Solar Cooking
m (Reverted edits by 72.10.121.101 (talk | block) to last version by Tom Sponheim)
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__TOC__
 
__TOC__
   
==<span style="font-size:18pt">Selected Designs</span>==
+
==<span style="font-size:18pt">Selected designs</span>==
 
===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Panel cookers|Panel-style cookers]]</span>===
 
===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Panel cookers|Panel-style cookers]]</span>===
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
  +
|-
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
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|-
 
|-
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
+
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
* Easy and cheap to make
 
* Easy and cheap to make
 
* Can be collapsed for storage or transport
 
* Can be collapsed for storage or transport
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
+
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
 
* Lower temperatures.
 
* Lower temperatures.
* Can't fry foods.
+
* Can't fry foods.
 
* Cooks only 1-2 pots of food.
 
* Cooks only 1-2 pots of food.
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" |
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" |
'''[[Fun-Panel]]'''<br />
+
'''[[Fun-Panel]]''' <br>
 
<imagemap>
 
<imagemap>
 
Image:Fun-Panel_45_degree_view.jpg|150px
 
Image:Fun-Panel_45_degree_view.jpg|150px
 
default [[Fun-Panel]]
 
default [[Fun-Panel]]
 
desc none
 
desc none
</imagemap>
+
</imagemap>
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
* Built in about an hour from one large cardboard box or from two medium-size sheets of cardboard
 
* Built in about an hour from one large cardboard box or from two medium-size sheets of cardboard
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* Might be difficult to use in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.
 
* Might be difficult to use in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Windshield Shade Solar Cooker|Windshield Shade]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Windshield Shade Solar Cooker|Windshield Shade]]''' <br> <imagemap>
 
Image:Windshield_shade.jpg|150px
 
Image:Windshield_shade.jpg|150px
 
default [[Windshield Shade Solar Cooker|Windshield Shade]]
 
default [[Windshield Shade Solar Cooker|Windshield Shade]]
 
desc none
 
desc none
</imagemap>
+
</imagemap>
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
* Fastest cooker to make.
 
* Fastest cooker to make.
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* Only feasible where windshield shades are sold
 
* Only feasible where windshield shades are sold
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[CooKit|Cookit]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[CooKit|Cookit]]''' <br> <imagemap>
 
Image:CooKit.jpg|150px
 
Image:CooKit.jpg|150px
 
default [[CooKit|CooKit]]
 
default [[CooKit|CooKit]]
 
desc none
 
desc none
</imagemap>
+
</imagemap>
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
* Folds to the size of a large notebook for storage or transport
 
* Folds to the size of a large notebook for storage or transport
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* Cooks best when the sun is high in the sky.
 
* Cooks best when the sun is high in the sky.
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Sunny Cooker]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Sunny Cooker]]''' <br>
  +
<imagemap>
 
Image:Sunny_Cooker_-_LSA_1.jpg|150px
 
Image:Sunny_Cooker_-_LSA_1.jpg|150px
 
default [[Sunny Cooker]]
 
default [[Sunny Cooker]]
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* Might be more difficult to use at mid-day in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.
 
* Might be more difficult to use at mid-day in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.
 
|}
 
|}
<br />
+
<br>
 
See all [[:Category:Panel cooker plans|Panel cooker plans]].
 
See all [[:Category:Panel cooker plans|Panel cooker plans]].
   
  +
<hr>
<hr />===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Box cookers|Box-style cookers]]</span>===
 
  +
 
===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Box cookers|Box-style cookers]]</span>===
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
  +
|-
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
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|-
 
|-
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
+
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
 
* Can cook in multiple pots simultaneously
 
* Can cook in multiple pots simultaneously
 
* Can be built from many different materials
 
* Can be built from many different materials
 
* Can be built any size to cook large quantities of food
 
* Can be built any size to cook large quantities of food
 
* Don't have to be turned to follow the sun while cooking
 
* Don't have to be turned to follow the sun while cooking
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
+
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
* Construction time longer than panel.
+
* Construction time longer than panel.
* Can't fry foods.
+
* Can't fry foods.
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc;align:center" | '''[["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|The "Minimum"]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc;align:center" | '''[["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|The "Minimum"]]''' <br>
  +
<imagemap>
 
Image:Minimum_Solar_Box_Cooker_Photo_small.jpg|150px
 
Image:Minimum_Solar_Box_Cooker_Photo_small.jpg|150px
 
default [["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|The "Minimum"]]
 
default [["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|The "Minimum"]]
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| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
 
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
 
* Not waterproof
 
* Not waterproof
|-
+
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc;align:center" | '''[[Easy Lid]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc;align:center" | '''[[Easy Lid]]''' <br>
  +
<imagemap>
 
Image:Happy_Sunshine_Cooker.JPG|150px
 
Image:Happy_Sunshine_Cooker.JPG|150px
 
default [[Easy Lid]]
 
default [[Easy Lid]]
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* Same as [["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|"Minimum" Cooker]] but there is no need to construct a lid since the top of larger box becomes the lid
 
* Same as [["Minimum" Solar Box Cooker|"Minimum" Cooker]] but there is no need to construct a lid since the top of larger box becomes the lid
 
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
 
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
* Not waterproof
+
* Not waterproof
|-
+
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Heaven's Flame]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Heaven's Flame]]''' <br>
  +
<imagemap>
 
Image:Heavensflame.jpg|150px
 
Image:Heavensflame.jpg|150px
 
default [[Heaven's Flame]]
 
default [[Heaven's Flame]]
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|}
 
|}
   
<br />
+
<br>
 
See all [[:Category:Box cooker plans|Box cooker plans]].
 
