INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Building the ISEC at Home
This video provide instructions on how to build an ISEC at home. We will show how Alexander Lopes, who has no previous experience with ISECs is able to successfully replicate a working solar cooker at his own home.
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You can follow along with the written instructions below.
INSTRUCTIONS
Materials:
Two identical cooking pots, preferably aluminum in the 3 to 4 quart range and 1 lid
1 100 watt solar panel
17 (BYV10X 600P) diodes
ksd9700 thermal switch
W16X100’ primary wire
5 gallon bucket
fiberglass insulation
JB Weld
silver solder wire
Tools:
hacksaw
soldering iron, at least 25 watts
a pair of long-nose pliers
a pair of wire strippers
Begin by cutting 3-4 vertical slits evenly spaced around one of the cooking pots; which will be the heating pot. This will allow the cook(ing) pot to fit nicely into the heating pot. Using a hacksaw, start cutting from the top of the heating pot down to about 4 inches from the bottom.
Next, JB weld the thermal switch and diodes with the flat surface down in (this) pattern. Once the JB weld has cured, using a set of long nose pliers begin hooking each diode together. Next, soldier each diode hook securely in order to allow the heat to transfer through each diode.
To connect the thermal switch to the diodes, use a set of wire stipers to cut at least two inches of the sleeve on both sides in order to expose the wire. Securely tie each wire to its adjacent diode. Then solder over (and around) the knots tied around the diodes. Now, cut two wires from the spool at least 3 feet in length. Cut 4 inches of wire sleeve off of each end of both wires. Tie one end of both wires to the remaining diodes and solder them in place. Then plug the remaining ends of each wire into the solar panel wire switches and use electrical tape to secure them in place. Remember to plug the positive charged wire into the positive charged solar panel wire attachment, and the negative charged wire into the negative charged solar panel wire attachment. The wire connected to the diode chain adjacent to the thermal switch with less diodes will be the positive charged (side), while the diode chain adjacent to the thermal switch with more diodes will be the negative charges (side).
Finally, place fiberglass insulation into the bucket while allowing enough room to set the heating pot that is wired to the solar panel inside. Then place the cooking pot with the lid into the heating pot. Both pots should sit below the rim of the bucket. You can use other forms of insulation, such as clothing, to further insulate (around and above) the nested pot configuration.