements that are necessary for its productive operation.

  1. Operational safety.
  2. A tangible result from the operation of the heater.
  3. Not high power consumption (otherwise, what is the use of such a device).
  4. Small dimensions (a thermal home station, you agree, no one needs it).

Let's consider the simplest technology on the basis of which you can assemble your own heater, this is the principle of operation of thermal film.

How does thermal film work?

The heat it produces does not go directly to heating the surrounding air. Gaining heat, it gives it to objects. That is, the surface of surrounding objects heats up and then gives off its thermal energy to the surrounding air. (See also: DIY adobe oven)

Such a device simply cannot work in vain, but the power it consumes will be small, and, therefore, such a heater will also consume energy economically. Using this principle, you can make a homemade infrared heater.

The elements that are required to assemble the device do not have to be purchased from radio products or specialized stores. You will probably find most of the components at home. So, you will need the following materials:

  • Glass. Two identical rectangular pieces. Area about 25 sq.

    Homemade heaters for home, cottage and garage

  • Aluminium foil.
  • Soldering iron.
  • Glue (epoxy is best).
  • Scissors capable of cutting foil evenly.
  • Paraffin candle.
  • Sealant.
  • Two-core cable with plug.

Step by step assembly

The glass you will use must have a completely clean surface.

There should be no dust, dirt, paint or greasy stains on its surface. In order for the heater to work, you will have to form a surface capable of conducting current. For this you need a candle. (See also: Building a stove with your own hands)

Light a candle and slowly begin to ensure that the surface begins to become covered with a layer of soot. This needs to be done on one side only. Proceed in the same way with the second glass blank.

Next, step back about 50 mm (half a centimeter) from each edge of the glass and remove the soot with a cotton swab. Cut out strips from foil, the size of which corresponds to the size of the created conductive surface (black square). The foil plays the role of electrodes. Apply glue to the surface of the glass, on the side where the soot is located. Attach a piece of foil to the glue, but so that part of it extends beyond the glass.

A second glass is placed on top. The joints between the glasses should be carefully coated with sealant. The homemade electric heater is almost ready. (See also: How to make tiles for the stove with your own hands)

Now the homemade product must be tested and the current power measured. To do this, use the formula: P = I2R, where

P - current power

I - current in amperes

R - resistance in Ohm

If the received power falls within the permissible limits specified in specialized literature, then the device can be connected to the network. If not, then it's better to try to reassemble it. At the same time, keep in mind that the resistance directly depends on the layer of soot on the glass. That is, the larger the layer of soot, the lower the resistance and the more the glass will heat up.

So, if all the data corresponds to the norm, you can connect the device to the network. The ends of the foil left free are wrapped over the edges of the bottom glass and fixed with glue. Now the device can be checked for functionality. To do this, they turn it on and wait until it reaches its maximum temperature. It is approximately 40 degrees. (See also: DIY crucible furnace)

Using this scheme, even a schoolchild can make a homemade 12-volt heater.

But still, for the final stage, it is better to equip such a device with special devices for control.

DIY portable heater

The above assembly diagram is good when there is electricity nearby. But there are often situations when you need to heat a small space without any electricity. How to get out of such a situation?

If necessity forces you to be in places where there is no electricity, then you probably have the most ordinary gas burner with a small cylinder. It is designed to heat containers that simply need to be placed above the flame. But if you improve it slightly, you can get a very functional homemade heater for a winter tent.

For such a device, a mesh heat dissipator is initially installed on the burner. To save money, you can also make it yourself from an ordinary household sieve. Fasteners for fixing to the burner can be cut from galvanized steel according to the diameter of the sieve, adding four small squares, which will act as fasteners.

Once you attach the sieve to the cylinder adapter, the resulting thermal effect will be greater, but still not enough to feel comfortable. Therefore, the design will have to be further improved.

For this you will need a metal mesh. From it you cut a workpiece according to the diameter of the sieve, the height of the workpiece is twice the height of the sieve. You need to cut out another fastener from a galvanized sheet, in which it is advisable to make small holes along the edges, along the entire diameter. This will make your traction better.

Such a homemade nozzle can be attached using an adapter to a collet cylinder and to a gas cylinder - the effect is approximately the same. But believe me, it will exceed all your expectations. It is quite possible to make a gas heater with infrared radiation without spending a lot of money. And the effect is simply mind-blowing.

DIY heater for the basement

Everyone knows that in severe frosts, the basement requires additional heating, since frozen potatoes are not only not tasty, but will not be stored for long after they have frozen.

For such a device, the following materials will be required: special sheet plastic (laminated paper plastic sheets), powdered graphite, wire with a plug, epoxy glue.

Assembly is carried out in several stages.

  1. First you need to mix the epoxy glue and powder very thoroughly.

    This way you get a high resistance adhesive. The more graphite powder there is, the hotter the device will heat up.

