Is A Solar Oven A Part Of Renewable Energy?

Can I build a solar over? Why should I?

Look at all the ways to bring into play the power of the sun. I can use the sun's glorious rays to heat my water. I can use them to run the irrigation pump. Heck, I can even charge my patio lights with them while I listen to the radio. Some people even run their car with them. So cooking with the sun should be pretty basic stuff.

And it is. Cooking with a solar oven is as basic as it gets. There was an article recently in the San Francisco Chronicle where the author mentioned that solar ovens he had found varied in price between thirty-two dollars up to two hundred and sixty dollars. Having said that, the obvious question is: Why don't you just build one?

I did, and I'm just an average guy with no special amount of knowledge nor exotic tools. Let's think about this:

In general, your average solar oven will consist of dark colored pots that are designed to absorb the sun's rays. As the rays are absorbed, the heat inside will rise. You will certainly need a lid that fits pretty snugly in order to hold in liquids. These pots will then be placed inside either a box, an heat resistant plastic bag, or even an inverted bowl. Each of these would operate like the glazing in your solar collectors which allow heat to come in while preventing it from reflecting out. An important addition would be a shiny surface all around the cooking area in order to reflect in additional rays for stronger heat.

Basically, I find three different types of solar cookers. I myself built a box type. They are pretty common and reach a moderately high temperature, plus they can accommodate multiple pots. The parabolic cookers (also called curved concentrator), and I built one of these also, cook relatively fast and at moderate to high temperatures but beware of possible incidences of injury due to burns. This is a very real possibility. Keep children away and watch what you are doing. The third type is the panel cooker which embraces certain elements from both the box and the curved concentrator.

Let me take a minute to reemphasize the warning. You can have injuries due to hot pots and food, and you can have very serious injuries due to heat reflection. Seriously, the reflections of the sun can blind you or your kids. They can give you serious burns on the skin. Don't take chances with this. Watch what you are doing! And then, watch what you are doing!

Also, keep in mind that with solar cookers you will need to keep them from the wind and don't forget that they need several hours of direct sunlight to work. Here is a good rule of thumb to remember for cooking: In good weather conditions, these cookers will take two to three times as long to cook as your home gas or electric oven. They are not going to function well in cloudy weather nor will foods that need regular stirring do well. Heat in a solar cooker is supposed to accumulate and build. Each time you open the pot to stir, a lot of that heat will escape. But a benefit is that your food will probably not be burned as the cooking temperatures are more tranquil. This gives added benefit of slow cooking in the foods own natural juices.

Interestingly, you will find solar cookers all around the world where the sun is strong and that nation's fuel supply is low or erratic.

Many models were originally designed and specifically developed for third world countries but now are available for people who want to be more natural and accomplish their own lives without a lot of social network.

More and more people are realizing that an energy crisis is approaching as the energy transition and it will not be pretty. As fossil fuel products begin to be short in supply, the price will raise exponentially and many of us will need to make other plans in order to take care of our families.

I realize that most will wait for the government to bring about energy salvation. The problem is that energy salvation is when we working stiffs can provide energy and mobility for our families. Not just when Al and Rush can do their thing whenever they want.

Now tell me this: Who do you think the government is going to be concerned about? If you answered that it's you, the average guy who works for a living and provides the government with all its money, you've got a great sense of humor.

Energy crisis? Energy transition? Energy salvation?

You want to wait for the government? Fine.

The rest of us will take care of our families.

Today! Hide and watch!

Thanks

Jim

Jimmy writes a home power generation review web site. He is interested in what works and what scams are out there. Write him with your thoughts and observations at: greenjim@juno.com See his review web site at: http://homepowergeneration.info Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Cosmos