Answers to your questions about
ClearDome Solar Ovens and solar cooking
1. I already have a gas or electric oven at home, and I use a camping stove on vacations, why would I need a solar oven?No public utility can guarantee 100% reliability during or after large natural disasters. unexpected power outages, brownouts, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or any other unexpected emergency usually occur
with little or no advanced notice, and impacts large numbers of the population at the same time. Having a solar oven that relies only on the sun for heating provides the user with more than peace of mind.As long as the sun shines, a family will be able to heat or cook food and water using a solar oven. Remember, the fuel is always free! All of our solar ovens will pasteurize water (eliminate all disease-causing micro organisms). And our upcoming ClearDome evaporative water purifier will turn any foul or polluted water into pure drinking water.
Outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy the benefits of ClearDome Solar heating and cooking because our portable ovens are lightweight, indistructable, and made for people on the go. Campers, fishermen, hunters, boaters and even outdoor event fans can use our ovens in place of, or along with their present conventional fuel ovens.
To find links to other solar-related internet sites, click on the "links page" seen at the bottom of this page.
2. Are plans available to build my own ClearDome Solar Oven at home, and how much will they cost?Yes, two different types of plans are available for making your own homemade solar ovens. For the fastest cooking and most durable solar reflector, you can request the small ClearDome SolarFlex reflector that comes with simple assembly plans, for only $9.95. SolarFlex is the most reflective (97.4%) solar oven reflector material available. That means hot and fast cooking for all foods. It's tearproof, waterproof, and reformable.
You'll only need to add a one quart black pot or pan, surrounded by a plastic oven heating bag or an unbreakable ClearDome polycarbonate container (see above) to boil water or cook most foods in one to two hours. When assembled in less than two minutes, it resembles a mini version of the ClearDome Solar Barbecue reflector, seen on our homepage at: www.cleardomesolar.com
Or send your request email to: solarflexplans@cleardomesolar.comTo find out more, or to order the lighweight SolarFlex reflector material with plans click on the Amazon.com box below
Click for SolarFlex purchasing information
For the less expensive $5 plans that require you to find household items to assemble your own slower-cooking Solar Oven click on the Amazon.com box below, or send your request by email to: solarflexmini@cleardomesolar.com.
We will send detailed plans along with an explanation of how the oven works, what kind of parts you’ll need, and drawings and a photo of the oven at various stages of assembly. No construction is necessary--only assembly. The oven will heat a quart of water to over 160°F. The plans can also be paid by a check or money order made out to ClearDome Solar Ovens and sent by U.S. mail to:
ClearDome Solar Ovens
2514 Jamacha Rd., 502- 11
Rancho San Diego, CA 92019
U.S.A.
Many of the oven parts can be found at home, or purchased inexpensively at department stores. Please note: duplication or further reproduction of the plans is not permitted. It's an easy and inexpensive way to discover out how easy and reliable the ClearDome Solar ovens are to use.
3. How can I find out about Cleardome solar ovens that are now available to purchase?
The Solar Sportsman is now available to purchase by clicking on the Amazon.com logo. You'll also see a recent photo of it, and our other ovens by clicking on the "other products" link at amazon
Retail price for the Solar Sportsman is $79.99, U.S. currency. The lightweight Solar Backpacker sells for only $54.99, and the stainless steel Solar Barbecue sells for $159.99. Larger pieces of SolarFlex are availble for solar oven builders for only $15.99
5. What other ClearDome Solar products are on the horizon?
-A ClearDome Solar Space heater is now in the prototype stage and should be available by mid-2000. It will heat an RV, boat or small room using only the power of the sun. Suggested retail price will be around $150-$200, U.S. currency.-A heat-generating DC power module is now being developed that will convert solar generated heat into direct current for charging batteries, lights or household uses.
6. What are the portable ClearDome Solar ovens made of, and are they safe to heat food in?
All portable ClearDome Oven containers are made of food-safe, unbreakable polycarbonate plastic. Containers of various sizes and shapes made of the same material have been safely used by the food industry for years. They are very heat resistant and will provide years of dependable service. ClearDome owners can substitute the black polycarbonate oven for a black metal pot and glass lid. The heating temperature will be hotter than the plastic ovens.
7. Is it difficult to heat food or water with a solar oven? How does it work? Is it safe?
Cooking or heating with solar energy is actually easier and safer that with conventional fuel ovens. Food will not burn, and does not need to be stirred because heat is evenly absorbed from all sides at a lower temperature. It is best compared with electric crock slow cooking.
Food is more tender and more evenly cooked than crock cooking. The average cooking time on a sunny day is between one to three hours, only one third the time of an electric crock cooker. Water will begin to boil in one to three hours. The solar chef can go on with day's events while solar energy heats.
All ClearDome ovens will heat food or water to above 200°F on a sunny 70°F day. That's well above the minimum 145°F needed for safe food heating. We provide cooking and heating tips with our oven directions. All of our portable oven containers make excellent food storage containers with not in use. And you'll always be able to ask us questions via the Internet or on the phone at 619/670-4052.
8. Will clouds or wind affect solar heating?
Partly cloudy skies will lower the heating temperature, and lengthen the heating times slightly. Since the ClearDome ovens have two levels of still air insulation between the black oven container and the outside air, there is minimal temperature loss between cloud shadows.
A fully overcast sky will slightly heat the oven contents, but usually not hot enough to cook. If the oven containers remain closed after being removed from the sun, the contents will stay hot for many hours. Light to moderate winds do not change heating temperatures in ClearDome Solar ovens.
You probably have a few more questions about our innovative new solar ovens. Click here: questions@cleardomesolar.com to send comments or questions directly to us. We will include some of them on this page.
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Copyright, 2k, ClearDome Solar Ovens, San Diego, CA
updated 2/25/2k
©1999, ClearDome Solar Ovens · San Diego, CA, U.S.A. · 619/670-4052
