Solar Cooker Update

Remember that huge fresnel lens. We tested a little bit with it and we were able to light paper towels on fire within a minute. The only problem is that we need a way to keep it up. Originally we were thinking of making a frame but we aren't quite sure exactly how to do that. We then came up with the idea of stacking up cinder blocks so that we could put the lens on that. We could change the amount of cinder blocks on each side to tilt the lens so that the sun will still hit it. I am thinking of taking the lens home this week so that I can test how different angles of the lens will affect how it cooks. We are having a cook out at the end of the school year and we will use the solar cookers to cook the food. I think that it will turn out good but we will have to supervise our lens because if it got slightly off focus it could stop working or burn too hot.

Solar Cooker Progress

My group's solar cooker actually started out as a box cooker. We made quite a bit of progress on it but ultimately changed our decision on what kind of cooker to use. We then brought in a big fresnel lens from an old TV and put together a frame for it. A fresnel lens can cook all by itself without having a solar cooker with it. I think the fresnel lens will cook decently but we will have to wait for it to be warm outside in order for the solar cookers to work. So far we have made very good progress and I think that this project will turn out really cool.

Best Solar Cooker

     I think a panel cooker would be the best idea. The panel cooker is somewhat somewhat triangular shaped and the food is put in the middle. I think the panel cooker is the best because it is cost effective. It does not require many supplies, and the supplies that are required are quite cheap. It is also easy to build. Someone could build one with cardboard and aluminum foil. A decent panel cooker requires little to no tools. I have seen a panel cooker made with a car windshield shade. It is shaped like a funnel and food is put in the center. Overall, the panel cooker is cheaper and easier to build, which makes it the better choice. 

Pictures:

http://www.freewebs.com/sunnycooker/suntasticcookerplan.htm

http://solarcooking.org/plans/windshield-cooker.htm

"Plans for Solar Cookers -- The Solar Cooking Archive." Plans for Solar Cookers -- The Solar 

JJJJJCooking Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. <http://solarcooking.org/plans/>.