Introduction: Satellite Dish Solar Cooker
This instructor will be documenting a solar powered hot dog Grill constructed of a old satellite dish
Step 1: Materials
You Will Need
-a old satellite dish ( preferably about 20 inches in diameter)
-coat hangers
-sanitary metal skewer (I used copper plated welding rod)
- the sun
-any reflective plastic ( Mylar is what I used it can be commonly sourced from hydroponics stores or balloons)
tools
-spray adhesive
- 1/8" drillbit
-a old satellite dish ( preferably about 20 inches in diameter)
-coat hangers
-sanitary metal skewer (I used copper plated welding rod)
- the sun
-any reflective plastic ( Mylar is what I used it can be commonly sourced from hydroponics stores or balloons)
tools
-spray adhesive
- 1/8" drillbit
Step 2: Prepping the Dish
-it's important to begin by cleaning the dish thoroughly a wire brush or low grit sanding paper will do a nice job and roughen the surface for glue
Step 3: Laying Out the Pattern
Place the dish on a piece of the newspaper and trace out the circumference
cut along this line to make the pattern
cut along this line to make the pattern
Step 4: Fold Pattern Into Sixteenths
carefully mark with a sharpie the fold lines and cut along these numbering the segments around the satellite clockwise
Step 5: Transferring to the Mylar
wearing cotton gloves transfer the newsprint pattern to the Mylar using a very sharp X-Acto knife.
-Be careful not to smudge your oily fingers on the plastic
-Be careful not to rip the plastic when cutting its durable but sometimes has a mind of its own
-Be careful not to smudge your oily fingers on the plastic
-Be careful not to rip the plastic when cutting its durable but sometimes has a mind of its own
Step 6: Gluing!!!!
one at a time apply glue to the backside of mylar be careful not to contaminate the reflective side!!
tips
-work with two people
-you have a holding hand and a hand to smooth out the mylar
-try to work fast and pre-spray the dish
tips
-work with two people
-you have a holding hand and a hand to smooth out the mylar
-try to work fast and pre-spray the dish
Step 7: The Hotdog Supports
drill two holes on each side of the dish's rim
then using the coat hangers make to V-shaped supports with loop of wire in the point ( this will hold the skewer)
this wire support will adjust cooking speed by the proximity of the hot dog to the focal point of the dish
-REMEMBER all dishes have different focal points although they tend to be around 13-14 inches from the center of the dish!!
then using the coat hangers make to V-shaped supports with loop of wire in the point ( this will hold the skewer)
this wire support will adjust cooking speed by the proximity of the hot dog to the focal point of the dish
-REMEMBER all dishes have different focal points although they tend to be around 13-14 inches from the center of the dish!!
Step 8: Fired It Up
skewer your meal on a sanitary metal skewer placing it between the wire loops and cook away
be sure to wear protective eyewear when cooking as reflected light is very bright
I find that by constantly adjusting my as azimuth and altitude I can achieve a pretty good cooking time
be sure to wear protective eyewear when cooking as reflected light is very bright
I find that by constantly adjusting my as azimuth and altitude I can achieve a pretty good cooking time
Step 9: Cooking Dogs
I found that it works best to position with it leaning up against a table or something by just making minor adjustments to concentrate the focal point I got some serious heat out of it one measurement hit over 600°
When cooking I suggest rotating a lot this way you get consistent temperature and don't have any burnt spots
When cooking I suggest rotating a lot this way you get consistent temperature and don't have any burnt spots