Water pipes      06/14/2019

Do-it-yourself dryer for medicinal herbs. How to make a dehydrator for vegetables and fruits with your own hands Step-by-step instructions for making a dehydrator for vegetables and fruits with your own hands

Drying vegetables and fruits is in a good way preserving their beneficial properties at a relatively long time. To quickly and efficiently dehydrate food, you can purchase a dehydrator suitable for its characteristics in the store. household appliances. In addition to preparing vegetables and fruits for the winter, using such devices you can also dry meat, fish, and prepare homemade yoghurts. However, a store-bought dryer is a relatively expensive pleasure. If you wish, you can save money by making a similar unit from improvised materials with your own hands. The article discusses options for dryers that you can make yourself with a minimum of cost.

Homemade dehydrator from an old refrigerator

To make a dryer at home, the main factor is the availability suitable material for the unit body. Good for these purposes an unnecessary refrigerator will do.

Preparatory activities

Old refrigerator body a good option for a homemade electric dryer. Spacious and stable, it will get a second life as the external frame of home drying equipment.

To make a dehydrator, you first need to get rid of excess parts: freezer, compressor and radiator. Dismantling should be carried out very carefully so as not to spill the working substance of the refrigerator. For example, freon, ammonia, and SF6 gas can be used as a refrigerant. These substances are unsafe for the human body.

Important! It is also necessary to remove the casing and insulation from the refrigerator, which during heating will decompose and release substances harmful to health. The rubber backing on the refrigerator door is not removed.

Advice! During the preparatory work It is recommended to use a respirator, gloves and safety glasses.

Dryer assembly

After preparatory measures have been carried out, a fan of suitable size is installed in the place where the compressor was installed. Suitable device with a diameter of about 120-200 cm and a power of 18 W. It can be purchased specially or removed from the old exhaust system. A special feature of the installation is the fact that the fan must work to force air masses inside the dehydrator.

In the upper part of the refrigerator you need to cut a hole for a pipe with a diameter of 10 cm. This can be done using a tool available at home, for example, a crown or a jigsaw. This hole is designed as an outlet for moist air. On the roof of the refrigerator, a piece of metal pipe (with the appropriate diameter) or aluminum corrugation is installed into it. A sufficient pipe length is 2-3 m.

For more quick drying at the upper end of the pipe you can install a small hood. The top of the duct should be protected from insects using a mosquito net or gauze folded in several layers.

To be able to load drying products into the future dehydrator on the sides of the body refrigeration chamber are attached wooden slats . Pallets will be placed on them. The distance between the slats is chosen to be 10-20 cm. This is enough to place various vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and herbs, both chopped and some as a whole. If there is a need to dry larger pieces, then simply remove the extra trays from the refrigerator.

Important! To increase the performance of a homemade unit, it is recommended to use a fan heater. There is also an option using electric heating elements. Installed on back wall refrigerator, they will significantly speed up the drying process.

It should be noted that when using heating elements it will be necessary installation of an additional fan to speed up the extraction. If these methods of accelerating drying are not required, then you can get by with a simple fan.

If desired homemade dryer will be improved with the help temperature sensors. Also, with the proper skill, you can equip the equipment with a timer and other automated means for your convenience.

Pallet production

Trays for the dehydrator should be selected or made according to the size of the refrigerator, so that there is a gap of 2 cm between their edges and the door. The same gap should be provided between the trays and the rear wall of the case. This is necessary for complete airflow of products at all levels.

Advice! You can use oven trays, grill grates, metal sheets, and mesh shelves as drying trays for vegetables and fruits. Suitable structures can be easily made from wire, plywood and other available materials.

DIY drying cabinet

If you do not have unnecessary equipment at home with a suitable housing, drying cabinet you can make it yourself. For work you will need the following materials:

  • plywood sheets;
  • slats;
  • corners;
  • foil;
  • electric heating device;
  • regular and fan heater;
  • self-tapping screws

First thing cabinet frame is installed, then it is sheathed with plywood or other wood on all sides except the door. You can pre-drill holes in the rear wall for mounting fans. The door is made separately from the same materials and is attached to the body using hinges. Previously, numerous holes with a diameter of 5-10 mm are drilled on the surface of the door.

