• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Anne Miller
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • r ransom
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Tereza Okava
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • M Ljin
  • Megan Palmer
  • Kate Downham

Solar Dehydrator Designs

 
gardener
Posts: 391
Location: Zone 7a
265
7
kids rabbit chicken food preservation fiber arts
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I am thinking about building a solar dehydrator this year. I see a couple ways to build one. One way is to have the top of the solar collector roughly at the top of the cabinet. Then the heated air travels down to the bottom of the cabinet, then up through and out. Another way is to have the top of the solar collector roughly at the bottom of the cabinet, then up and out.
Constructing the first way has a benefit of the cabinet at a convenient height. Is there any loss in having the heated air having to travel down first? Any trouble getting the draw to start?
I have a place at a retaining wall where I *could* have the solar collector at a lower elevation, and cabinet at a higher elevation, all facing south. However, now it's stuck in one place.
Am I overthinking it?
Any wisdom to share?
 
master steward
Posts: 19716
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4949
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi, Kevin

I can't answer your question so I thought you might find them in one of these threads:

https://permies.com/t/71002/kitchen/built-Walk-Radiant-Solar-Dehydrator

https://permies.com/t/136478/solar-dehydrator-build

https://permies.com/t/76018/kitchen/math-solar-dehydrators
 
Kevin Harbin
gardener
Posts: 391
Location: Zone 7a
265
7
kids rabbit chicken food preservation fiber arts
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thank you. These threads were helpful. The right answer for me might be to take advantage of my hot attic.

The problem is the solution.
 
Can you smell this for me? I think this tiny ad smells like blueberry pie!
Rocket Mass Heater Smackdown: J-Tube vs. Batch Box
https://permies.com/t/389918/Rocket-Mass-Heater-Smackdown-Tube
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic