DIY Parabolic Trough Mirror made in 20 minutes Stainless Steel Mirror

[rboos]

Dan! Awesome videos on vacuum tubes and parabolic concentrators... but we will always get stuck on the solar tracking for those parabolic mirrors.. do you have any DIY videos on solar tracking? I ask because the parabolas will only work efficiently during some hours, on those examples you made.. or not? are they effective when they're in a fixed position?

[hobbyguy]

ok.. where was Denise in this one??

[theboatsucks]

well if your temps, time, and water weight are correct you got 1141 btu/hr or 334.2 watts out of one small tube not bad at all. Curious about the total capture area for a guess on efficiency.

[bedofrazorsqwerty]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to line a cheap and bendable 1/8" plywood sheet with Mylar? That stuff is like 12 bucks for a 4' by 25' roll.....

[MTHKITEBOARDS]

Where do you get that stuff "Mirror" I found it online but its like 300 bucks for stainless steel mirror 60 inch by 24'' 22 gauge

I just need something like in the video

Thanks

[deuce747]

@MTHKITEBOARDS There is a link in the info section :)

[impazzitoinvolo]

SImple and efficient! COngratulations!

[izzzzzz6]

Why not take the reflective film that Dan sells on ebay and apply it to some shiny black mylar veneer or similar black flexible surface, use it the same way as in this video. That would save buying stainless steel and would be easier than making the parabolic dish

[hyfusiondotcom]

I see your videos are in an area I'm working in. I made

contact with you because I'd like to give you some money

for placing my link in your video description.

Call me to discuss it if you are interested 949-945-5417.

[UsefulBenevolence]

Whats the reflectivity of this metal mirror compared to glass mirror and mylar film?

[Zappyguy111]

I can run a Beta type Stirling engine off this! Way way easier than using a satellite dish!

[Zappyguy111]

Shiny side of Aluminium foil usable?

[ctaylorelectrical]

can I use a holes that is black inside a used old light tube, Charles

[marverde7]

IS THIS DOUG FROM WEED'S ??

[eloid777]

dan why dont you post a circuit " window comparator" that will track the mirror to the sun

[solarguyable]

What is the name of the is reflective metal and Wwere do you get it?

[supremeon1]

i hate the fact that i have to use google in order to find out the temparature of that water... you should say just how much is your 78 degrees...

[cutter9761]

How much does the SS sheetmetal cost per piece like this one?

[8DoverNJ]

Hey Dan, you might want to check out this link:

watch?feature=player_embedded&­v=z0_nuvPKIi8

[Frosttty]

By my figures, you were getting 225W out of that mirror. Probably a little more due to losses through the top. About right?

[catfish4975]

What gauge of sheetmetal is that? I'm thinking of using 36" or larger water pipe, cut in half lengthwise and trimmed to a length of 8-10 feet long. After that, lining the half pipe with this stainless steel sheet metal should gather a tremendous amount of heat. Especially if it was on an X-Y axis with a suntracker and motors to keep it as maximum efficiency. If it was enough, I could pipe it into an insulated underground tank and then use a heat exchanger and a pump to warm my house.

[beachcomber2008]

@catfish4975 You'd better be aware that system efficiency is going to blow away a lot of the gathered energy, and you'll be lucky to collect more than 150W/M2

Thus the cost of your tracking mechanisms, pipes and seals will mount up

It's is better to first ensure your house is properly insulated, with ventilation heat recovery, before investing in a large reflector assembly with a relatively small return. Where do you live?

[nsobieck]

I thought I heard Denis yelling ' Dan I cant find my cooking thermometer again'

[muddymuddymuddmann]

DEFINITLY AN EXCELLENT VIDEO! SHORT, SIMPLE, USEFUL, AND EASY INSTRUCTIONS. WHAT ELSE COULD ONE ASK FOR?!!

MUDDy

[coldsn]

a hanging shape like that, under gravity, is not parabolic. It is in the form of a caternary. Similar, but a bit different.

[skoalE]

and also make some cool noises :P

[wallshuttle]

Please focus to me.

Ten years of effort, we successfully developed the most advanced "Wall Shuttle" in the world eventually

for paint and wallpaperin

[lostburro]

How does the concentrated heat not melt the plastic ties? If it will burn wood that fast it seems that the ties would melt. Especially if they are the cheap ones from HF.

Funny. When your dogs started barking, mine ran all over the house barking looking for the yours. Bitches, the lot of them.

[brentbps1]

Great video.thanks

[stundio]

you fail at titles

[imikewillrockyou]

Just need a way to track the sun all day now. Perhaps a stepper motor and a timer set-up.

