Solar Appliances
Build A Homemade Solar Hot Water Collector
In order for solar technology to be accepted, it must be affordable . . . but while many manufacturers go to great lengths to develop well-designed, functional products, they often fall short of achieving even tolerable cost-effectiveness.
Part of the problem is that a sizable portion of production cost lies in assembly. Many solar enthusiasts are circumventing that built-in thorn by fabricating their own system components, most notably the collector panels.
Understandably enough, though, not all of us have the skills - or the time and inclination - required to design and construct a state-of-the-art solar collector from scratch. However, kit assembly is within the realm of even a novice do-it-yourselfer . . . and, by presenting our experiences with a typical piece-together panel, we'll give you the chance to decide whether this alternative is your cup of tea.
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How To Build & Use a Solar Still
Ninety years ago, mine owners in the high country of Chile were faced with the problem of providing drinking water for their workers. The only available supply was unfit to drink, and so a means of purifying the liquid had to be found. Amazingly, the solution was a sun-operated distilling plant in which a large area of glassed-over wooden frames evaporated the contaminated water, recondensed it . . . and thus produced as much as 6,000 gallons of fresh water in a day!
This solar still used no fuel or power except that from the sun's rays and was thus able to provide pure water at a cost unmatched by any other means of distillation. Oddly, the method was forgotten in the intervening years and fueloperated stills were used whenever it was necessary to convert salty-or otherwise undrinkable water-to fresh.
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Review of Solar Cooker Designs
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This review presents about 60 major designs , 69 variations and over 100 drawings of solar cookers. Test data published by other researcher is compiled and a new set of parameters are suggested for testing Solar Cookers, reflectors, and insulating material. This compilation recommends do it-yourself box-type solar cookers incorporated in the house for the rural areas (type BDM 2, concept IX). For urban areas, the best suited design would be Prof. Bowman's design with slight modifications (Type MP 3a,or Concept IV). Another design for small towns, where smaller houses are more in number, is the roof-top water lens whose focus is suitably deflected to the bottom of the cooking vessel (Type LCA 3a, Concept VI).Of other viable designs Bernard's 'COOKIT' appears to be the best suited, other designs are also discussed. ( Update: 6 more new designs have been added since this site was launched in June 1999, for details see at the end of this part and also in the respective sections ) The Sheffler's Reflector is also becomming popular World over.
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Solar Food Dehydrator
Made from two cardboard boxes, some clear plastic wrap, and a little tape. You can build a nearly free solar dehydrator. Set it on a stool or chair and face it's solar collector towards the sun, and you have a functional food preservation machine for little work and even less money.
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