Closet chipped from the inside aluminum foil and wooden slats for pallets are attached to its side walls.

Baking trays for fruits and vegetables are selected in the same way as when making a refrigerator dryer. Their dimensions should not interfere with the free circulation of air inside the dehydrator.

Both fans mounted on the back wall of the cabinet: fan heater in the lower part, and a regular fan in the upper part.

Allowed parallel connection of devices, thanks to which they will operate from one switch. You can also equip your drying cabinet with lights that will serve as visual indicators of its operation.

Assembly options for solar dehydrators

Solar dehydrators are dryers that are used to operate solar energy . They are good for drying herbs, fruits or vegetables, even fish. Such designs are more economical, however, they can be used effectively only in hot sunny weather. Can be done at all simple design in the form of a regular box, or you can make a more “advanced” device equipped with additional equipment.

Simple solar dryer

To make a simple solar dryer for your summer cottage you will need a minimum of materials, tools and time. The assembly of the body is carried out using a method similar to the manufacture of a dehydrator in the form homemade wardrobe. The exception is that there is no need to make holes for fans and in the dryer door.

Small slots for ventilation are made in the upper and lower walls of the structure and are equipped with mosquito nets. Another difference is that the bottom surface must be longer than the top, thus achieving an angular position for the door. The drying box must be placed on a stand made of wooden blocks, made like a stool.

Important! The back wall of a homemade dehydrator should be sheathed metal sheet. Its heating will ensure a temperature of 40-50 degrees inside the box. Also inner part the structures need to be painted black to ensure greater temperature.

The box door must be made made of transparent material: glass, plastic, polyethylene film. It is mounted to the top like a frame.

In a box slats are installed for baking sheets. Their number is determined by the size of the manufactured box. You should not leave a small distance between the pallets - this has a bad effect on the circulation of air masses.

In the end, all that remains is to select or make suitable size pallets. After which you can place the homemade dehydrator in a well-lit place.

Device with collector

A solar dryer with a collector is a more labor-intensive version of the product. The drying box is designed almost the same as a simple dryer. But there are a number of significant differences. This dehydrator consists of 2 parts: an air heating zone (collector) and a food drying zone. The front of both areas should be covered with transparent material.

At the bottom of the heating zone you should make holes for free air flow. Should be installed on the inner wall of the collector aluminum plate, painted black. Air passing along this plate will heat up and flow through an additional hole into the lower part of the drying zone. As it rises, it takes up moisture and exits through exhaust pipe out.

For efficient work Dryers with a collector must be moved so that the collector is constantly directed towards the sun. To avoid this, you can improve your dehydrator using additional collector devices from each side.

Modification with fan and thermostat

To make it sunny dryer with fan and thermostat, you should prepare the following materials:

  • glass or plastic;
  • plywood;
  • corners, bars, slats;
  • wheels with a diameter of 40-80 mm (for ease of moving the unit);
  • aluminum sheet;
  • small fan (diameter 120 mm, 12 V);
  • thermostat;
  • voltage stabilizer with KR142EN8B microcircuit;
  • 12 V solar battery;
  • mosquito net.

For ease of assembly, you should follow the drawing indicating the dimensions of the product parts, which is presented below.

The first step is to assemble from beams and plywood product body and seal it. Then, wheels are mounted on the bottom of the dryer. With their help, the product will easily turn towards the sun. Made from transparent material (glass or plastic) backdoor dryers.

If you follow the dimensions suggested in the drawing, then this dryer 7 pallets can be installed at a distance of 7 cm from each other. For this purpose, wooden slats are mounted in the body. It is appropriate to make pallets for such a design from mesh material and support slats.

Painted black aluminum sheet installed on the manifold. A fan is mounted in the upper part of the box and in accordance with the diagram electrical circuit is assembled from a fan, a solar battery, a voltage stabilizer and a thermostat.

When connecting elements electrical circuit You should be guided by the diagram below.

For increase productivity Once the assembled dehydrator is powered by a solar battery, it must be placed so that the collector and battery are facing the sun's rays.

