Three Solar Food Dehydrators - solar energy at work!

[henchman99942]

Hey.

Would using very cool air for the intake further speed things along? Cool air holds less moisture. If you warm up already cool air, that air is ready to absorb lots more moisture. So would a pre-cooling pipe be in order? Moisture would come out as the air cooled, so it would condense on the pipe all. Maybe even a dehumidifier using passive flow creek water or something would work.  Just snow-balling ideas.

[henchman99942]

Howdy.

I have looked at some youtube videos with people talking about solar dehydrators.  I am not impressed. There seems to be a lot of people out there interested in making videos for the sake of making videos. This one brought me new info. Thank you.

This idea of a "down draft" solar dehydrator sounds interesting. I agree that it is dry air flowing over your food that dehydrates it, not heat. I plan on building a dehydrator for storing food in 2012. I will do more research.

[FrugalMummy]

Thankyou for sharing this :)

[ajmotnt]

Paul, I like your videos. I love how you sign off every one with "allllll the time" -- classic. But it seems like you are a mouth-breather? I can hear you breathing kind of heavily in every video. Gotta get that under control bud! Or you'll never make it to the big time! Or, will that be another endearing trait that defines your particular charm? Ha!

[popapape]

Hey how about solar cooler

[OKflyboy]

I've always been curious - is there ever and issue with bug infiltration? I can hardly keep the ants out of my kitchen and bathroom in the summer, wouldn't they be going nuts on something like this?

[MariTH1024]

has anyone tried one of these in a humid climate? I'm from south fl, get plenty of sun most of the year but it can get really humid, would this still work?

[TheLeslie244]

I wonder if thi would work up here in Alaska.....

[katekaterinake]

the reporter is funny!

[TheCatfishClayton]

What if you used that draft to power a sort of wind mill thingy???

[deadlyyellowrose]

Is there a way to build a smaller version?!

[teddy0072]

This is great! Thank you, Paul.

[GreedIsYourGod]

Paul, Thank You for doing these videos! I know they are fun, but it is also a valuable service very much needed in this world right now! We do realize they take valuable time out of your life to do them. Tell me (I don't remember seeing it) but is there an indexed pointer section on Permies that points to not just your's but other good stream-able Permie type videos?) Also could you do a video update of your personal favorite Permie resources?

[paulwheaton12]

@GreedIsYourGod you could start a thread at permies for whatever types of videos you want. I try to keep most of my personal rants in articles or podcasts.

[Bi11Compton]

These are great. Excellent use for solar!

[Bi11Compton]

These are great. Excellent use for solar!

[cantecleer]

-- these are very cool. I had never considered the downdraft/gathering of moisture aspect to this kind of solar heating application. awesome^^

[vutEwa]

way cool!!!

[EKWisner]

Very cool!

[My10Acres]

Any source for the plans, or at least a cut away drawing? I'm having trouble visualizing the downdraft in my head.

[paulwheaton12]

@My10Acres come ask your question at permies.com and I'll see if I can get some pics posted there.

[10kids100]

So glad he mentioned how much it cost to run his electric dehydrator....plus doing so many large trays at once! Putting this on the project list.

[monteros]

totally awesome!

[amberb57]

I knew that cat was going to get in there! LOL

[heyerstandards]

Ingenious! Thanks for posting all the neat info.

[MrOffGrid]

Ive built mine using beer cans painted black in a panel that feeds into a cabinet I built out of scrap wood, painted black. but I put a white corrugated plastic roof on top thinking that the white top would be cooler than the bottom and get the heat to travel up and out the vents on the top kinda like the top on the last dryer, I havent really gotten to fill it up cause I built it last winter. i have dryed some bananas and strawberries in it, hope to fill it up with peaches this year!

[ksrasg]

I would love to see plan too

[jedesignz]

Great Video as always Paul. You always seem give me something to think and drool about.

[carltonhobbs]

You should have had a thermometer to test the heat range, or ask them if they have done so. Very nice though.

[KayakFisher01]

Wow, those dehydrators have a lot of drying space. The first one didn't look so big until he opened the door and with 8 trays, minus the cat, it looks like more than 45 square feet of drying room. Very nice.

[MrRob5001]

Thanks for the video. Great information.

[AOZXRAY]

Great knowledge. Gratitude.

What is the desirable temperature range for drying fruits and vegs?

[pocketmeadowfarm]

That's great! I'd love to see some plans. I'm assuming pests won't be a problem?

[Appealsman]

Downdraft makes a certain amount of sense, not only because it allows you to set up a large solar collector on the diagonal to really heat up the air.

And as the air travels over the meat/veg/fruits you are drying, the evaporation of moisture will cause the air to cool and travel downward.

[ibrewhaha]

I would not have thought that a downdraft could work so well. I will have to plan on making one too. It seems the sun orientation might be a factor too so seeing the side solar panels were interesting. It seems if there were enough vertical panels you might not need a slanted one. What if It were vertical with a \_/ shape (looking down) so two sides at a time were getting sun?

[elkhound25]

this is now on my wish list !!!

[mousenar]

I think I will try to build one of those. Great video :-)

[PilgrimLad]

Paul you do a great job. Good stuff, Thanks.

[Yaheuben66]

Awesome-- inspiration which outpaces my resources