Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I've been looking at different items that would make living in a potential powerless/hyperinflatonary situation more bearable.

One of the promising products that I came across is this:

http://kensolar.com/images/products/ove-sun-lge.gif

site:
http://www.sunoven.com/

faq:
http://www.sunoven.com/faq.asp


vid:
http://lohaschannel.com/FlashVideos/...ress/SWCovens/

Internet retailer:
http://kensolar.com/tek9.asp?pg=prod...cific=jnoqcml4


They claim that it can reach an internal temperature of 350-400F, is able to work in the winter, is well insulated to retain heat for hours at a time, can pasteurize water, and is extensively used in the third world.

It would also seem to have an advantage of not creating a smoke signal to unfriendlies during the day in a SHTF situation as well.

Does anyone here own one of these? If so, what has been your experience? So far this thing looks to be bad ass. :)

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Yes, my wife wants to know as well...Well?

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

In third grade my class made one from like: aluminum foil and a box. We cooked hotdogs with it I think. It worked.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Same, they are quite effective on a sunny day. Have to turn the sausages to get them cooked right. We used a half-cylinder type.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

i used the sun oven but it only got up to 250 F. not 400 F like advertised. cooked a whole chicken in 8 hours

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I have owned one for several years and have been very happy with it. It is about the size of sewing machine all folded up so it's easy to take along on a campout.

I use it several times a year and it makes the most tender meat, kind of like a crock pot, since the meat simmers in liquid all day long. I'll throw a chicken in it before heading off to work, pointing it at where the sun will be at midday and when I get home, it's ready to eat!

Compared to other solar cookers, it trades efficiency off for portability, so if you live in a northern climate, you would be better served by a non-portable solar cooker that uses mirrors. The Sun Oven is solidy built and I would buy it again.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Glad to hear that. Looks like this thing is going on my 'to buy' list then. :applause_

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I think you're right about that. The Sun Oven I own does quite nicely on a sunny, summer day. I actually baked a loaf of bread in mine on one perfect, ideal day. It actually got up around 350 degrees. But, how often does a perfect, ideal day come along? Here in NW Indiana, not often. So, while you might not bake much fresh bread, you could make plenty of baked chicken, meatloaf, rice etc. And, just as importantly, you can sterilize water for drinking.

Truth is, I'd like to own several. If you want to cook complete meals, you'd probably need more than one. That's why I think I'm going to take plans that I've seen and build a second or third oven myself.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

This is definately on the to buy list!!!



T

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

What do you use for the pot? I got one and it suggested a black pot. Cast iron? Black crockery? It also specified tight fitting lid.

I have not tried mine. It is just in the selection of no utilities gear with the pressure clothes washer on another thread, etc. I know solar showers work great. If we had to get by on collected rainwater we would use them for our showers, hung in our regular shower after sun heating. I have used them camping and they are great. You can clean up fine on not much water. I got 3 so we could heat a shower apiece plus dishwater without using fuel.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Copied from the sun oven faq:
Does a GLOBAL SUN OVEN® require special pots and pans?
No, but dark, thin-walled pots with lids work best. Dark pots change the light from the sun into heat energy. Lids are important because they hold steam in the pot. If a lid is not used the steam will dissipate much of the heat. Shiny aluminum pots and pans cause light to be reflected out thereby reducing the oven's temperature. Glass casserole dishes with lids also work well. For baking cakes, breads, cookies, and pies, dark cookie sheets and baking tins work best.

http://www.sunoven.com/faq.asp

It looks like the only requirement is something that isn't shiny. I noticed that they have their own pot for sale on their order page.


I've been looking at Sun showers as well. I noticed that Cabella's had a couple that were reasonably priced.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Valid points. IMO, I think that I'm going to purchase the sun tracker platform from the kensolar.com link as it should help with its efficiency.

BTW, what has been peoples experiences with using their solar cookers/solar equipment on overcast days?

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

Among other things in this video, I love the solar shower towards the end...

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I like cast iron when camping and such. A Dutch oven is a great meal pot. It also serves well on fire with a shepard's hook or in coals. Quite versatile and last forever.


More styles here.

More

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I have one.No,it doesnt work when overcast.On a sunny day I can do bread in about 45-60 minutes.And best tasting bread ever,I dont know why,suspect the lower slower cooking temp/time.

A frozen 2 lb roast,potatoes and carrots about 3 hours.

You need to keep it turned into the sun.

Hottest mine ever got was around 325 or so.

Construction fair.Mine had a split board I had to glue,and a portion of insulation was missing in the case.You do need to 'tune it up' in my experience ,it seemed slapped together.

But it works,and works well.

Buy the pans from them,they fit the box real nice.

Re: Does anyone have any experience with sun ovens?
 

I have a Global Sun oven knock-off, works quite well as a slow cooker.

Put the ham, beans and rice in the morning, set at mid day sun angle and at about 4 pm the meals done. Good for chili too.

If you babysit it and keep it pointed to the sun it cooks pretty fast. (be careful while removing the glass cover, will burn the chit out of you)

Cooks corn bread in about 50 minutes. Doesn't dry out breads.

Highest temp I read was 325F, I added reflex insulation to the metal base.



I also have a Coleman folding stove top oven than sits on the wood stove.

It works too.