Abstract: A solar collector having a housing of convenient size to be installed onto a roof top of a building adjacent the edges of the roof to transfer heat directly to an exterior conductor rib of the collector that melts ice and snow. The collector has an absorber plate exposed to a source of radiant energy, such as the sun, for absorbing the energy and converting it to heat which is conducted to the conductor rib on the exterior of the collector. The conductor rib on the exterior of the collector provides a concentrated amount of heat along a relatively narrow path to melt a channel in ice and snow on the roof and thus provide a drain channel to prevent water from backing up under the shingles and damaging the interior of the building.