Flash Point

[SixFooter]

I'm in the process of making a solar wax melter. Optimistic or what!
As I'm sitting indoors looking at it through the window, I wondered how hot it could get in there on a really sunny day in summer - if summer ever comes back. Then I thought could it get so hot as to reach the flash point of beeswax (204 deg C) and burn the solar melter to cinders!
Does anyone know if it can?

 

[the beehive lodge]

LOL the sun gone on strike as the clouds wont let it through Good Luck

 

[VEG]

wont it still need a flame to make it burst into flames?

 

[beesleybees]

wont it still need a flame to make it burst into flames?

please tell me the above was a joke

rememeber the fire triangle in school? for something to combust, it needs 3 things, fuel, heat and oxygen. If you take any one of these 3 things away, combustion cannot take place.

now as for the solar melter - you have fuel (wax), also oxygen (air) and you do have heat on a nice day but is that heat sufficient enough to reach the flash point of wax, 204 degrees C!!! i could not tell you

best just leave in a place where it would not cause any damage should it decide to go up in flames.

ps just had a thought, even though it does have a supply of oxygen already in the melter, I would have thought that even if it did ignite, it wouldnt ignite for long as it would use up all the oxygen in the box and wouldnt be able to getsufficient oxygen quick enough from the outside

 

[VEG]

sorry yes was meant as a joke
I doubt they would sell them if they would self combust

 

[Nellie]

Mine gets uncomfortably hot if you pick up the metal tray when it's been in direct sunlight, but never been hot enough to give a proper burn.

I suppose given the right circumstances it's possible though.

 

[Poly Hive]

Highly unlikely.

Spontaneous combustion anyone.... and if you have ever seen one with a flash over one would not be making facile comments about it. Tis how people die in bed in a house fire. It rips up the stairs....

PH

 

[enrico]

I asked a similar question as I melt wax in the microwave . No answers!!!

 

[jackbee]

Highly unlikely.
Spontaneous combustion anyone.... and if you have ever seen one with a flash over one would not be making facile comments about it. Tis how people die in bed in a house fire. It rips up the stairs....
PH

bit of an overreaction, just a discussion, who mentioned people dying??

 

[Poly Hive]

I did.

PH

 

[SixFooter]

Sorry. I was bored watching the rain pouring down on my unfinished solar melter.I didnt really think it could get that hot.

 

[DanBee]

I have a large, double-glazed, well-insulated solar extractor. Measured it at the height of summer last year with an IR thermometer... 103-105 C in the solar extractor. Interestingly, the dark green metal cladding of the sheds was peaking at 65 C.

Thinking about it, if solar extractors did pose a flash combustion risk, then we'd have heard a lot of stories about them exploding when left unattended on sunny days, no...?