Homemade Solar Food Dehydrator

[ecuadoriantaco27]

What a great post, i was curious if this design would work would work well in northern minnesota?

[RewardHonesty]

Very nice. How do you control the temperature and what temperatures do you use most often? Thank you.

[meiguoren1]

Thanks for the e-mail Russell. I drew my own sketches of the various aspects of your solar dehydrator and I think i can build one based on those. But if you write out step by step instructions please send them to me! Thanks! :D

[krisofamericas]

nice machine.

[linux2216]

If the text was white it might be easier to read Also, don't let the font get smaller than it is on the first page.

[russellumpkins]

@linux2216 Thanks for the comment, this was my first YouTube video.

[gladtidings4all]

Nice one do you make to sell? I am a woman not handy! Let me know

[russellumpkins]

@gladtidings4all i made the unit to use with no thought of selling the plans or completed units. My friends encouraged me to post the unit on YouTube and I can see that there is great interest in the design of the unit. I do not have detailed design and construction plans, but when I make my second unit with improvements I will create formal a formal design and construction instructions.

[russellumpkins]

Respond to this video...  The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[russellumpkins]

@gladtidings4all The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[pidner]

Nice job,well thought out.

[saintluciferisgod]

sooo you live in arizona...i am currently stationed in el paso an there are a *#&^ load of sand storms here...the stuff gets in our house through the tiniest holes and cakes everything....even through the window seals and the venting for the heater unit so what exactly did you use for a filter that would stop ALL THIS SAND...seriously iraq wasnt this bad with the sand...well ok it was.

[tabhorian]

This gives me great ideas for making a small solar lumber drying kiln. I'm going to use old soda cans though.

[logicpsp]

you can use your car as a food dehydrator :)

[000Winter000]

@logicpsp wow I LOVE that idea..thanks!

[mountainprepper]

Cool.

[russellumpkins]

The screens are galvanized, however I cover them with cheese cloth which makes it easy to quickly pick up the dried foods. I found the fiberglass screens are not as sturdy as metal screens; the cheese cloth works for me.

[SustenanceNCovering]

@russellumpkins I've always heard that galvinized metal had lead in it and was toxic. But, Galvinization is the coating of steel (which is non-toxic) with zink (which is non-toxic) The cheese cloth is a nice thing to have but is not necessary. I plan on making mine with gaxvinized screen or hardware cloth. I may use cheesecloth, but probably not.

[russellumpkins]

@SustenanceNCovering The cheese cloth helps to quickly remove the dried items from the screen units. Some items being dried tend to stick a bit on the screen and the cheese cloth solved the problem.

[meiguoren1]

@russellumpkins

Hi! This is the PERFECT solar dehydrator. Is there anyway you could send me the plans? I'd love for this to be a project for me and my daughter to build together. I've looked at a lot of solar dehydrator plans and yours is by far the best. Please say you can send them to me!!! Thanks!

[russellumpkins]

@meiguoren1 The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[russellumpkins]

Respond to this video... The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[russellumpkins]

Respond to this video... The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[russellumpkins]

@meiguoren1 The plans were roughly sketched on paper and modified as I built the unit. After a year, I identified design changes that would make the unit more efficient and easier to use. In short, I do not have formal plans that I have drawn yet, however I plan to make a second unit with more detailed plans that I would be willing to share.

[askaxis]

is the drying screen galvinized? if it is you may want to find another non toxic mesh i am making a one and i need to research non toxic mesh screens--maybe fiberglass? nice build ! great song! nice video!

[toglusid]

What is the steel plate for? Thermal mass? So is the point of the steel plate to moderate temperature fluctuation through absorbtion and radiation? So does that mean you extend the functioning of the dryer into later in the day with less sun? Have you tried your drier without the steel plate, and how was the temperature difference. I wonder if insulating the sides and bottom and non glass areas and losing the steel plate might also work.

Do you think your unit would work in a tropical area?

[russellumpkins]

@toglusid

The steel plate is to help maintain constant temperature in the unit as it heats up during sunshine and radiates heat as clouds pass over. As you mentioned, the plate also extends the effective drying time hours as the sun fall lower in the sky. I have not tried it without the plate; it is there so I use it. I do use insulating material on the sides, but not the bottom. I think it would work in a tropical area, however the drying time would most likely be longer.

[xteaamo]

Where can I order one? :P

[russellumpkins]

@xteaamo

I could not find a solar dehydrator that met my needs so I designed and built this one from scratch. Since I do not produce the dehydrator commercially, the only way I know to get one is to make it yourself or have someone make it for you. Good Luck!

[candlecane]

I love this song!! What is it called and who sings it?

[russellumpkins]

@candlecane

The song is a Beatles song "Here comes the Sun" from the Abbey Road album 1969.

