Over 6,000 SK12 type solar cookers have been installed in more
than 60 countries worldwide [as of the year 2000]. The SK
cookers are parabolic dishes approximately 1.4 meters in
diameter. They are designed with a deep focus (the focal area is
inside the dish). The deep focus substantially reduces the
possibility that users or their children will suffer burns; the
deep focus also means that tracking the sun is fairly easy,
since the cooker does not need to be repositioned more than
every 20 minutes. Additional safety and convenience features
include a tracking indicator which makes it unnecessary to look
at the sun while positioning the cooker, as well as a simple
mechanism for swinging the reflector out of the sunshine to get
safe access to the food. Instead of a focal point, the sunlight
is focused over a somewhat wider area where the cooking pot is
always mounted--further reducing the risk of serious burns.
Having a large, dark pot in that focal area also reduces the
chance that users or their families will