Infrared dehydrator

good dryer for herbs, nuts, mushrooms and fruits can be made using an infrared light bulb. For work you need the following materials and tools:

  • wire with a diameter of 5-8 mm;
  • small cardboard box;
  • foil;
  • metal grid;
  • lamp holder with fasteners;
  • thermometer;
  • 60 W infrared lamp;
  • screwdriver, knife and awl;
  • screws, tape.

Advice! Instead of a light bulb, a heating element used when installing heated floors is quite suitable. A piece like this will be enough films measuring 50 × 100 cm(you need to base it on the size of the box). Its power will be approximately 110 W.

The box from the inside covered with foil and mesh shelves are prepared according to its size. On one of the walls below, a hole is made for the wire and a socket with an infrared lamp is fixed there. A thermometer is attached to one of the inner walls of the box.

Made from pieces of wire mesh tray holders. To do this, you need to pierce the walls of the box, thread pieces of wire and secure their ends with tape.

You can use a thermometer to monitor the temperature inside the device. Dry herbal products recommended at a temperature of 40-50 degrees. If the temperature inside the dryer exceeds the norm, you can temporarily turn off the light bulb or leave the drawer lid ajar. This product can be made more convenient to use by installing temperature sensors. Which will automatically turn off the lamp when it overheats.

Drying chamber for meat and fish products

Protein products can also be dried in the dryer. This process is called drying. A dehydrator for meat and fish can be made from a plastic box with a suitable size lid. For manufacturing you need a fan, a piece of pipe or coupling, threaded rods, washers and nuts. There are a number of videos on how to make your own cabinet for drying meat products. A very simple assembly option is presented in the video below.

Making your own food dryer if you have the necessary components is a relatively easy process. There may be many more assembly options than discussed. It all depends on imagination and possibilities. Also any homemade model can be automated so that the drying process causes as little trouble as possible and requires virtually no personal intervention.

Fruits are a source of pectins and vitamins, the consumption of which provides the body with essential nutrients. But fresh fruits are available only in the warm season. You can prepare them for the winter through a certain processing, which involves two options. Vegetables and fruits are canned or dried.

A fruit dryer is an excellent device that you can build with your own hands at minimal financial cost.

Today the second method is preferable. A fruit dryer is an excellent device that you can build with your own hands at minimal financial cost.

General structure of the dryer

The principle of operation of the dryer is the effect of increased air flow on crushed fruits. As a result, metabolic processes in the fruits are activated, moisture leaves, and they dry out faster. There are three types of dryers, each of which has its own device.

The design of a standard dryer consists of 4 main parts:

  • fan;
  • housings;
  • tray for fruits and vegetables;
  • electric motor.

The functioning of a solar dryer is based on the penetration of rays through transparent material and heating the sheet mounted on the rear wall. This contributes to an increase in the temperature inside the device, when the indicator can reach 50°C. Fruits and vegetables dry out when exposed to such conditions. Thanks to good ventilation, moisture is removed outside, which prevents the formation of mold on the fruit. A cold air flow penetrates from the bottom side of the structure, heats it up in the housing and exits through the top hole.

This dryer consists of:

  • wooden case;
  • trays for crushed fruits;
  • transparent polycarbonate cover.

The infrared dryer is a multifunctional, convenient device. It can be rolled up. This will make storing the device much easier. If necessary, it can also be easily transported. The potential of such a device is 58°C, which allows you to obtain high-quality dried fruits. This device will also successfully cope with the function of a heater.

The structural elements of such a dryer are as follows:

  • infrared film;
  • case from a box;
  • transformer;
  • wiring.

There may be doubts about the feasibility of making a dryer. After all, if the fruits are placed in an ordinary attic, after a certain period of time they will reach the required state. This option does not require effort or financial investment. But it also has a drawback. Vegetables and fruits in this case will attract insects. It is impossible to prevent this situation from occurring, since constant contact with air is necessary for the fruit to dry completely. Accordingly, they cannot be placed in sealed packaging.

Of course, you can treat fruits with a special compound so that insects lose interest in them. But the taste properties of the fruit change. In addition, after such processing, fruits retain chemical components in their structure, and they can no longer be called completely safe.

Important! A dryer is the most acceptable way to stockpile supplies to enrich your diet with vitamins for the winter.

