DIY solar thermal collectors

Solar thermal collectors are apparatus designed to collect the thermal energy of the sun.

Constructed

Galleries of various uses of constructed solar thermal collectors.

Cookers

Solar thermal collectors functioning as food cookers

• 
  Earthen Solar CookersA low cost and low environmental impact design envisioned by Bart Orlando.
• 
  Catch and CookA solar oven capable of reaching 160°F in 20 minutes
• 
  Solar Bowling OvenSolar oven kids can build and use on their own
• 
  The Solar SwingSolar oven for a school reaching 200°F in 30 minutes
• 
  Aleiha's parabolic solar cookerParabolic Solar Cooker
• 
  Papasan Chair Solar CookerA solar cooker and chair when not in use
• 
  Parabolic basket and tin can solar cookerSolar cooker out of local invasive species and waste materials
• 
  SunbrellaAn umbrella in the rain, a solar cooker in the Sun
• 
  Umbrella solar cookerA multi-use solar cooker

Dehydrators

Solar thermal collectors functioning as food dehydrators

• 
  Window Shopper and Back Me UpFlock House solar dehydrator and backpack solar dehydrator
• 
  Tear the Roof offDry sliced apples in 18 hours of sunlight with this legless solar dehydrator
• 
  Sodhoppers' Solar DehydratorDurable food dehydrator for a school from a waste kitchen cabinet
• 
  Chris's ENGR305 Solar Food DehydratorA hybrid, solar food dehydrator

Hot Water

Solar thermal collectors functioning as hot water heaters

• 
  Thermosyphon Solar Shower SystemAn outdoor shower that utilizes solar energy to heat the water
• 
  HBCSL solar showerA solar shower for the Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living

Space Heaters

• 
  Solar heating boxA passive solar heating box

Ideas

• 
  The solar thermal collector T1 draft drawing
• 
  The finished 3D model of the T1 and T2 solar thermal collector

• The solar thermal collector T1 draft drawing: an idea for a special mount for the batch heater for using it in temperate climates
• Solar thermal collector T1: draft of solar orientation platform
• The solar thermal collector T2: first draft of evacuated tube collector

See also

• AEF solar water heater
• Combined photovoltaic solar thermal systems (PVT) - literature review
• Solar thermal panels
• Solar cooking
• Solar hot water
• Instructables
• The Sietch
• YouTube video