My solar dehydrator build

This started with some sliding glass door panels i scavenged years ago. Dimensions were based off those panel sizes. Basically i have a solar panel. Screened holes let cool air in the bottom of the glass panel The panel has a scrap piece of metal roofing painted flat black to collect heat. The heated air then flows into the dehydrator box.

I just got it operational this morning. Right now the door is left slightly cracked at top to vent. At some point i will add an adjustable exhaust pipe.

Can we get a few more pics from various angles? Maybe a more detailed description of the build?

Give me a couple of days, I'll draw something up.

Here is a pic of a thermometer. Its stuck thru one of the holes that the hot air travels through to get to the box. It is showing 200 degrees F. It is sunny and 70 degrees today. I'll add another one at top of box, which should be less since air has to leave to get the moisture out.

The lid of the box is currently a piece of glass. Probably not permanent. My thought is the glass will tell me if water is condensating which would neccesitate more venting out.

I noticed quite a few solar collectors are using rain gutter downspouts painted flat black.

https://youtu.be/XwUT0ytPfLA

https://youtu.be/SniCLlTIIAs

Awesome that you designed and built one!  

I'm all about performance (nice temp gauges) when it comes to passive solar devices, so I'm looking forward to seeing your drying times for specific items versus the ambient temp and humidity.

Maybe in April we can compare the time it takes to sun dry tomatoes sliced a specific thickness with the atc solar dehydrator here at wheaton labs!

At minimum, hope you have time to post start and end times and respective pictures!

If i were to do it again i would make more flow holes and have a way to adjust them to tune the whole system. 95% of the use will be evaporating seawater into salt. 5-10 gallons at a time, constantly topping them off to condense it.

I also think i can make bacon in it by closing off the final vents. When i made bacon i cold smoked it then put it in the oven to get the proper internal temps. I see this doing it with a little tweeking and a hot sunny day.

Chris, see if this helps. I had no help with it,  so i included how i assembled it.