A solar hot air system's primary use is for providing heated air for home heating needs. This is done with a solar collector panel. The collector can be mounted on any roof or wall that has a clear and unobstructed view of the sun. In northern climates, a wall mount may be preferred. Any object that blocks sunlight from reaching the solar collector will reduce the heat output.

How it works: The sunlight passes through the glass onto the absorber plate. A temperature sensor in the collector panel sends a signal to the differential controller. The differential controller compares the interior air temperature to the panel's temperature. When the sun has heated the panel's interior temperature to above the home's air temperature, the controller turns on a circulation fan. Cool air is blown through the collector. As the air is blown through the collector, it is heated by the collector plate. The heated air is then returned to the home. The fan continues to run until the home is sufficiently heated, or the collector has cooled to the level that  sufficient heat can no longer be extracted from the solar collector.