Any sort of sustainable food plan that involves a garden and/or fruit trees needs a good dehydrator. This in conjunction with some canning and some animal protein can get you through any low production season.
Here is a solar dehydrator that uses a solar heat collector and dc powered fans to push hot air through the dehydration chamber. I built without plans and based the size of the solar collector on how the beer cans would fit in when stacked up. The fans aren’t needed, but can improve the air flow. They use so little wattage; they can run off of a small 10-15w solar panel. Or you can plug them in.
Here is a solar dehydrator that uses a solar heat collector and dc powered fans to push hot air through the dehydration chamber. I built without plans and based the size of the solar collector on how the beer cans would fit in when stacked up. The fans aren’t needed, but can improve the air flow. They use so little wattage; they can run off of a small 10-15w solar panel. Or you can plug them in.
Step 1: Sizing the Solar Collector
Gather some aluminum cans of your choice, measure the boards based on the sizing of the cans and the number of rows you'd like. My box was 117cm x 69cm. I used a variety of different can sizes. I also used a treated lumber since this will be sitting outside all of the time. I used 2x4's for the entire construction.
I made one of these years ago but didn't need the fans as hot air rises. You actually want the air to go slow as it won't heat up quickly enough otherwise. I had some of my students make a similar design and they used fans which melted in the heat.
It looks as if your cans are whole. A previous design I saw cut off the can bottoms and snipped and folded the top ends so air would go up the tubes and into the drying chamber. ??
I made a collector with similar design to yours, but with a crappy dehydration chamber (re-purpused chipboard) - it was built just to test if the thing really works.
If anyone is interested, here is the whole thing described: http://www.spacepetuniareview.com/2014/11/diy-buil...
Just to remind, this was one of my first wood-building-stuff projects :)
I didn't see any step where you drilled holes in the bottom of the cans. In this type of design isn't the air supposed to flow through the inside of the can? Or did you do it differently?
Correct. In the case of this design the fans would be added to increase airflow and the black cans increase temperature. Technically speaking you don't *need* fans. as the air current would move the air anyway... but sometimes that is not enough flow - as I speculate was the case here.
Other than that add a light bulb or two to the drying chamber so if it is over cast or after sun down, it keeps going, no fungus will grow that way.
The Mother Earth News has reprints on how to make these, (see there website) here is one of their articles, but they have older ones that are built like yours, (or your is like theirs)
h ttp://w ww.motherea rthnews.com/diy/build-a-solar-food-dehydrator.aspx#axzz2fBoCO9tN
An Amerian university also has a set of plans like yours you must google plans to find it. Measured drawings actually.
Yours is great truly, but add the light bulbs if electricity is available.
But other than that, awesome design. I have been looking at options for my own dehydrator and this one seems like a winner.
I had a close look at your finished pics and spotted a small problem. For better air flow cut the top and bottom off the cans and aline cans so air is sucked or pushed up thew the middle of the cans. If you put fans on the air in end, the air coming in will keep fans cooler. Hop this helps good job.
JIM
I haven't used it for jerky yet, but if I can get up around 140ish i will. (It's been overcast during rainy season). I'll use it for beef.
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I also installed the variable speed electric fans as an alternate means to control temp and air speed. I may install chimney later if it looks like air movement could be improved significantly. That's a great idea and thank you for the input.