Let The Sun Shine In.

dcarch · June 5, 2010

Do you have children? Grandchildren? You can really impress them with this simple project and inspire them to have an interest in science.

Most solar ovens are not practical. They cook way too slow, cannot BBQ and requiring special cookware. A parabolic reflector or a Fresnel lens solar oven is more useful, but they are very expensive.

I have discovered a great way to make a Fresnel solar oven. Go to your local recycling center and look for a large rear screen projection TV. Right behind the front screen you will find a thin sheet of plastic lens. This is what is known as Fresnel lens. It costs a couple of hundred dollars if you purchase it.

Put this lens in a simple wood frame and you’ve got yourself a powerful solar cooker. It can grill hamburgers, hot dogs, bake, roast, BBQ ----. Be careful, it’s powerful and can start a log on fire in a few seconds.

A great thing to have for camping, backyard BBQ and for motor homes.
Wear sunglasses when you use this cooker.

dcarch

dhrtx · June 5, 2010

Wow! What kind of temperatures can you get with that thing? Would smaller old TV's also have something similar, or would it have to be large screen? Very interesting, if only for novelty. Thanks for sharing this fun idea.

dcarch · June 6, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhrtx

Wow! What kind of temperatures can you get with that thing? Would smaller old TV's also have something similar, or would it have to be large screen? Very interesting, if only for novelty. Thanks for sharing this fun idea.

If the lens is large enough, you can melt metal with it.
You can find this lens only with large rear projection type of TVs. The kind of older generation TVs people are throwing away to go get HDTV digital TVs.

dcarch

honeythedog · June 14, 2010

Yeah gods - I want one!

How long does it take to cook a 'burger? - must be a matter of seconds if you want it rare I would think....

June 5, 2010	#1
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Let The Sun Shine In. Do you have children? Grandchildren? You can really impress them with this simple project and inspire them to have an interest in science. Most solar ovens are not practical. They cook way too slow, cannot BBQ and requiring special cookware. A parabolic reflector or a Fresnel lens solar oven is more useful, but they are very expensive. I have discovered a great way to make a Fresnel solar oven. Go to your local recycling center and look for a large rear screen projection TV. Right behind the front screen you will find a thin sheet of plastic lens. This is what is known as Fresnel lens. It costs a couple of hundred dollars if you purchase it. Put this lens in a simple wood frame and you’ve got yourself a powerful solar cooker. It can grill hamburgers, hot dogs, bake, roast, BBQ ----. Be careful, it’s powerful and can start a log on fire in a few seconds. A great thing to have for camping, backyard BBQ and for motor homes. Wear sunglasses when you use this cooker. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

June 5, 2010	#2
dhrtx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ranger, TX Posts: 49	Wow! What kind of temperatures can you get with that thing? Would smaller old TV's also have something similar, or would it have to be large screen? Very interesting, if only for novelty. Thanks for sharing this fun idea.

June 14, 2010	#4
honeythedog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: france Posts: 10	Yeah gods - I want one! How long does it take to cook a 'burger? - must be a matter of seconds if you want it rare I would think....