  2. The resulting graphite glue is applied to the rough surface of a plastic sheet. Next, the plastic is connected. In order to securely fix the sheets, it is better to put together a wooden frame.
  3. Attach copper terminals to two opposite sides of the structure.
  4. Now the future heater needs to be dried very carefully. The fact is that even a slight presence of moisture can lead to breakdown the first time you turn on the device.
  5. The last step is to check the power of the device. If it meets the standard, then the heater can be plugged into the network.
  6. The device can now be used. This version of the heater can be hung on the wall or placed on the floor (however, this option is unlikely to be appropriate for a basement).

    In a similar way, you can make a homemade car heater.

    In addition to such simple methods, there are also more complex options for assembling homemade heaters. Some use special circuits in devices, transistors and resistors.

    In any case, all homemade heaters have one thing in common. First, all materials used in the device must be in good condition. For example, if you decide to use a cord with a plug from an old iron, then first make sure that it is not damaged anywhere and can be safely connected to the heater.

    Be sure to measure the resistance of the device and calculate the power. These conditions must be met because it primarily concerns the safe use of the device. When you turn it on, you need to be confident that the heater is working properly and any damage due to incorrect power or inappropriate resistance is simply excluded.

    Do not forget to carefully insulate all conductive elements and contacts of additional built-in devices. Check the wires. Only in this case will you have peace of mind about the operation of your device. And it, in turn, will work flawlessly and heat the room.

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Warming up without electricity or heating: How to make a heater from improvised means

Homemade IR heater

The constant rise in prices for gas, which is used to heat private homes, in the cold season forces us to look for an equivalent alternative in terms of heat quality, but cheaper in operating costs.

What has not been invented in recent years by Russian folk craftsmen - homemade ones.

Most often, in order to do everything to pay less, they find use in their designs of infrared rays.

Thus, a large amount of information has now accumulated on how to construct your own heater that would operate on infrared radiation.

How it works - operating principle and main elements

The power supply must be securely soldered - no twists!

Absolutely any physical substance has the property of emitting thermal energy.

It is this postulate that is taken as the basis for heating a room with infrared rays. At a given frequency, electromagnetic oscillations at certain temperatures heat up the emitter, as a result of which it releases thermal energy into the space surrounding it.

But in order for the scheme to work in full mode, a number of conditions must be met.

One of them is the ability to connect directly to a 220 V network.

Firstly, there must be an emitter, which can be either a specifically designed incandescent lamp or a special multilayer panel, which is made of an alloy characterized by a special composition.

Between each layer of the panel a thin thread made of metal is laid. The thread, creating resistance to the electric current, heats up to the desired temperature and transfers heat to the panel. It is these heat rays in their infrared range that heat the room.

Such a panel emitter as a heat source can be fixed to the surface of walls and ceilings, while the spectrum of the emitted infrared flux is located in the range of 5-15 microns, which is considered comfortable for humans, while such heaters consume almost half as much electricity as heating devices , having a different operating principle.

The reflector is one of the main components of an IR heating device. Thanks to it, heat is reflected in a given direction and, acquiring a certain specific shape, thereby determining the most active radiation zone.

If desired, you can create a small area in the room that will have the most comfortable and preset parameters, but for this purpose it is necessary to select the right reflector, since not every material used is characterized by a high degree of reflection; most often it simply absorbs the generated heat.

Watch a video about what infrared heaters are:

If necessary, check how high the reflective properties of a particular material are, then you can use a small piece of ordinary food foil. The mirror surface should be brought to the surface of the skin and the thermal effect will not be long in coming.

Thermal resistance - it helps maintain the temperature created by the emitter under certain operating parameters.

The controller is used to check whether the specified parameters correspond to the real ones. If the data does not match, the device automatically adjusts the temperature to the required values.

Important: Useful heat is generated by converting electrical energy into heat in the form of infrared rays. At the same time, surrounding objects heat up, which then release all the accumulated heat to the surrounding space. The efficiency of such devices is high, and heat loss is minimal.

Do-it-yourself heater based on the “reflection” principle

Reflective foil screen

One of the simplest devices will be a small sheet of food foil attached to a central heating radiator, which will be directed towards the living space.

Those heat rays that emanate from the radiator are reflected in the surface of the foil onto the heated room, while no heat loss occurs due to unnecessary heating of the walls.

This method is the cheapest, because... costs only for foil and its fastening to the wall.

Heat transfer increases by about 10-20%.

Heater based on IR port and spiral

This option involves the purchase of an incandescent coil and an infrared port.

The prepared spiral must be placed in a rectangular volumetric block, which must have an electrical connection.

The IR port is connected directly to the finished heater from a block with a spiral.

At this point, the device is basically ready.