[candlecane]

@russellumpkins Awesome! Thanks!!!! :DD

[assiaoumaima]

Wonderful idea I love it so much, how long does it take to dehydrate food in it? does it work like the electric one or there is a difference in between them, sincerely this is the most wonderful home made machine I've never seen in my life before..Thank you for sharing it with others..

[russellumpkins]

@assiaoumaima

The length of time it takes to dehydrate food items is determined by the type of food (herbs, onions, carrots, etc), how they were sliced or cut, the angle of the sun to the dehydrator, and external air temperature. Here in Arizona summers most herbs dry in a couple hours, sliced carrots & onions in half a day.

[assiaoumaima]

@russellumpkins thank you very much for the informations it was helpful, I will try to make my own, may God bless you for this great idea.

[alanmckay]

The text colour you have chosen is almost impossible to read for someone with even minor red-green colourblindness like me. But the project looks nice. I'd have used thinner plywood though - I bet that thing is pretty heavy like that.

[russellumpkins]

@alanmckay

Good point about the colour. This was my first video creation and it certainly could could be improved. They say 1/3 of all males have some degree of colour blindness; I'll keep that in mind on my next video project. Thanks for the comment.

[marcomarvan]

can I use it to dehydrate the arizona governor's brain?? maybe it would help her to think better :-p

[russellumpkins]

@marcomarvan For the better thinking department, you better start right at home. You could with some help from one of your pitiful friends and make a miniature dehydrator that you could crawl into and test to see if your brain could ever get any smaller then it already is.

[russellumpkins]

Quite a few comments ask whether the unit will do jerky. In order to safely dry meat for jerky the dehydrator needs to reach 160 degrees. This unit was not designed to reach that high of temperature.

[Shroomn2hi]

@russellumpkins I like the design. Thanks for posting. I am gonna try to make it here in Thailand.

Regarding the question about jerky - the correct answer is YES, you can use this for jerky, as properly cured jerky does not require 160 degrees. In fact, cured meats often dry at room temperature, such as salami.

I would marinate the jerky in spices with the proper amount of Prague Powder #1 (or Instacure #1) for a few days, cold smoke it, then use the dehydrator to finish off.

[James4Chelsi]

Where did you get the plans for this ?

[russellumpkins]

@James4Chelsi

I sketched out the general design then made detailed drawings from which I constructed the dehydrator.

[misscpb]

Great video, well done I am very impressed. Lots of Love Misscpb xxx

[NotLuckyInLife]

Good one.

[aeislugh]

can you do beef jerky in one of these?

[pullbackbaby]

I have not watched this yet but most PCU fans are 12v DC aND can be used with a solar panel I imagine. Thanks for making this. Windows are always around in abandoned homes and such. Thanks

[haansgruber]

Nice, we are using an electric excaliber 9 tray

We have viewed many DVD's, videos, from indian smoke racks to portable solar cooking units, etc.

This looks like a good design, stable, easy to move and operate

We love jerky, and have dehydrated some veggies as well

Now to do it without the cost of electricity. Perhaps this design with a smoke injector port from a Bar B Que!

Nice!

peace :)

[Casman011]

i would make this but i want it for deer jerky and its winter when i can so ya

[mastercchan]

a wonderfull video made thanks for sharing with me

[NewOrleansWoman]

this is pretty cool !

[plentyofviolence]

Hi! Your solar dehydrator is very well-made!!!

I think I will build one. Never considered the idea of producing and selling them???

Bye

[russellumpkins]

@plentyofviolence

Selling them requires work making them, marketing, etc. Being retired like we are, this is not something we would fancy..

[plentyofviolence]

@russellumpkins thank you for the reply. Well, I see it would be a bit complicated. But you could write a book on how to build it on your own and sell it on the internet. I would surely buy it :)

[MsKibznBitz]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your brilliance. I hope my stepdad and I can make this. I live in the high desert in CA . I'm not sure what part of AZ you live, but could you tell me what the median temp is for a day's exposure. Are you able to regulate it fairly easily?

[Sumosal1]

When do Sheri and I get to taste some samples of your invention? By the way, Lisa got engaged to her beau this past Tuesday and will get married around Nov. 2010 when he returns from 1 year in Iraq. We visited Arrowhead Ranch Golf and La Quinta I-17 and Greenway for wedding sites - both look great. Later! Paul & Sheri

[viselike]

This is amazing! I love it! Are you going to post any how to info on this? I would greatly appreciate it!

[russellumpkins]

Due to the limited comment space on YouTube, I can provide the following: The frame is made of 1 by 1/2 ash slats with 1/8 " plywood sides. The steel plate is 2 ft x 4ft and I used 1/8 " glass as the window with plexiglass on the the door. The screens were framed with roof metal drip edging left over from my roofing of the house. I used 3/8 " wire mesh for the inside of the drying racks. Most of the project was done with wood or hardware I had on hand. Design and build as i go prevailed.

[billymisfits]

beautiful craftsmanship!