2007 Solar Oven

2006 Solar Oven   William Wieland's Family

This is our 2007 solar oven cooking beets on a picnic table in our driveway. We have baked potatoes and cooked meat. Whatever works in a slow cooker works in a solar oven. Our oven features a mirror attached to the underside of the hinged lid. The glass cover is tilted to be almost perpendicular to the summer sun. A sample of our solar oven cooking Why I made a solar oven

The glass cover is two sheets of ¼ inch tempered glass which are ¾ inch apart and sealed. The oven is well insulated to retain as much heat as possible.

The floor is a sheet of aluminum painted black with grill paint and held above the mirror-like stainless steel inner box with cardboard. In this photo you can see multiple reflections of the cardboard. The stainless steel inner box (made by my cousin Eric Wieland) is wrapped with fiberglass and cardboard insulation (not visible). The outer frame/body is made of scrap lumber. Doesn't my wife have beautiful hands?

On the first trial, August 26, 2007, the hottest oven temperature was just over 260. (This photo was taken a little earlier in the day.) On a sunny October 25, 2008, the oven temperature rose above 230 and I boiled potatoes. This means I can use the oven at least 8 months of the year.

The lid (and mirror) has four settings to adjust for the time of year and time of day. Adjusting a mirror just a little changes its solar reflecting a lot.

In the spring of 2008 I made a solar oven cart out an old Weber Grill. I replaced the grill and propane assembly with our solar oven and a small shelf. In case you were wondering, the Weber frame was bent, so after straightening it, I strengthened it with wood.