The operation of the device is based on the use of the ability of the infrared port to transmit thermal information into space using the infrared range of thermal waves, which form the medium for their propagation.

Heater based on graphite glue and laminate

Graphite glue

Undoubtedly, you cannot ignore the heater for construction, which you need to stock up on two sheets of multilayer plastic with dimensions 1 * 2, epoxy glue, graphite powder, a piece of wire that would have a working plug.

First you need to prepare a dense adhesive solution based on a small amount of epoxy glue with exactly the same amount of graphite.

Then the resulting mass is applied in zigzag strokes to that side of the plastic plate, which is characterized by a rougher surface.

All these strokes become nothing more than graphite conductors, which have high resistance.

Both plastic blanks are glued together, with those sides that have graphite processing, using the same epoxy glue.

Important: To make the structure static, it is placed in a special frame that will hold the sheets together.

Terminals made of copper are attached to the graphite conductors-dabs on different sides of the frame.

After the device has completely dried, it can be connected to the standard electrical network. As a result, we should have a very effective, small-sized and inexpensive heater that can easily be mounted on both walls and floors.

The heating temperature will directly affect the ratio of glue and graphite in the adhesive solution, as well as the thickness and total length of the applied strokes. But as practice shows, the average temperature reaches 65 degrees.

Heater based on a shoe polish box

This option is especially compact and will always find a place for it in both domestic and utility rooms (garage, warehouse, etc.). To make it you need to prepare:

  • A flat plastic box, an old shoe polish box will do;
  • Two wires;
  • Graphite powder;
  • River sand;
  • Electrical plug.

Heater manufacturing method:

  1. The prepared container is thoroughly washed.
  2. Graphite is mixed in a one to one ratio with clean sand. The resulting graphite-sand mixture is poured into the prepared container, exactly halfway.
  3. According to the diameter of the container, it is necessary to cut a circle from tin, to the edges of which the lead wire is attached, after which it is tightly laid on sand mixed with graphite.
  4. After which this tin blank is covered with the remaining amount of graphite and sand.
  5. The tin container is tightly closed with a lid, so as to create independent excess pressure inside the container
  6. The second wire of the container body is connected to the car battery or standard network.

That's basically it, you made an infrared heater with your own hands. It is very easy to regulate the heating by tightening the lid more, and the heating will be greater; by tightening the lid less, the device will cool down.

During very strong heating, the box will emit an orange or red glow, as a result of which its contents sinter, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the efficiency of the device.

To restore functionality, simply shake the box and loosen its contents.

Using a homemade oil heater

If the room does not have enough heat from central heating, you can make an additional heater from a ribbed radiator. It is not difficult to make with your own hands, and it is quite reliable.

Heater diagram.

Additional room heating

The upper and lower pipes of the heater are connected to the oil container. A heating element is installed inside the container. The heated oil expands and enters the upper pipes. Then, passing through the heater, it gives up its heat and returns to the tank through the lower pipes.

The power of the heater depends on which heating element is installed in it. Usually set at 1.5-2 kW. An expansion tank is located above the oil tank.

It is necessary to relieve critical pressure from the system.

In order for an oil heater to work most efficiently, it must be filled with transformer oil.

Oil radiator diagram.

It has good thermal conductivity and does not lose its quality for a long time.

You can use a homemade heater both in an apartment, in a country house or in a garage. If it is made from a single-section radiator, it will be quite compact and have small dimensions. Thanks to this, it can be transported in a passenger car.

The heater circuit is shown in Fig. 1, where

  • a - connection of the pipe: 1 - tightening nuts, 2 - linings, 3 - sealing gaskets, 4 - boiler wall, 5 - pipe;
  • b - heating drawing: 1 - expansion tank hatch, 2 - compensator, 3 - riser, 4 - heating tank, 5 - seal, 6 - pipe, 7 - connecting hoses, 8 - steel radiator plates, 9 - convector pipes, 11 - Heating element, 12 - control valve, 13 - drain tap.

To prevent oil from leaking out of the boiler, a small layer of sealing tape or tow should be wound around the threads of the pipe. Round rubber gaskets of the appropriate diameter should be used as seals. To prevent the rubber from being damaged during assembly of the heater, the coupling nuts must be tightened to half strength.

Heating element diagram.

The power of a homemade heater can be significantly increased by installing several heating elements into it. In order for them to work at full capacity, they must be connected to the electrical network in parallel. To regulate the temperature, a thermostat with a thermostat is additionally installed.

Using the thermostat, the required temperature value is set, and the thermostat maintains this temperature.

Housing and communal services are in no hurry to start the heating season and it’s cold in the apartments, you need to heat the garage or greenhouse, but you never know why there might be a need for a heater. On sale you can find devices for every taste and budget. And yet, many people prefer to assemble the heater with their own hands, saving significant money.

Requirements for a homemade device

Most of those who want to try their hand at making a heater themselves are unlikely to strive for too difficult a job.

