I built a Walk Radiant Solar Dehydrator and I like it

Jay Angler wrote:Michael Helmersson wrote:

and iron pipe for the 2-axis stand

Any chance you'd be willing to take a couple of pictures about how the pipe is attached to the dehydrator? Are they permanently attached, or can you whack the pipe into the ground and then set the dehydrator on top, which would make it easier to store in the winter or change its location if needed. Thanks.

The pipe is permanently attached to the dehydrator, but I put a sleeve of poly pipe into the ground. This allows the dehydrator to be easily turned and be removed for winter. I put a stick with a cap on it in the poly pipe to keep dirt and snow out when not in use. The poly pipe was easy to install. I first used a bar to jab the ground and get the hole as plumb as possible and opened up for the poly. Then I inserted a piece of the iron pipe with a cap on it into the poly pipe for rigidity while pounding it into the ground.

I'll endeavour to take a photo once the sun comes up.

Nice work on the scrounging and adapting of the design! Your dryer looks quite elegant. I hope it's helping you to stock your winter pantry.

Dehydrating is our preferred method of preserving. Our challenge is that the weather at harvest time tends to be wet and cloudy.

Just found this thread today.   I like the idea of a solar dehydrator that can deal with humid conditions.

One newbie question though...are the trays permanent or can they be removed for filling?

Thanks  :)

Ellen Morrow wrote:

One newbie question though...are the trays permanent or can they be removed for filling?

Thanks  :)

Our trays are removable.

Cool!  Thanks,  Michael!

Ellen Morrow wrote:One newbie question though...are the trays permanent or can they be removed for filling?

I would always make the trays removable on any sort of food dryer so they can be cleaned. I have too many friends with food allergies and don't want cross-contamination.

That said, I don't necessarily wash mine every time I've used them - some foods leave more residue than others, and some foods react with more people than others - but I still want to have the option to do that easily.  I've seen some pretty scuzzy trays before!

Can you go into more detail on how you modified the trays and how it worked out?  The lack of airflow was my main concern when I researched this.

Welcome Leanne!  Who are you addressing your question to?

Hi Larissa,
Thanks for sharing these plans! I'm very interested.
How do the mushrooms accumulate vitamin d from the sun in your solar dehydrator if they are blacked out from the sunlight? Do other foods accumulate vitamin d, or just mushrooms?
Thanks,
Nick

Matt Todd wrote:I've been looking for a way to cook/dehydrate chicken manure because that's easier for me than composting it. I think this might just do the trick!

I believe I can skip the black panel under the glazing since I don't need the UV protection and the manure should be dark enough to absorb sunlight effectively.

Dehydrating manure?  What are the benefits?  I can't figure out how it could be easier than composting.

Nick Neufeld wrote:Hi Larissa,
Thanks for sharing these plans! I'm very interested.
How do the mushrooms accumulate vitamin d from the sun in your solar dehydrator if they are blacked out from the sunlight? Do other foods accumulate vitamin d, or just mushrooms?
Thanks,
Nick

Nick, this is what Larissa said: "But it is better to put them out to dry (gill side up) in direct sunlight for a day or two to increase their vitamin D content many times over. Then into the solar dryer to finish them off."

If they're just put straight in the dryer they won't get the added Vit D. That requires direct sunlight exposure first.

This is so awesome! We’ve attempted a solar oven down here in South Africa, which can also be used as a dehydrator, but our goal is definitely to build a better version, and a large dehydrator. We made a YouTube video about it    ☺️

Jay Angler wrote:Michael Helmersson wrote:

and iron pipe for the 2-axis stand

Any chance you'd be willing to take a couple of pictures about how the pipe is attached to the dehydrator? Are they permanently attached, or can you whack the pipe into the ground and then set the dehydrator on top, which would make it easier to store in the winter or change its location if needed. Thanks.

I am so sorry that I'm only seeing this now. I would take a photo of the pipe attachment right now but the dehydrators are snowed in at the moment. I'll try describing it though.

I used threaded iron pipe and formed a TEE. The top (horizontal) part of the TEE is attached to the underside of the dehydrator frame, right in the middle, using heavy pipe straps that fit loosely over the pipe allowing free movement. The lower (vertical) pipe is two pieces with a threaded coupler joining them. I used an iron bar to open up a hole (and probe for rocks) that was about 18"deep. I opened up the hole enough that it would accept a chunk of poly piping. The poly piping was slid onto the bottom end of the TEE, butting up against the coupler. Then the TEE with poly pipe on it was slid/tapped/pounded into the hole.

When complete, the dehydrator swivels freely in the poly pipe and the pivots on the TEE. To adjust the tilt of the dehydrator, I attached a piece of light chain to each end of the dehydrator with enough slack so that it drooped down low against the vertical part of the TEE. Then I drilled a hole at that spot on the pipe and inserted a screw with and inch or so sticking out. The chain links can be hooked on the screw head and this supports the dehydrator at any angle desired. Everything can be lifted out, leaving the poly pipe in the hole and reinserted. I made little plugs to keep dirt and snow out of them.

I realize that this probably makes no sense, so I'll endeavour to get a picture asap. It's supposed to snow again tonight, so it might be a while.  

Here's a sad picture of my dormant dehydrator's mount:

Having the hinges on the side makes a lot of sense!  Mine has them at the top so you're kind of hunching down to get under them and access the trays.

Mike Haasl wrote:Having the hinges on the side makes a lot of sense!  Mine has them at the top so you're kind of hunching down to get under them and access the trays.

The one thing I never did resolve was a way to support the top while someone is fiddling with the trays. Just by typing this, I've come up with at least one viable solution, so I guess it wasn't an insurmountable challenge-- just a matter of focusing my mind on it. If it works, it'll be to your credit. If it doesn't work, we just won't talk about, okay?

I kinda wondered about that...  With mine we have a stick with a screw sticking out of the end that we prop it securely up with while working under it.