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2. How to Make a Solar Oven
• When it comes to cooking food, a large quantity of energy may
be required, regardless of whether you are using a gas or an
electric oven. Other cooking tools may also use up a lot of
electricity, and sometimes, on a camping trip, for example, you
may require an easier method to heat up your food.
• A solar oven may be just the thing to help you in such situations.
The main benefit of this device is that it uses solar energy,
which is free and readily available practically everywhere. A high
quality solar oven can, therefore, help you out in some tight
spots, making sure that you never go without warm food, no
matter where you are.
• The good news is that, by using some cheap materials, you too
can build your own solar oven and make it work in practically no
time at all. All you need is some enthusiasm and an open mind,
and you will be enjoying some tasty dishes in no time at all.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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3. What Are Solar Ovens?
• A solar oven (also known as a solar cooker) is generally
seen as a device that can use sunlight to heat foods and
drinks, and to sterilize them. While top class versions that
can work in less powerful light are also available, being
made with solar cells, they are mostly considered to be
expensive, and are, therefore, quite rarely used.
• Most solar cookers out there are relatively cheap and low-
tech, and are simply used to aid the reduction of air
pollution, and provide people with an alternative to fuel
consumption. Nevertheless, using solar ovens can be quite
fun, especially since it involves outdoor cooking, and can be
seen as a more unusual way of having a barbecue.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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4. • There are also various types of outdoor solar ovens, depending on
the methods used for achieving the best results with the sun's
energy.
• The most basic type is a solar cooker that uses a reflective
mirror made of metal or polished glass to reflect the rays of the
sun, and concentrate them in order to maximize their heating
power, directing them to a relatively small cooking area.
• Another method is the use of a low reflectivity surface to convert
light into heat, and enhance the cooking power of the oven. This
method is not very difficult to use, however, heat retention may
prove to be difficult on cold, cloudy days.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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5. • Last, but not least, the idea of trapping heat inside the
container has proven to be quite effective. This method
basically makes use of a sealed plastic bag in order to
isolate the hot air inside the container. In contrast with the
previous one, this technique allows for far better
performance during cold or windy days as well.
• Besides using any of these techniques separately, you can
also combine them in order to achieve even better results.
Most people prefer to use variations of the reflective method,
however, as it is considered to be somewhat more efficient
than the other two.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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6. 7 Easy Steps to Building Your Own Solar Cooker
• 1. The first step is to gather all your supplies and
materials. You will need a cardboard box that will be the
food container itself, a plastic wrap, clear tape, an
aluminum foil and newspapers, as well as some black
construction paper.
• Most of these materials may be cheap, but try to make sure
that they are of at least an acceptable quality, so you can
work with them more easily. Also, don't hesitate to play around
with the architecture of the solar oven, and add other
materials or design elements to enhance its functionality, if
you feel the need to do so.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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7. • 2. The tools you will need are not very complex, as you will
simply be measuring and cutting cardboard, aluminum foil
and paper. Make sure you have a box knife and scissors,
therefore, and in order to achieve best results, ensure that
you can also use a precision ruler.
• You might consider that the tools and materials you use
shouldn't have to be of such good quality for a small project
like this, however, that is far from being true. In order to
ensure the proper functionality of your solar oven, as well as
its long term reliability, the tools need to be easy to use and
reliable, so you can work under the best circumstances.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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8. • 3. Next, you will need to cut a large flap into the lid of
the box and cover its inner side with aluminum foil,
taping it securely, and making sure that it is smooth
enough to reflect the sunlight perfectly. The role of the
flap will be to act as a mirror, reflecting sunlight into
the container.
• Additionally, you can also use a metal sheet, or other
reflective materials; however, it is generally considered
that aluminum foil is the most practical and least
expensive choice.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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9. • 4. In order to make the box airtight, you must use the
clear tape or a transparent plastic bag to seal the
opening you have made when you cut out the flap.
This is done in order to ensure that, while the box will
allow sunlight in, the interior temperature will not be
affected by airflow differences.
• A poorly designed solar oven that does not have proper
insulation will not be able to provide too much heat, so
make sure that your efforts are not in vain, and consider
this aspect with increased care and consideration.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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10. • 5. The black construction paper has the role of improving the interior heating of
the box by absorbing sunlight and turning more of it into heat. Make sure you
fasten the paper securely, as this is where your food will be placed.
• 6. The newspapers have to be used to provide insulation so that the oven can
hold more heat. For this purpose, you will have to roll up some sheets of
newspaper, and tape them inside the box in such a way that they create a type of
insulating border around the cooking area, keeping the heat from escaping.
While it is important to get proper insulation, make sure that the lid can still close.
• 7. Now, you're basically done; all you need to do is use the ruler to set the angle
for the reflector to precisely 45 degrees, in order to maximize the amount of
sunlight that will be reflected into the box. You can then get to work, and start
cooking anything from toast to hot dogs, by simply preparing your dishes and
letting the sunlight do the rest.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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11. Other Considerations
• There are some aspects that need to be cleared before you can start using
your new solar cooker to the full extent of its capacity. First of all, remember
that it's a homemade solar oven, so it does have its limitations. You will not
be able, therefore, to cook complex meals on it that may require diligent
temperature control, or a large amount of heat.
• Also, the quality of the materials may not endure extreme conditions, and
may gradually decay over long periods of time, so if you want to use your
oven in the future, make sure you take care of it properly, putting it away
safely while you are not using it.
• If you want to achieve better results, you can build a somewhat more
complicated device that will also require careful planning, as well as a lot
more work. For example, you can build a special wooden box, providing it
with better interior insulation, and using a polished mirror to reflect the
sunlight.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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12. General Conclusion
• Of course, not all would prefer the idea of using these
methods to heat food. A DIY solar cooker may be cheap, but
some might consider the process of building it to be slightly
difficult.
• Nevertheless, if you have a little time to spare and you like
doing some light, rewarding work, with a little patience, you
can finish your solar oven project in practically no time at all.
You can then enjoy a quite useful alternative method to regular
cooking stoves, and save energy by heating your food in a
natural and environmental friendly way.
For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
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13. • For more information on how to make a solar oven go to
http://advantagesanddisadvantagessolarenergy.com
• You'll discover...
• The facts about solar energy
• Exactly how solar energy works
• The price of installing solar energy
• Solar energy for home and business
• How to build a solar energy system
• How to make a solar oven
• ...and lots more! The information is ideal for students learning
about solar energy and home owners who are looking into
installing solar panels in their home.
• Please email any questions to
support@advantagesanddisadvantagessolarenergy.com