Solar Cookers

SusanCarter

I found info about making solar cookers on this website:
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/solaroven.htm
and was wondering if anyone's tried it and what temperatures they've managed to get up to? How hot would it have to be to be safe for cooking?

Ken68

Good post, Susan, will have a go and report back.
I guess today would be good, tho not sure I would want to cook /boil/warm anything other than water.
Possible Sam and Ella.

beer2006

He's made a better one now.
http://www.selfsufficientish.com/nevssolaroven.htm

I'm in the process of building one/planning it, a solar cooker that is, not the one above. Having to adapt all the plans a bit and then I'll experiment with it a bit to find out how hot I can get it.

Off the top of my head, I think being in the UK, it will have to be one of the more powerful ones.

btw, if anyone knows the principles behind the design of solar cookers, would you please post, I have some questions.
thanks

Heres a better mix of plans
http://solarcooking.org/plans.htm

krishna

Used to use one in India when I worked on an experimental farm. Worked really well there.:D

SusanCarter

Just wondering if anyone's got any info yet?

Ken68

Made one out of a cast iron washing copper. Did this yesterday. Made a wooden case, insulated it well, put two sheets of plastic on top, and painted the inside matt black.
Put a small kettle inside this morning about 10 am, thermometer placed on top of the plastic reads 100 degrees, so suppose something is going on. Will let you know at 5.30,'ish. Aiming to eventually heat 8 litres of water in a metal cooking pot.
Will post a picture later.

Ken68

This is a half complete solar cooker, just need a base plate to paint black, only thing I have is fairly thin piece of aluminium, which might do. Work in progress

Ken68

Ken68

This one is still cooking water, didn't want to spoil the experiment by opening up too soon.

Ken68

Results not good. Water only warm. Did the dishes tho. The seals need improving, and perhaps the kettle to be painted black. Early days, getting there.
Will test solar cooker 2 tomorrow

Skiduck

is there an easy way to refract a lot of the radiation you are losing, if you know what I mean.