Gear Review Fresnel lens solar cooker using TV lens

Discussion in 'Functional Gear & Equipment' started by hidden211, Apr 19, 2013.


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  1. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!

    or for purifying water.....
     
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  2. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    Hummm... time to start saving all of those champagne bottles....
     
  3. Icefoot

    Icefoot Monkey+

    My wife is going to hate you, hidden211, because now I'm adding rear projection big screen TVs to my curbside junk pickup list. I already stop for CRT TVs so I can strip them for electronic components. Drives my wife nuts... :eek:
     
  4. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!

    we must be married to the same woman lol[lolol]
     
  5. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    It did not occur to me, there was a Fresnel lens in there. I have been offered several over the last couple of years. (the last one was nearly 4X6 screen size.) i will have to keep my eyes open for one. (or 6)
     
  6. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!


    I never knew either kellory makes for an interesting project though
     
  7. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!

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  8. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Found one out at the street and stripped the Fresnel Lens out of it. took a lever to pop the front off the chassis, wire cutters for the small wires at the bottom of the housing, and a #2 Phillips in a drill and I had it out in about two minutes. Think I will surround it with 1 inch PVC, slotted to fit around it like a picture frame. :cool:
     
  9. hidden211

    hidden211 And thats no BULL!!!!!!

    let me know how it turns out still looking for one.i did order a 5 pack of the fire starter lenses
     
  10. RangerRick

    RangerRick RangerRick-North Idaho Oath Keeper

    I saw this on Dooms Day Prepper a year or two ago. I now have two but found out there or 5 or 6 screens that end up with a different focus so some of the beams are wider than others. They do cook food and boil water fine, but one with a tight focal point heated up a piece of steel to where he was working the steel. I wish I could remember what TV he used. Anyway, if the wife gets upset it is Bushs fault not yours.
    Regards, RangerRick
    North Idaho
    Be Prepared - Be Prayerful - Be Thankful - You are an American
     
  11. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
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  12. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    I have a question regarding fresnel lens. I took one out of a TV. It is big and awkward. I was wondering if I cut it into smaller pieces would it still be effective or does it need to remain large? I would like to chop my lens into 12'x12" so it could fit into packs and easy to store. I have not read anywhere that someone has cut a lens, only used them whole.
     
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Effective, yes, but reduced a bit in heating rate. The amount of ol' Sol's power is directly related to the capture area.
     
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  14. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

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  15. arleigh

    arleigh Goophy monkey

    Cutting up you lens will not work .
    If you look closely at the surface it is a series of circles like a record all working together to make the focused beam of light.
    Also not all fresnel lenses will work for this . not all are made to focus into a beam . You may go through several TVs to find one .
     
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  16. SkinnyRabbitWithGuns

    SkinnyRabbitWithGuns "Libertarian with soul of a flower child"

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  17. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Negative. The lens I linked is for concentrating a small point of sunlight for starting a fire. With the fire you can do many things, though. ;)
     
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  18. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    @Brokor- I think the question was intended more generally than that. As asked, there are too many unknown factors to give a good answer. So, maybe.
     
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  19. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    If you cut to save the center, it'll work, just as stated above in post 13. You are right, a random hunk of busted fresnel will do nothing useful but cut. The center is the important part, and then only if it is big enough.
     
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  20. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Ah, okay. Well, if one were using a fresnel lens to heat water in volume, it would be ideal to use a focus chamber of sorts and find a method to pump the water through it in a timed fashion which would allow each quantity of water inside the chamber to be heated according to the requirements. (As opposed to trying to heat a large container all at once due to latent heat problems)
     
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