DIY Solar Oven

Konstantinos Karoubas wrote:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CJWQbCRnpC4


The latest version of the Solar Oven...very happy with it.



Kostas

This is awesome.  I love what you did with simple items that anyone can afford and/or acquire.  I also love that it moves your cooking outside on warm, sunny days rather than heating up the house cooking indoors.  

How do you determine what angles to put the side walls?

Trace, I uploaded the vid again...Hopefully better graphics



Kostas

I understand using the mirror to get the angle of the back wall, but how do you determine the angles of the sides and front wall?

Good question on the reflector angles.

The sol oven us set up around 9 or 10 AM.

If baking bread or a cake the oven is preheated to 110 or 120 C

The long dimension of the oven runs along the direction of the morning sun (east)

The East facing reflector is placed straight up down - perpendicular to the ground

The South facing reflector is about 15 degrees of the vertical..Slightly slanted to the north

The West facing reflector is slanted so it does not shade the oven...as high as possible,  but not to put shade in the pan.

The North facing mirror is about 20 degrees of thd vertical.

The corners are covered as shown

Once set up the solar oven and reflectors do not need to be moved until the food is removed - 2 to 4 hours depending on the meal.

The reflectors need to be tied down in case of winds.

The car sun shades are inexpensive and readily available.

See the vids ... I hope this explanation helps

Kostas

Konstantinos Karoubas wrote:Good question on the reflector angles.

The sol oven us set up around 9 or 10 AM.

If baking bread or a cake the oven is preheated to 110 or 120 C

The long dimension of the oven runs along the direction of the morning sun (east)

The East facing reflector is placed straight up down - perpendicular to the ground

The South facing reflector is about 15 degrees of the vertical..Slightly slanted to the north

The West facing reflector is slanted so it does not shade the oven...as high as possible,  but not to put shade in the pan.

The North facing mirror is about 20 degrees of thd vertical.

The corners are covered as shown

Once set up the solar oven and reflectors do not need to be moved until the food is removed - 2 to 4 hours depending on the meal.

The reflectors need to be tied down in case of winds.

The car sun shades are inexpensive and readily available.

See the vids ... I hope this explanation helps

Kostas

It does, thank you.  I really love what you have done here.

Trace,
These angles are based on experience.
The sun moves from the east and moves along to the south...Each mirror contributes different amounts of energy as the sun moves. After 11 or 12 the Southern mirror contributes the most energy, while the East facing contributes the most during the early hours...they are all needed. The south mirror is larger in width. I will soon post dimensions and more videos.

I am really happy with this design - it took along time to get here....but its amazingly simple.

Inexpensive...no hammers nails welding etc ... no need to move the unit...no need to buy insulation ... recycle old clothes...save trees by not burning wood (many people still cook with wood around the world).

I need to find a way to get this info to people that need it - people who cannot afford the high electricity or gas costs, or gather wood to cook.

Any help on this issue would be appreciated.

Kostas

Watch how this guy makes bread and cooks sausages:

If you don't have time, head on over to the 13min mark.



This is more Nomadland than Nomadland.

I love all your experiments and how you documented everything so well. Please consider adding your knowledge to the Solar Cooking Wiki. People all over the world can benefit from your successes!

https://solarcooking.fandom.com/wiki/Solar_Cooking_Wiki_(Home)

Thanks!

Odile Brock
Secretary of the Board
Solar Household Energy
www.she-inc.org

I don't know if the homeless can afford a gosun Edward.

If the price dropped to $15 to $20 then maybe !!!

The evacuated tubes are great and very very efficient...drawbacks are the price and the quantity of food you can cook.

There are many great designs out there and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Cooking uses alot of energy...why not usd the sun...its free.

Kostas

I have tons of sun and a hardy tile terrace here in southern Spain, so I would really love to give this ago.

Konstantinos, the tempered glass: is it custom cut? If so how did you figure out dimensions?

Hey Amy

The glass is not tempered... regular glass 4 mil or so.

It does not break...make sure edges are sanded.

Size wise...about 1 cm longer on each side than your pan.

Kostas

I have a couple of old,  small windows that I think would serve well, for this. Because my father in law is a generous (though ecologically challenged) man, we have a stash of heavy-duty styrofoam meat shipping boxes that I'm always looking for ways to re-use, as much as possible*. I'm relatively sure these would work for the oven box. But, they're all bright white, so I'm not sure if they would need to be covered in something dark? Or do you think they would be fine, as is? I have enough of them, that if my glass supply matches, I could potentially cook a feast for a dinner party.


*please don't detail the thread to discuss this.

Hello to all and a happy summer,

The use of old clothes in a solar oven is great...it finds use for an old item and is much preferable to store bought chemical filled insulation.

But for some people, straw or dry leaves or mulch maybe be a better solution.

This is slightly different design.




It looks promising...will cook some meals with it and will report the results.

Kostas

It works !!!




Kostas

I don't know what to say...



Kostas