Required tools and materials

For construction you will need professional tools

There are several options for making the structure. To get a regular dryer, you need to prepare:

  • materials for the body. It can be plywood sheets size 60 cm x 80 cm or an old refrigerator;
  • metal mesh;
  • trays;
  • fan with motor or 2 incandescent lamps with a power of 150 W;
  • self-tapping screws

For infrared dryer you will need:

  • electrical cable with switch and plug;
  • film 100 cm x 50 cm, intended for heated floors;
  • bitumen and PVC insulation;
  • 2 terminals, 2 grommets, 2 clamps;
  • soldering iron;
  • metal bar.

The solar dryer is made using materials and tools such as:

  • wooden beams;
  • a metal sheet;
  • mosquito net;
  • black paint;
  • polycarbonate or glass;
  • lining or plywood;
  • brush;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • level.

Step-by-step instructions for making a dryer for vegetables and fruits with your own hands

Each variation of the design of the drying cabinet has its own characteristics, so making a choice in favor of one design or another is entirely your right. Let us consider in turn the procedure for constructing each type of drying device.

Regular

To build a conventional structure, it is first necessary to prepare the body. Next you need to do the following manipulations:


Infrared device

Infrared dryer assembly diagram

The process of constructing such a dryer is quite simple and will not take much time. Mylar film is used as a heating element. You will also need two lattice boxes made of plastic material. All actions come down to the following aspects:

  1. We trim the supporting corners and walls so that the products do not come into contact with the heating element.
  2. From cardboard we cut out 3 bases for holders of infrared parts.
  3. Radiation from the heaters comes in two directions. To direct it to the fruit, you should use food foil, which will act as a reflector.
  4. We glue the cardboard.
  5. The heating elements must be connected to the transformer. The wires are connected using flat connectors, insulating tape and pliers. This method will allow you to do without soldering.
  6. The edges of the wires are connected and crimped with a connector. The electrical tape will help prevent moisture from entering.
  7. When connected to a transformer, there are 4 connectors for each polarity. For convenience, wires of different colors should be used.
  8. Then the whole system is assembled.
  9. The transformer is connected to the network.
  10. This completes the work.

Solar design

This version of the device makes it possible to use solar energy to dry fruits. As a result natural process fruit saves everything beneficial features. So, the construction of the structure occurs in this order:


Rules for using a homemade dryer

The rules for using a solar dryer boil down to the following aspects:

  1. To obtain dried fruits, they should be cut into small pieces, placed on trays and placed in a case.
  2. It is impossible to immediately influence them with a stream of air. Fruits and vegetables should lie in the device for 3-4 days, only after this time can the drying process begin.
  3. One of necessary conditions high-quality drying of fruits is the presence of a certain temperature regime in the design. It should not be raised prematurely. To do this, the walls of the dryer are covered with thermal insulation material. The temperature level should be between 40°C-50°C and not exceed this figure. Otherwise, the vitamin content in fruits will be significantly reduced.
  4. The solar structure is installed at a slight angle so that the rays fall on the structure. To do this, the dryer is leaned against any suitable surface. Can be attached to the sides of the body metal pipes, which will act as a support.
  5. It is recommended to use mesh material to make shelves so that air can circulate freely throughout the dryer. A mosquito net will do.

Video: an alternative option for constructing a fruit dryer

It is well known that fruits that have been exposed to heat lose a significant part of their nutrients. The method of drying fruits and vegetables will allow you to get the most healthy products. This way they retain their nutritional value when exposed to room temperature, and take up relatively little space. We told you how to make a device that will help you prepare fruits. Use our instructions and enjoy vitamins even in the cold season.

When my wife and I became interested in “gathering,” the question of a dryer for herbs naturally arose, and since we collect a lot of different things, the dimensions of the dryer must match. I didn’t immediately come to the decision to assemble it myself; As usual, I first studied the sales market on the Internet. However, I was unable to find something optimal in terms of price and practicality, therefore, after estimating the volumes and finding appropriate place, nevertheless, I came to the conclusion that I could easily do it myself.

