Solar warmer! Cooker?

May 18, 2021

I was going to email this info. to a friend who's into solar cookers.  Then I thought, I'll just put it in a blog post, so here it is.

Our solar and battery system will run everything except the microwave and A/C.  Every so often we'd want to heat something best heated in the microwave. The stove top works but not as good as a slow even heat.  We bought a solar oven several years ago but didn't use it enough to justify the weight (22 lbs) and space it occupied (24 x 15.5 x 20.5 inches) so we left it in Florida during our visit in December 2019.

I started investigating light weight collapsible solar cookers and found a few we could  buy and some home made designs.  I could have just bought one and be done, but what's the fun in that!  I also like the challenge of making something from nothing. 

I got a couple designs off the internet and started collecting materials in spring of 2020. The basic structure is cardboard. EMPTY toilet paper boxes were in abundance. The other materials are heavy duty aluminum foil, white glue and masking tape.

I built the cardboard structure but lost interest with no prospects for boondocking while we stayed in Portal AZ last year. Now, on the road again I finished the job and today was the maiden voyage. 

This was just a test, no food in the pot.  The pot is the liner from the pressure cooker (instant pot if your under 30) and the lid is from our fry pan.

After 10 min. the outside of the pot was 175°, after 30 min. 185°.

At 1 hour I took the lid off and quickly measured the inside,  210°.  The air temprature was 76°.  The design called for an oven bag (to lock in more heat) not used today.

This morning was dead calm on Walker lake.

With even a slight breeze I'd have to secure it with guy lines or some external support. I wanted light and it is very light and compact.

Folded flat for storage.

Here's more picture's...