The Perfect DIY Solar Oven
Introduction: The Perfect DIY Solar Oven
Welcome to another kick-ass Instructable from <PERSON>!
I love cooking with a solar oven! It's like using the perfect slow cooker, but no heat in the kitchen and best yet, the energy to run it IS FREE! I have a Sun Flair solar cooker on our sailboat and use it every time we're on the hook. I used it as a basis for this design.
I wanted to design a very functional solar oven for the DIY'er, but not something that is big, bulky nor permanent. Something for the backyard...something you can use on the picnic table in place of your grill! I also wanted to make it as low cost as possible, and something that can be built on the kitchen table with nothing more than some office supplies, fence wire, left-over blanket case and a windshield sun protector/dash cover.
I also wanted it portable and foldable, that's why I didn't build a permanent frame. Built correctly this little oven should last you years and years.
I went through two designs (rectangular and round/oval) and each had their advantages, however I found that the oval one was a better performer; it got hotter quicker.
I also wanted to design a solar oven that doesn't get over 200F (95C). That's important, because at [or below] those temperatures you don't have to worry about over-cooking your dinner or drying it out. Think of it as a slow-cooker, but solar powered!
I did a lot of engineering in the design, and I provided some simple drawings for both designs, but once you read through the Instructable, and build one you may find some better (or more permanent) improvements to this design. Please let me know!.
Step 1: What You'll Need
I noticed that the Sun Flair portable solar oven I bought for the boat was made from reflective, Mylar coated insulation/bubble wrap. There's a picture of one above. So when it came to my design, right away I went to the cheap, folding windshield suncover; it's the same stuff. So that's where I started and that's where you need to start. Everything else you buy/fabricate will be based on the size of suncover you start with.
They come in all sizes, but I bought the largest I could find (to maximize insolation). As you can see from the photo, mine was about 30" tall so I based all of my dimensions of this height. You will also find that the windshield suncover can [usually] be cut in half to make two ovens. 411
Not knowing which design would work out best I made two designs from the same suncover; one similar to the Sun Flair design (flat-sided) and one based on a parabolic reflector.
Whatever size you buy, the drawings provided [in following steps] are based on the height of the suncover, so you should be able to fabricate one from any size you buy. Note, I can tell you that the amount of BTU's that your oven will generate is based on the opening size, so the bigger the suncover the hotter the oven.
So, first you will need a windshield suncover. I bought my 30" tall cover from a street vendor; cost $5 [new].
The second thing you'll need is a clear cover for the front of the oven. This is probably the most important component of your solar oven. For this I recommend a good, used clear blanket/duvet case. (These are the cases that new blankets/duvet covers are sold it at places like Walmart, Target, etc.) I like using them because [most] of them have a wire along the periphery so I didn't have to make a frame for it. You can also make it out of a clear piece of acetate, or from a good, used garment storage bag. If you look at the oval wireframe in the pictures above you'll see I used it as a pattern for a clear cover made from a garment bag. (Keep in mind that none of the materials used in the construction of this oven have to be able to withstand any high temperatures; the only thing that get's really hot is the cookware inside the oven).
I stole one of my wife's duvet cover case so it was free.
You will need to get some stiff fencing wire from the local hardware store. You will make the frame opening from this. As you will see later on I made two shapes from this wire. You'll need about 5 ft for each shape. I don't know the cost of 10 ft, but I bought a 25' long roll [many moons ago] for about $7.
I used a combination of Binder clips and adhesive-backed velcro to hold my clear covers on to the flanges of the solar oven. 215