An empty room on the second floor has been chosen for the placement of the dryer for about 5 years:

I have long wanted to separate this room with a wall (I even unscrewed the railing to the right of the stairs), but somehow I never got around to it, and there were doubts whether it would become too dark in the hallway, since a good half of the daylight comes into it from above; but the bookcase, I thought, would fit just right: both practical and light.

So, the place has been chosen, you can proceed:

I didn't draw any diagrams or measure exact dimensions. Like everything else in the house, the shelving was made on a whim. I have a picture in my head and that’s enough for me. To begin with, the starting and ending points of our dryer were marked horizontally, this distance was divided into 3 parts; it turned out to be about 70 cm for each compartment. At the construction market I bought 3 furniture boards, a package of bars and self-tapping screws.

The first rack turned out to be the shortest, since the walls in the room are not vertical and at a distance of 70 cm it rests on the slope on which the roof lies, I measured this distance with a tape measure:

Before fixing the board, for convenience, it is better to screw the shelf holders right away. The distance between them was 15 cm.

We place the finished rack against the wall, making sure it is level:

Using a level, we bring the vertical alignment to perfection:

And we tightly screw the rack at the bottom to the floor, at the top to the wall, since the house is wooden.

We carry out the same procedure with the second board. It will be higher than the first one, because There is nothing stopping her in her quest to hit the ceiling.

We also place it 70 centimeters from the first one and screw the screws into the floor and ceiling:

With the third it will be even easier, since the shelf holders are attached only on one side, because this rack completes the structure:

The rack is ready, it's time for the drying shelves. I assembled them from leftover lumber and old clapboard scraps, which I found in abundance in the shed, where they are stored from my past “projects”.

We carefully fold the frame on the floor; the dimensions, of course, must correspond exactly to the width furniture board and the distance between the posts. However, a play of 1 cm is allowed in the direction of reduction - this will make it even easier to insert and remove our drying trays-shelves. In our case, we got a frame 70 x 40 cm:

We nail our old lining to the frame with furniture nails:

We get this nice drying tray:

We put paper or, better yet, pieces of fabric into it and think: “Hurray! everything worked out".

But don't rush to rejoice. Firstly, because there is still a lot of painstaking work ahead to produce additional shelves in the amount of 31 pieces.

Secondly, because during the first tests some shortcomings were identified in the manufacture of shelf-pallets.

When we loaded the first batch of lungwort into the dryer, we discovered that as the grass dried, the paper or fabric sagged in those places where there were gaps between the paneling on the shelf.

Therefore, all other drying shelves were urgently modified in a very simple way. Namely, the jute twine was secured with a zigzag stapler in problem areas:

Voila! For almost 2 months now, the herb dryer, assembled at home, in an empty room on the second floor, has been in operation quite successfully, and in addition to practical benefits, it also delights us with the Music of tastes and aromas.

When we started working on the organic farm project, we focused only on fresh produce. But over time, we saw that delivering such products in small volumes is inconvenient, expensive and not very environmentally friendly, because real organic matter is what grows near the house. We ourselves eat mainly raw live food, and although dried fruits cannot replace a seasonal product, it is an excellent alternative in winter.

We were faced with the fact that the dried fruits sold were all treated with sulfur and, in some cases, with sugar, which was not at all acceptable to us. So the puzzles come together into one picture - you need to independently provide yourself with dried fruits, and not just a few kilograms, but so that you have enough until the start of the new season, and sell the excess.

Shadow drying has a number of disadvantages, so we immediately abandoned this method. An industrial dryer was needed. There are large dryers available online, but they are very expensive and use a lot of electricity. But you won’t find instructions on how to make an electric dryer with your own hands on the Internet - you had to experiment on your own.

Everything is very simple and clear, especially if you have a minimal understanding of electrical engineering. I do not have the appropriate education, but my passion for radio engineering as a child came in handy.

Operating principle

40 kg dryer

The most important task is to understand how the dryer works. Without this understanding, you cannot move forward. I don’t suggest repeating after me and I don’t think that my method is the most perfect, but when you understand the drying processes, you will understand what problems need to be solved.

