Parabolic　trough　receivers　are　the　core　of　a　solar　trough　power　plant,　which　absorb　and　transfer　the　high　flux　solar　energy　to　the　heat　transfer　fluid　flowing　in　it.　A　direct　current　heating　method　is　put　forward　below　by　analyzing　the　inadequacies　of　traditional　methods.　Voltage　is　imposed　on　both　ends　of　the　absorber　and　then　the　absorber　is　self-heated　via　the　large　electrical　current　flowing　through　the　absorber　based　on　the　Joule　Effect.　Once　the　receiver　reaches　a　thermal　equilibrium　the　product　of　the　voltage　imposed　on　the　absorber　and　the　electrical　current　flowing　through　the　absorber　is　equal　to　the　heat　loss　of　the　receiver　to　ambient　environment　at　corresponding　temperature　difference　of　absorber　temperature　above　ambient.　The　experiment　system　is　simple,　low-cost,　and　easy　to　operate.　Experiment　results　show　that　curve　of　heat　loss　is　smooth　and　measurement　uncertainty　is　low,　which　means　accuracy　of　the　experiment　results　is　high.　©　2015,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.