And the purchase of a large number of different technical elements and components, whose cost is quite comparable to the price of the finished product, is hardly economically justified. Thus, the future device should be:

  • easy to install;
  • productive;
  • economical in energy consumption;
  • safe;
  • profitable, that is, the costs of its production should be minimal;
  • convenient;
  • compact.

Considering existing heaters produced by industry, we can conclude that all these requirements are met by devices operating on the principle of infrared radiation. More precisely, the so-called thermal films. The material generates thermal energy that is transferred to objects, which, in turn, heat the environment. This heating method is considered the most effective, since the generated heat is not wasted. Accordingly, the efficiency of such a device is very high.

Homemade product #1 - based on the “Good Warmth” heater

Many heating devices operate according to the so-called “thermal film principle”. For example, the well-known “Kind Warmth”. Assembling its analogue at home will not be difficult. For this you will need:

  • Laminated paper plastic. Two sheets of equal size with an area of ​​about 1 square. m.
  • Graphite powder. You can grind graphite yourself, for example, old graphite trolleybus brushes.
  • Epoxy adhesive.
  • A piece of good wire with a plug at the end.

Heater Good Warmth - a prototype for many homemade devices

The work is carried out in stages:

  • Mix the glue with graphite powder and stir the resulting mixture thoroughly. Thus, we get not just an adhesive composition, but a graphite conductor with high resistance. The amount of graphite in the glue directly affects the maximum temperature of the future heater. On average it is about 65 °C.
  • Apply the prepared composition onto a sheet of plastic using zigzag wide strokes. For processing we use the rougher side of the sheet.
  • We connect the plastic sheets together using epoxy glue.
  • For greater structural strength, we construct a wooden frame that securely fixes the sheets.
  • We attach copper terminals to the graphite conductors on different sides of the structure. As an option, you can also connect a simple thermostat, which will allow you to set the most comfortable heating mode. However, this is not necessary.
  • Dry the structure thoroughly. Even slight humidity will damage the homemade heater the first time you try to turn it on.
  • We carry out tests and measure the resistance of the device. Based on the obtained value, we calculate the power and determine whether the heater can be safely connected to the network.

The device is ready for use. It can be placed on the floor or on the wall, does not take up much space, is quite effective and safe, provided it is well insulated.

Graphite is crushed and mixed with epoxy glue to create a graphite conductor.

Homemade #2 - mini heater made of foil and glass

The following homemade device works on a similar principle to the previous one. To make it you will need:

  • two pieces of glass of the same size;
  • aluminium foil;
  • sealant;
  • regular paraffin candle;
  • wire with a plug at the end;
  • epoxy adhesive.

A device for holding the candle while working, cotton swabs for removing soot, and a cloth for cleaning glass will also come in handy.

The inner surface of the glass is coated with soot to create a conductive layer

Let's start assembling:

  • We thoroughly clean the glass of all kinds of contaminants: traces of paint, dust, grease, etc.
  • We form a conductive surface. To do this, using a candle, we evenly apply soot to one side of each glass blank, which will act as a conductor. To facilitate the process, it is better to cool the glass before the operation - this way the soot will settle more evenly.
  • Using a cotton swab, carefully remove excess soot from the edges of the workpiece so that you get a transparent edge about half a centimeter wide.
  • We cut out two strips of aluminum foil, the width of which corresponds to the size of the conductive surface. They are designed to perform the function of electrodes.
  • We lay the workpiece soot-covered side up and apply epoxy glue to it. We place the foil electrodes along the edges so that their edges extend beyond the workpiece.
  • We cover the part with a second sheet, directed with the smoked layer inward, carefully press and glue. All connections are well sealed.

We carry out tests and measure the resistance of the conductive layer. Now you can calculate the power of the device, which will be equal to the product of the surface resistance and the square of the current. If the obtained value is within the limits permitted by regulatory documentation, the device can be plugged into a power outlet. If not, you will have to reassemble it. It should be taken into account that the wider the soot layer, the lower the resistance of the device and, accordingly, the higher the heating temperature of the glass.

Model of a homemade glass plate heater

Another simple homemade device works on the principle of using infrared radiation, which can be assembled in a few minutes. This device consists of a sheet of aluminum foil mounted on a radiator and oriented towards the room. The heat emanating from the radiator is collected by the foil mirror and reflected into the room, without unnecessary losses in heating the walls.

There are many ways to make a heater with your own hands. You can choose different principles of operation of devices and the materials from which they will be made. The main thing is not to forget that the devices must be safe. There is no need to be lazy, measure the resistance and calculate the power in order to determine whether it is permissible to plug the homemade product into an outlet or not. All device contacts, wires, and conductive parts must be carefully insulated. A safe, efficient and practical heater will delight you with its impeccable service for many years.