Let The Sun Shine In.
 

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Do you have children? Grandchildren? You can really impress them with this simple project and inspire them to have an interest in science.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Most solar ovens are not practical. They cook way too slow, cannot BBQ and requiring special cookware. A parabolic reflector or a Fresnel lens solar oven is more useful, but they are very expensive. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]I have discovered a great way to make a Fresnel solar oven. Go to your local recycling center and look for a large rear screen projection TV. Right behind the front screen you will find a thin sheet of plastic lens. This is what is known as Fresnel lens. It costs a couple of hundred dollars if you purchase it. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Put this lens in a simple wood frame and you’ve got yourself a powerful solar cooker. It can grill hamburgers, hot dogs, bake, roast, BBQ ----. Be careful, it’s powerful and can start a log on fire in a few seconds.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]A great thing to have for camping, backyard BBQ and for motor homes.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Wear sunglasses when you use this cooker.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]dcarch[/SIZE][/FONT]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/solar.jpg[/IMG][/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/solar2.jpg[/IMG][/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i240/dcarch/solar3.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT]

Wow! What kind of temperatures can you get with that thing? Would smaller old TV's also have something similar, or would it have to be large screen? Very interesting, if only for novelty. Thanks for sharing this fun idea.

[quote=dhrtx;171302]Wow! What kind of temperatures can you get with that thing? Would smaller old TV's also have something similar, or would it have to be large screen? Very interesting, if only for novelty. Thanks for sharing this fun idea.[/quote]

If the lens is large enough, you can melt metal with it.
You can find this lens only with large rear projection type of TVs. The kind of older generation TVs people are throwing away to go get HDTV digital TVs.

dcarch

Yeah gods - I want one!

How long does it take to cook a 'burger? - must be a matter of seconds if you want it rare I would think....