Introduction: Lunch Heater - Lunch Box

Hi! My name is Letizia, I'm almost 20 years old and I live in Italy in a little city called Savona near Genova in Liguria. This is my first Instructable and I'm sorry about my English that is not so good.

As I study at the university I often bring home-prepared lunch so I do not always eat the usual sandwich, the problem is that in winter it is not pleasant to eat cold food ... especially if it is a nice dish of pasta with ragù (Bolognese sauce)!!

I had to find a way to warm up my lunch box...Since I love DIY I decided to create my food-warmer.

Step 1: Characteristics

This warmer allows you to choose your favourite box without modifications, also you can put the box in the dishwasher because it is independent of the warmer. I think it doesn't consume much power but I don't know the number of watts because I can't find the features on internet. Anyway it produces enough heat in a few minutes.

My warmer is made of recycled materials (my father has a shop of electrical equipment, chandeliers and small appliances) from old broken things, all the project cost to me 0 euros.

Step 2: Materials

I used recycled materials so the list is variable

  • 2 heat resistances
  • electric cable with plug
  • thin and thik aluminium sheet
  • nuts and bolts
  • cork slice
  • heat resistant plastic box
  • silicone

P.S. I found the resistances in an old electric insecticide similar to the one in the last picture.

Step 3: Let's Assemble!



1.

insert a sheath on the exposed terminals of the resistors


2.

connect the resistors in parallel


3.

connect the end of the resistors with the heads of the cable


4.

give the shape of the body of the resistors to two thin aluminum plates that will serve to dissipate the heat, on the flat parts make the holes to fix them to the thickest sheet


5.

cut a thicker sheet of aluminum into the shape of the plastic box and pierce it so that the holes coincide with those of the resistor's thin plates


6.

cut three pieces of cork the internal dimensions of the plastic box, then take two pieces and cut out the shape of the previously connected resistors


7.

with nuts and bolts fix the plates to the thick plate with the resistors in the middle, be careful not to scratch the resistors that could otherwise make short circuit, to be sure you can put a sheath around it


8.

on the bottom of the box put some silicone to glue the first layer of cork (that is not carved) then the other two carved cork layers


9.

insert the assembled plate inside the box making the part carved with the resistors coincide, position the electric cable so that it doesn't trouble making it come out from a hole previously made on one side of the box


10.

put generous silicone along the perimeter and in every part at risk


11.

connect the electric cable with the plug




Step 4: Now It's Done

Now all that remains is to prepare a nice lunch to eat hot in between lessons and better if it is a good portion of pasta!

SAFETY FIRST- Since we are dealing with electricity, I advise the utmost caution and respect for the prevention regulations.

These instructions represent only a sketch because the finished object does not comply with all the safety regulations in force so, I do not take responsibility for possible damage to things or people.

THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR ATTENTION!