Cheap solar melter

[Zante]

I've set it up on my terrace to try it and it works quite well.

Get one of those transparent storage plastic boxes that is big enough. Paint one side black if you want. Done.

I have an old metal water bowl in there with half an inch of water and over that a colander with the wax. The wax melts goes through the colander and drops into the water and there it floats, instead of sticking to the bowl. The crap stays in the colander.

Wouldn't work for substantial amounts of wax, I don't think, but it's working very well for a handful at a time.

... and for the winter you have a storage box for your equipment.

 

[Beefriendly]

And the day time temperatures in Italy are?

 

[Zante]

Currently they are peaking at 32, but it was working this morning too at around 23 to 24, and without painting one side black.

 

[Beefriendly]

Zante, where I live we have had one day this year when it reached 24oC and that was only briefly. Mainly 15-18oC this time of the year. I have a double glazed solar wax extractor sat inside a greenhouse and it hasn't melted a thing for over a week now.

 

[Gumbers]

Hi BeeFriendly,
I don't quite understand why people seem to use double glazed panels, rather than a single sheet.. Surely they are designed to insulate, rather than let the heat (or cold) through? -just wondering if i am missing something..?
Cheers,
Gumbers.

 

[Zante]

Zante, where I live we have had one day this year when it reached 24oC and that was only briefly. Mainly 15-18oC this time of the year. I have a double glazed solar wax extractor sat inside a greenhouse and it hasn't melted a thing for over a week now.

Ok... what about beekeepers in the south?

 

[beeno]

Done two batches so far. May do a Bailey comb change tomorrow if the colony is ready. Expecting 27C tomorrow!

 

[Beefriendly]

Hi BeeFriendly,
I don't quite understand why people seem to use double glazed panels, rather than a single sheet.. Surely they are designed to insulate, rather than let the heat (or cold) through? -just wondering if i am missing something..?
Cheers,
Gumbers.

No Idea, mine came with one, it works well....when (if) we get some sun.
Perhaps it's one of those new fangled ones that lets heat through more efficiently in one direction and then retains it.

 

[Beefriendly]

Ok... what about beekeepers in the south?

No comment

 

[beebopper]

Hi BeeFriendly,
I don't quite understand why people seem to use double glazed panels, rather than a single sheet.. Surely they are designed to insulate, rather than let the heat (or cold) through? -just wondering if i am missing something..?
Cheers,
Gumbers.

Electromagnetic radiation (light) passes through the glass and absorbed by the material in the melter (or greenhouse). This material in the melter absorbs the electromagnetic radiation and gives it out (radiates it) the energy as a different wavelength (Infrared) which does not pass through the glass so keeping the heat energy in the melter/greenhouse. The double glassing will help keep this heat energy in (IR). You are think about keeping heat energy out which is infared radiation which it does but is not how a solar extractor or greenhouse works.

 

[Barbarian]

I had a translucent storage box (not as a melter). The material became brittle in sunlight.

 

[Zante]

I had a translucent storage box (not as a melter). The material became brittle in sunlight.

Hmm... I'll have to see how this one turns out after a bit of use...

 

[drex]

I use an double glazed glass panel. It gets very hot in the box. I have learned to remove the glass only after the melter has been in the shade for some time, as the temp differential between the two panes can cause them to shatter