Comments on: Alternative Energy, Build a Dehydrator http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/ Christian Agrarian Counterculture Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:16:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Anonymous http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-274 Anonymous Thu, 02 Jun 2005 22:27:00 +0000 http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-274 I have two 10-tray electric dehydrators that I've used a lot. My concern with a solar dehydrator is that it might get too hot or not hot enough, depending on the weather. Electric heat allows for more control. Another idea that I have wondered about is using heat (not fumes, though) from a kerosene lamp to filter up through a drying chamber. Seems like that would offer some control and dependability. Has anyone seen plans for such a thing? Herrick Kimball Moravia, NY I have two 10-tray electric dehydrators that I’ve used a lot. My concern with a solar dehydrator is that it might get too hot or not hot enough, depending on the weather. Electric heat allows for more control. Another idea that I have wondered about is using heat (not fumes, though) from a kerosene lamp to filter up through a drying chamber. Seems like that would offer some control and dependability. Has anyone seen plans for such a thing?

Herrick Kimball
Moravia, NY

]]> By: reformed farmer http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-273 reformed farmer Wed, 01 Jun 2005 23:20:00 +0000 http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-273 Hey Jeff, Shame on me, letting an electric dehydrater in my "use less power post". The one you describe sounds good. We had smoke houses for our salmon in Alaska that looked a lot like a dehydrator. Of course they had heat from the fire in the bottom. Scott Hey Jeff,

Shame on me, letting an electric dehydrater in my “use less power post”. The one you describe sounds good. We had smoke houses for our salmon in Alaska that looked a lot like a dehydrator. Of course they had heat from the fire in the bottom.

Scott

]]> By: Jeff http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-272 Jeff Wed, 01 Jun 2005 22:06:00 +0000 http://www.homesteaderlife.christianagrarian.com/2005/05/30/alternative-energy-build-a-dehydrator/#comment-272 Ironically, that particular food dehydrator requires electricity, which is antithetical to the previous article. Backwoods Home had a better article (I could not find it online) on building a non electric model. The dehydrator box was elevated off of the ground. What looks like a ramp goes from the ground up to the bottom of the dehydrator. This ramp is an enclosed solar collector consisting of 4 sides with a translucent or clear top. A thermosiphon effect is created with the cool air entering in at the bottom of the solar "ramp" , which is then heated, causing it to flow into the dehydrator and then out the the top of the dehydrator. Jeff Schmidt Ironically, that particular food dehydrator requires electricity, which is antithetical to the previous article. Backwoods Home had a better article (I could not find it online) on building a non electric model. The dehydrator box was elevated off of the ground. What looks like a ramp goes from the ground up to the bottom of the dehydrator. This ramp is an enclosed solar collector consisting of 4 sides with a translucent or clear top. A thermosiphon effect is created with the cool air entering in at the bottom of the solar “ramp” , which is then heated, causing it to flow into the dehydrator and then out the the top of the dehydrator.

Jeff Schmidt

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