[opaldragon75]

If it is stainless steel, one could use rare earth magnets to hold the sheet in place and even control the shape if needed. This would also allow you to keep a stronge degree of adjustability without blocking the reflective side at all.

[OSPFlyingwheel]

@opaldragon75 I like your thought process but I doubt that it would work in this application. 400 series stainless is magnetic but just observing this on the video I would guess that it is 300 series which is nonmagnetic.

[opaldragon75]

@OSPFlyingwheel Thats why I commented. my new question is what the difference between the 300 & 400? There are many site that sell custom magnets.

it is a tempting project for me to think about for next year.

[73mandala]

Very good, that is great for heating water, is there also other applications using this technique and how much did the stainless cost and what thickness is it. Cheers

[bradfreak001]

So, This is an engineer making a bbq pit or a mirror for a hot blonde or what. Where I come from parabolic is engineer speak & a trough is for feeding your barn livestock.

[mondays89]

Sounds to me they were getting ready to cook hot dogs for dinner. :P

[PovertyLabs]

I had some problems finding the tube you've used here on Ebay -turns out that a search for "evacuated tube solar" does not find these, but "vacuum tube solar" does. (seems like less than, or equal to $22 a unit)

[navyteccs]

STFU

[JULYINJULY]

@navyteccs GTFU

[steadfast1984]

we wanna see how to actually make one. not just some temp thing that wont hold up. anyone agree? show us the real way.

[GREENPOWERSCIENCE]

@steadfast1984 did that last year

watch?v=XdRQXevQa3I

[steadfast1984]

@GREENPOWERSCIENCE Oh great thanks man. appreciate it. i forgot to mention, great work on the videos. I really do enjoy watching them.

[delacruz210]

@steadfast1984 if you really want to make one, all you really need is google, this is a DIY for people who want to make something that'll be quick n cheap and it's not too bad at that

[GreedIsYourGod]

@steadfast1984 Wahhh Wahhhh Wahhh do it your own lazy self buddy. Dan works damn hard coming up with all sorts of great ideas (and then is nice enough to actually share them with us!!!) Your sort in ungrateful attitude could be just the sort of thing that makes him stop! The fact is there are videos out there that show how to make a full up parabolic. But there were none out there that showed a great quick and easy way to do it. Till Dan showed us that is.

[exempty1970]

@steadfast1984 No, actually I don't agree. I think he DOES "show us the real way" by giving you the basic structure design and general idea. Absolutely no offense to you but it just seems to me that many people today just need hand holding and need to be shown exactly how to do something. Use his basic design and "beef" it up is all, that will give you something that WILL hold up. If you're not good with your hands and don't have a decent mechanical aptitude then ask a friend that does for help

[steadfast1984]

@exempty1970 you just wasted a lot of time writing that. Iv already made my own design and fully built my own version of this. next time check how long the post has been up.... if you don't understand the internet, ask a friend to help you.

[Rapido3d]

@steadfast1984 Yeah, I have seen Dan burn so many pieces of of wood and cook lots of eggs and popcorn, I have never seen any practical application for anything he has done, he states the obvious constantly but you would think his house would now be heated, his electricity self sufficient and all his hot water free, yet we see none of this we just see a yard scattered with bits and pieces of science that most of us are aware exists and are looking to see it in a practical situation.

[tpboles]

Throw a water tank in front of that thing and lets get another Denise taking a bath video! Just kidding (or am I?). Love the videos...Nice work Dan!

[judoyodan]

How does that "tube" on it's own boil water?

[GREENPOWERSCIENCE]

@judoyodan it is a dark inner surface with a vacuum around it. Vacuums do not transfer heat well, they are a vary good insulator. Sunlight penetrates the clear outer glass and heats the black coating delivering heat to the water. Heat can only escape through the top. This builds temperature fast. This is a typical glass thermos but clear on the outside vs silver.

[judoyodan]

@GREENPOWERSCIENCE, interesting. I wasn't aware that you could boil water without concentrating sunlight. Do you know the minimum light density to cause a boil?

[iToasterman]

@GREENPOWERSCIENCE 'vary' lol

[GearzVoNKod3]

@GREENPOWERSCIENCE this is the same principle as the solar farms that use a field of adjustable mirrors to superheat a collector to boil water for electricity production, just on a much much smaller and more practical scale. I like!

[mV33rs]

would that be hot enough to actually heat a water pipe for hot water?