1. Products dry due to the evaporation of water from their fibers. To do this, two factors are needed: heat, which will force moisture from the center of the product to be directed to the periphery, and airflow, which will release the moisture accumulated on the walls of the product and carry it outside the space of the drying cabinet.

To solve this problem, an electric fan and an electric heater are required, it is also called a heating element. There is no need to invent a wheel, but you need to take a bicycle and go to the nearest household appliances store and buy a simple device, which is popularly called a “dutik”, i.e. The electric heat fan is, of course, plastic and made in China. It already has a heating element and a fan, as well as another important and, in fact, free part - a housing for all this electrical clutter.

2. Not only will humidity increase on the walls of the product, but also in the cabinet itself. This means that the cabinet must be ventilated, i.e. have openings so that accumulated moist air can escape outside the drying space of the cabinet.

To do this, simply make holes in the housing. The holes can be placed on the dryer lid or on the side opposite the fan. I used the last option and made the holes with a drill directly into the door.

The door is covered with cling film

3. The temperature inside the cabinet must be controlled so that the product does not cook and remains alive. Optimal temperature for drying it is 40°C. To solve this problem, you need a device called a thermostat.

There are plenty of options here. For example, you can buy a thermostat for your home incubator: it not only regulates the heat, but also has an electronic display showing the temperature. But everything is much simpler, and there is no need to invent anything again: the “dutik”, a miracle of Chinese engineering, is already equipped with both a thermostat and a special fuse against overheating in case the screw does not turn. So the device is quite safe.

I’ll jump ahead and answer frequently asked questions: 1) don’t be afraid - nothing will burn; 2) what if the plastic is not environmentally friendly? – environmentally friendly and does not exist, it differs only in quality.

4. Products should be dried on a baking sheet that allows air to pass through, that is, it is a mesh. I looked at a lot of options, but the cheapest and most reliable is wooden frame and a mosquito net. Regarding the environmental friendliness of the mosquito net: I had no complaints, but if in doubt, there are companies that sell the same food net specifically for these purposes.

The baking sheet was connected by two slats “in the tail” with self-tapping screws. I nailed the mesh to the baking sheet using the usual hand furniture stapler. Note:

  • the mesh at the place where the staple is pierced must be folded several times so that it does not unravel;
  • First, staple one side with a stapler, and then, pulling tightly, the opposite side (this must be done first in the width of the baking sheet, and then in length);
  • Do not use nails under any circumstances - they are unreliable, only self-tapping screws.

The first version of the dryer for 13 kg. The body is wood. Baking tray - wood. Plastic mesh

5. The baking sheets should fit comfortably and hang securely in the dryer. To do this, use wooden slats-rails the length of the width of the side wall of the dryer and the thickness of the rails - a square of about 1 cm. I used a thickness of 5x8 mm. Screw the walls to the body with short thin self-tapping screws. At the end of the rails, you can put a vertical stop from the same rail, if the design is exclusively square, so that the baking sheet does not drive into the heater screw.

6. The space for air acceleration is the distance from the fan heater to the beginning of the baking sheet. This distance is necessary in order to uniformly blow air across all baking sheets both in height and width. This distance must be at least 20 cm.

7. The body for the dryer was made of wood - this is the most accessible, cheap and pliable material. I used the old one soviet wardrobe, who was once bored on the balcony. The chipboard from which the cabinet is made contains glue and formaldehyde, so I additionally lined the internal walls with natural foil without lamination for the floor.

Food-grade kitchen foil was also used for these purposes, but it is inconvenient and short-lived. There is also self-adhesive foil glued to paper - this is the most convenient option, but I didn’t find one here. The following models will be made exclusively from natural wood, because the first attempts were experimental.

Thermostat (bottom), electric fan and heating element (top)

I advise you to use perfectly dried wood, and before installation it should be oiled with drying oil or linseed oil and dry thoroughly. These measures are to ensure that the dryer is durable and absorbs less moisture.

8. A little creativity. This principle will help you from start to finish. Imagine everything in your head first, and then start creating, improvising. Something may not work out as planned - don’t be upset, because this result may be better than expected.

Actually, these are the basic principles of operation and design of the dryer.