See all [[:Category:Box cooker plans|Box cooker plans]].
   
  +
<hr>
<hr />===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Parabolic cookers]]</span>===
 
  +
 
===<span style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:normal">[[Parabolic cookers|Parabolic cookers]]</span>===
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
 
{| border="1" cellpadding=5
  +
|-
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
 
| width="45%" align="center" style="background-color:#cef2e0" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''Advantages'''</span>
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|-
 
|-
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
 
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | <span style="font-size:12pt">'''General characteristics'''</span>
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
+
| style="background-color:#cef2e0" |
* Cook as fast as a conventional electric burner.
+
* Cook as fast as a conventional electric burner.
* Can fry foods.
+
* Can fry foods.
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
+
| style="background-color:#F9CCCA" |
 
* More expensive than other models
 
* More expensive than other models
* Tricky to make without imported materials.
+
* Tricky to make without imported materials.
 
* Requires periodic realignment to the sun.
 
* Requires periodic realignment to the sun.
 
* Can't bake bread
 
* Can't bake bread
* Can damage eyes.
+
* Can damage eyes.
 
|-
 
|-
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Double-Angled-Twelve-Sided cooker|DATS]]'''<br /><imagemap>
+
| align="center" style="background-color:#fcfcfc" | '''[[Double-Angled-Twelve-Sided cooker|DATS]]''' <br> <imagemap>
 
Image:DATS_solar_cooker.jpg|150px
 
Image:DATS_solar_cooker.jpg|150px
 
default [[Double-Angled-Twelve-Sided cooker|DATS]]
 
default [[Double-Angled-Twelve-Sided cooker|DATS]]
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|}
 
|}
   
<br />
+
<br>
 
See all [[:Category:Parabolic cooker plans|Parabolic cooker plans]].
 
See all [[:Category:Parabolic cooker plans|Parabolic cooker plans]].
   

Revision as of 18:09, 16 May 2011

Searchbox

Build a solar cooker

Archive plans page

See also the old plans page on the Solar Cooking Archive.

There is a wide variety of solar cooker designs, many of them very simple to build from inexpensive, easy-to-obtain materials. Some can be built in as little as an hour for less than US$5. Start by choosing a cooker design type based on your requirements. The table below lists strengths and weaknesses of the most common types, and shows some popular cookers of each type. Below each table is a all cooker plans of that cooker type. You can also buy a solar cooker from a variety of companies.


Selected designs

Panel-style cookers

  Advantages Disadvantages
General characteristics
  • Easy and cheap to make
  • Can be collapsed for storage or transport
  • Lower temperatures.
  • Can't fry foods.
  • Cooks only 1-2 pots of food.

Fun-Panel

Fun-Panel 45 degree view
  • Built in about an hour from one large cardboard box or from two medium-size sheets of cardboard
  • Doesn't require a large flat sheet of cardboard like the CooKit does
  • Easy to adjust for different sun angles
  • Great cooking power
  • Very good for winter cooking in temperate regions
  • Not waterproof
  • Might be difficult to use in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.
Windshield Shade
Windshield shade
  • Fastest cooker to make.
  • Waterproof
  • Only feasible where windshield shades are sold
Cookit
CooKit
  • Folds to the size of a large notebook for storage or transport
  • Not waterproof
  • Cooks best when the sun is high in the sky.
Sunny Cooker
Sunny Cooker - LSA 1
  • Uses less cardboard than other panel cookers
  • Not waterproof
  • Might be more difficult to use at mid-day in equatorial climates where sun rises to straight overhead.


See all Panel cooker plans.


Box-style cookers

  Advantages Disadvantages
General characteristics
  • Can cook in multiple pots simultaneously
  • Can be built from many different materials
  • Can be built any size to cook large quantities of food
  • Don't have to be turned to follow the sun while cooking
  • Construction time longer than panel.
  • Can't fry foods.
The "Minimum"
Minimum Solar Box Cooker Photo small
  • Simple to build from two cardboard boxes
  • Not waterproof
Easy Lid
Happy Sunshine Cooker
  • Same as "Minimum" Cooker but there is no need to construct a lid since the top of larger box becomes the lid
  • Not waterproof
Heaven's Flame
Heavensflame
  • Extra power due to multiple reflectors
  • Can heat multiple pots simultaneously
  • Must be turned a bit more often to follow the sun
  • Bottom of oven not level as cooker tilts toward sun
  • Not waterproof


See all Box cooker plans.


Parabolic cookers

  Advantages Disadvantages
General characteristics
  • Cook as fast as a conventional electric burner.
  • Can fry foods.
  • More expensive than other models
  • Tricky to make without imported materials.
  • Requires periodic realignment to the sun.
  • Can't bake bread
  • Can damage eyes.
DATS
DATS solar cooker
  • Can be made out of cardboard
  • Doesn't require the pot to be in a heat resistant plastic bag
  • Must be realigned to the sun every 45 minutes


See all Parabolic cooker plans.

All cookers

Below you will find links to all of the different plans for solar cookers found on this wiki.

See also

External links

All items (117)