Three Solar Food Dehydrators - solar energy at work!

http://www.permies.com

The first solar dehydrator is shown by robert and marina at dell artimus farm. The solar heat comes from a heated panel at the bottom, and there is a black chimney at the top that creates a draw. They use a stainless steel screen. The dryer is a year and a half old. They have dried beans, flowers, cherries, grapes (raisins), kale, walnuts and apples. They tried some tomatoes, but those ended up as pig food.

Matt at feral farm shows a "down draft solar dehydrator." The solar heat enters at the top and then goes down. Because as it gathers moisture, the solar heated air gets heavier. He has nettles in there.

Mark Vander Meer, of wildland conservation service in Missoula, Montana shows off his solar food dehydrator still loaded with dried plums. Those plums have been in there all fall, winter and most of the spring. He talks about trying to dry fruit with electric food dehydrators and how expensive that was. This solar dehydrator also uses the down draft technique. He says plums take three days and apples take a day and a half.

These are all passive systems. There are no fans.

Relevant threads at permies:
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-f...
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-f...
http://www.permies.com/permaculture-f...

music by Jimmy Pardo

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Abhijit k]

As the hot air is light how does it goes down naturally ??

[paulwheaton12]

Hot air loaded with moisture from the dried food goes down.

[Scott Hildenbrand]

So which one works better with the least chance of burning foods and best dry times? Must say, the downdraft units are interesting. I wonder though about them staying sealed as they age.

[paulwheaton12]

Since putting up this video I have received a lot of feedback. The downdraft style seems to be working the best for folks.

[paulwheaton12]

I teach the insects four religions, and tell them to hate anybody that isn't part of their religion. I then sell them teeny tiny machine guns and knives.

No more insect problems.

When I took the video, there were no insects there. And there was no mention that there was ever any insect problem.

[My10Acres]

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

[Wehawk100]

cool...thanx for sharing.

[Korruptor]

How good is this for drying 1/4" thick meats?

[shinnob]

religious hoppers or atheist hoppers, they fry up the same in a egg wash and corn meal. LOL

[Reximusprimebeta]

permies(DOT)com/t/3562/cooking­/Solar-Food-Dryers

[Reximusprimebeta]

wholesalescreensandglass(DOT)c­om



[MrProktah]

you legend

[Deb Cothran]

where can i get stainless steel screening