DIY Solar Oven Death Match
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA 
on 08.23.07
We're in the judging lap of the Go Green contest that we tag-teamed with Popular Science and Instructables, and perusing all your great, green hacks has been inspiring, educational, and humbling. (Why didn't we think of that?). And color us unsurprised when we received two different build-your-own solar cookers, both based on the simple physics of a parabolic curve.
While both cookers focused on roasting a hot dog, the materials each participant utilized were different. One used tinfoil, poster board, and foam board, while his rival used plywood and silvered mylar.
Now barring bringing both of them in for a mano-a-mano hot-dog cook-off, which did you think was more successful? And which more green? Both examples offer step-by-step instructions on how to make your own. ::Oven 1 and ::Oven 2
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Hello!
I and a friend built one of these in grade 11 mathematics (attending GHSS).
From the two photos and my minor experience, both seem sub-optimal. The first one's foil looks like its doing a terrible job of focusing the light along a single point (well, line here!).
However, the second one is losing a lot of useful energy by not being covered. The design for my cooker in grade saw the skewer "within the box" (not so exposed) and lacked a cover initially. We were reaching relatively pathetic temperatures until we "borrowed" a competitor's Saran(c) wrap to seal in the heat. The temperatures nearly doubled at the point of the hot dog. (We had cheap little thermometres attached :).
Also, on breezy days, the second one is a bit exposed :(
Chopsticks and cowlicks,
Richard
You can make these greener by using opaque snack bags. Turn them inside out and you'll find aluminized mylar.
I also second the clear cover of plastic wrap or putting the hot dog in a clear plastic bag.
Solar is simple:
dark gets hot
light reflects
clear keeps off the wind
You can build a Fun-panel solar cooker in less than an hour from a cardboard box and a few metres of aluminium foil.
Tom Sponheim
Solar Cookers International