Calculations and installation

I did everything intuitively, without clear calculations and plans. Firstly, geometry and mathematics lessons are something distant and unattainable, and secondly, I didn’t know what would happen and what to plan. Therefore, we will not pay attention to calculations and diagrams in this article; besides, the description will take up a lot of space. I will write only a few basic principles, which are quite sufficient:

1. Before screwing in the screw, make a hole with a smaller diameter than the screw, then this will guarantee the integrity of the part and prevent cracking.

The switch operates on the following principle: OFF / blowing without heating / blowing with heating

2. The photo shows two dryer designs: one 13 kg - has a square shape, the second 40 kg - has a square body for a baking sheet and a pyramidal attachment for fan heaters and air acceleration. The latter design has certain advantages, because the pyramidal shape of the console disperses the air better, and it is not “lost” in the corners, and also serves as a kind of direction for air flow.

3. One fan is enough for a dryer with a depth of 57 cm, an internal width work surface(v.r.p.) – 41 cm, height v.r.p. - 39.5 cm. Accordingly, the size of the baking sheet: 41x45 with a wood thickness of 1.7x1.7 cm. Therefore, from the 57 cm depth we subtract 45 cm of the length of the baking sheet - we get 12 cm for air acceleration. In my case, a 13 kg square dryer is enough.

Two fans provide a dryer with a pyramidal attachment of this size: depth to the attachment - 42 cm, width v.r.p. – 61 cm, height v.r.p. – 83 cm. The distance for accelerating air from the wall of the console to the main body (and, accordingly, to the baking sheet) is 23 cm. Tray size: 41.5x60.5 cm.

4. Electricity and thermostat. I don't know how to draw diagrams, but I'll try to explain. By purchasing a “dutik”, you provide yourself with a lot of useful parts, such as a fan switch, a light bulb, a thermostat and a bunch of wires.

pyramidal prefix

The thermostat itself is already built into the fan and is manually adjusted. The adjustment knob is located on the front panel of the fan heater next to the OFF/1st/2nd speed switch. The thermostat adjustment knob is the thermostat, which is located inside the housing. This simple metal device will need to be placed inside the working chamber of the dryer. Manually setting and calibrating the thermostat using a thermometer sounds abstruse, but it’s very simple.

Now important point! By default (i.e. in the factory assembly), when the set temperature is reached, the thermostat opens the entire fan heater, i.e. turns off both the fan motor and heating element. We don't need such a result. To do this, you need to rearrange the contacts so that the thermostat disconnects only the heating element, i.e. turned off the coils when the temperature reached the maximum permissible, while the fan would continue to spin, and when the temperature dropped, the thermostat would turn on the coils again and they would heat up.

This method is much more economical. Of course, professionals use triac switches for this so as not to “click” the opening and closing of the network, because this has certain negative consequences for the service life of the heating element, but we are only amateurs, so this option will suit us.

5. You need to leave only one coil, the one that blows better, but the second one needs to be completely disconnected from the network.

6. It is better to distribute the dryer switch as follows: off/only the fan is on/the fan and heating coil are on.

7. I used two light bulbs: one shows that the dryer is generally turned on (either in the first or second position, except “off”), and the second turns on when the heating element is working, and turns off when the thermostat has disconnected the heating element and only the fan is running.

8. If you make an option for two “duktik”, you must also leave only one spiral in each “duktik”. I connected the “dutics” in series, but there is a suspicion that in this case the voltage on the second one is less - it will dry unevenly, so I advise you to connect it in parallel. The thermostat must open the heating elements on both “vents” at the same time.

You can check the uniformity of temperature and airflow using two thermometers - one at the bottom, the other at the top. Of course, thermometers measure the temperature outside at behind closed doors, because ventilation holes they are at our door.

9. I advise you not to forget about the legs for the dryer - be sure to raise them above the floor.

10. Use a line filter with a built-in fuse. Count on that maximum power two connected “dimmers” with 2 kW spirals turned on.

11. Use “dummers” in which the housing at the connection is smooth, without waves or concavities, otherwise you will not be able to screw half the electric fan housing to the dryer body.

That's all, actually. The information is brief but hopefully sheds some light on this issue.

Ilya Tretnikov, Zvenigorod district,

Cherkasy region

“To the earth with love!”