[delacruz210]

@mV33rs yyup

[VRJensen1]

Sadly I think we are being censored. The cattle are merely a bunch of hamburgers and milkshakes unless the get the idea to all run in the same direction. and then you've got a stampede...So if you're a feudal lord don't let the peasantry assemble or they might put together their similar thoughts

[robotpredator8]

hey, why not try this,use a big frenel lens,look at the size of the focus point,then buy a smaller frenel lens just the size of the big frenel lens focus size, try it, there may have a double time power and heat, reply me back i want to know if it will work!!!!

[kami3233]

@robotpredator8

If you were to use the smaller fresnel lens to get the focus of the larger one, you would be blocking the sun the larger lens is getting. Unless you mounted it some crazy way.

[Peterditaa]

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[Peterditaa]

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[motters2001]

An oddball thought. What about using this to make a circular mirror, where the focus point is quite dispersed, then using a small amount of solar panels along the centre. You'd have to be careful that the beam was sufficiently dispersed not to cook the panels, but it might be a way of getting high efficiency from a small area of solar cells by using the mirror to collect light from a wide area.

[koenstr]

im a vampire! i didn't see my self in the mirror!

[Henkera]

Maby you could bend the sheet so you get a longer reflektor instead, and use paint bucket lids (or the part of the paint bucket that keeps the lid in place) to keep the reflektor parabolic.

[AweSomo84]

your such a smart person and fun to watch :)

[merlinspower]

Is this non magnetic 304 S.S or 316L S.S. ? and where can you buy  this from? Free energy.. cool

[edstar83]

Very cool.

[rainbowsalads]

great mirror & video , some nice wobbly sound effects too. : ) 

[cybercab]

That rocks!

[myeyepie]

We want real world applicability for the masses. Get some of these things to run generators, steam engines etc. Stop with the show and tell and lets get to real serious off grid solutions. Stop making stuff to smoke a piece of pine. that doesnt get anything real done. I want to get off oil but until we see real serious cost effective solutions we are stuck on oil.

[599891]

301 views for me too. Good job Dan, lets get it to do some good things.

[dallasgoldbug]

Hey Dan, It took me forever to view this video. I dont know what YT is doing to your vids. But wanted to also tell you Ive watched the video now 3 times on three different browsers and your 301 views have not changed. just FYI

[astrialkil]

@dallasgoldbug Maybe they track your ip address so you count as one no matter how many times you watch? Its still at 301 for me too !

[dallasgoldbug]

@astrialkil Yes they do but I tried from two different machines and the third I flushed the dns and like I said used a different browser each time so the profile ID was also different. as well as viewing while not signed in then signed in.

Two of the times were from completely different ISP's one mine and one my friend who lives in the building next to me. So I covered all bases. ;-) but thanks for the comment

[dallasgoldbug]

@dallasgoldbug by the way its still on 301

[astrialkil]

@dallasgoldbug Ive noticed i can thumb someone up or down and refresh the page several hours later and they still have no thumbs or the thumb number hasn't changed, so i wonder if "radical" people are being censored other then comments, which would be too obvious.

[dallasgoldbug]

@astrialkil I dont know if i would call Dan radical. But his wife is pretty hot!. Just kidding Dan. I know for sure I have been and still am from time to time.  I had 100,000 hits on my videos in 2 months then nada - Im hardly breaking 1000 perday.

[oldwarhorse1865]

We made a 2' trough with that 3M film, you could light a cigarette in 3 seconds! This was in 1980! We had a working solar proto type steam engine too! Thanks Ronnie Reagan!!! You oil lobbyists won the day!!

[cdltpx]

What do you have to do to get that set up to drive a generator? Would it produce enogh steam to drive an alternator to charge a battery bank?

[kja5]

@cdltpx You might be able to get 50-100 watts out of it...You would need 25 of them to power your house.

It works for great for cooking though!

[andruha11234]

since when do dogs say ruff ruff?

[Raxarax]

Liar! there's no link to the water boiling vacuum tube down here....

[operator223]

Hey Dan,

this is really neat !! I wonder what a 15 foot long trough, a solar pond pump and a insulated water heater used as a vessel would do to make hot water for a bath or for the kitchen.

[rstephensonable]

I like it - a nice, simple design that works... and we can jazz it up how ever we like after proof of concept. Thanks!

[iamzid]

this did NOT satisfy my explosion requirements for the day.

[BeeRich33]

Dan, try not to film into the sun, man.

[burchified]

@BeeRich33 Solar energy is free an abundant. But it has one fatal flaw, it only works during the day.

[BeeRich33]

@burchified You will go far in life.

[burchified]

@BeeRich33 Further than you will ever know.

[BeeRich33]

@burchified LOL riiiiiight. You've failed already. 

[DigitalSkyline]

Cool. Practical application?

[dzgfdg]

yea i made it yes

[dzgfdg]

first