How to Convert a Satellite Dish to a Solar Generator

By converting a satellite dish to power a solar generator you can benefit from renewable energy.

Converting a satellite dish into a parabolic solar boiler for a solar generator will pay off big time with the ability to produce free electricity. Using a little bit of ancient Greek technology and some new renewable-energy-minded thinking, you can construct a working solar generator that is powered by a steam engine. Then you will be on the cutting edge of renewable energy whether you are providing electricity directly to your home, camping trailer or remote cabin.

Things You'll Need

• Light tan enamel paint
• 3 -- 6-foot long 2-by-4s
• 4 -- 3-foot long 2-by-4s
• Aluminum foil
• 3-foot diameter satellite dish
• 18-inch tall metal can with metal top that screws onto the can
• Epoxy putty
• 1/2-inch diameter 7-inch steel carriage bolt with threaded end
• 2 -- 4-inch pulleys with 1/2-inch diameter center hole
• 2 -- 1/2-inch diameter locking washers
• 2 -- 1/2-inch wing nuts
• Drill
• 3/8-inch drill bit
• 1/2-inch drill bit
• Screwdriver bit
• Screws
• 12-volt battery
• 12-volt-to-120-volt inverter
• Charge controller
• Permanent magnet electric generator with 1/2-inch diameter turn rod with threaded end coming off of it
• Sandpaper
• Polyurethane resin glue
• Metal polish
• Shop towel
• 2 -- 8-inch long 3/8-inch diameter 90 degree copper pipe elbows
• 12-foot long strip of rubber fan belting
• Black enamel paint
• Tape measure
• Water

Instructions

Converting the satellite dish into a parabolic solar boiler

1. Smooth the satellite dish's inside face by sanding it with sandpaper.

2. Coat the satellite dish's inside face with polyurethane resin glue.

3. Lay aluminum foil on the satellite dish's inside face completely covering it with aluminum foil. Be certain to apply it in a way that it smoothly covers the surface.

4. Apply metal polish to a shop towel.

5. Rub the polish over the aluminum foil to obtain a shiny surface on the satellite dish's inside face. The parabolic solar boiler for boiling the water in the steam engine has been completed.

Construction of the steam engine

1. Fasten the 7-inch carriage bolt with epoxy putty onto the metal lid of the 18-inch tall metal can. The steam engine's pulley axle has been attached. This will later attach to the generator's belt to run the generator.

2. Fasten the metal can's lid onto it. The metal can will become the steam engine.

3. Bore two 3/8-inch holes into the metal can's side. The two holes must be opposite from one another on the can's sides.

4. Fasten the 8-inch long, 3/8-inch diameter 90 degree copper elbows into the can's side holes you bored in Step 3. Be certain to position the ends of where they are pointing in opposite directions from one another. This is necessary in order to have the steam flow to spin the engine in one direction. The steam engine's construction is completed.

5. Cover the steam engine with black enamel paint. This is necessary to ensure heat absorption of the solar heat and to boil the water within the steam engine.

Constructing the holding frame of the generator

1. Use the paint brush to coat all of the 2-by-4s with light tan paint.

2. Create an H-shape frame from the 6-foot long 2-by-4s.

3. Attach the 3-foot long 2-by-4s to the ends of the H-shape frame on the two crosspiece ends in order to stand the H-shape frame 3 feet up from the ground.

4. Bore a 1/2-inch hole 4 inches in from both of the H-shaped frame's ends by drilling through the 6-foot long 2-by-4 connecting the frame's two ends. These two holes are going to be used for mounting the steam engine and the permanent magnet generator.

5. Use aluminum foil to cover the entire H-shaped frame to protect the frame from burning from the solar heat from the parabolic solar boiler.

Fastening the steam engine into place on the generator frame

1. Slide the 1/2-inch carriage bolt that is on the steam engine's top from the bottom side of the 6-foot long main bar through the 1/2-inch hole on the left end of the H-shaped generator frame. This places the steam engine into a hanging position beneath the generator's frame.

2. Attach to the 1/2-inch diameter carriage bolt a 4-inch diameter pulley with the 1/2-inch center hole. Position this directly above where it comes out of the H-shaped frame's top side. Fasten this into place with epoxy putty.

3. Slide a lock washer that is 1/2-inch diameter over the threaded end of the carriage bolt.

4. Secure the steam engine to the generator by tightening a 1/2-inch wing nut to the carriage bolt's threaded end.

5. Open the steam engine by removing the top from the 18-inch metal can.

6. Put water into the metal can until water is coming out of the copper exhaust tubes on the metal can's sides.

7. Attach the metal can back into place on the steam engine top that is hanging beneath the generator's frame.

Connecting the permanent magnet generator to the generator frame

1. Press the 1/2-inch rod on the permanent magnet generator's top into the 1/2-inch hole from the bottom on the H-shape frame's right end. The permanent magnet generator is now hanging beneath the generator frame opposite from the steam engine.

2. Attach to the 1/2-inch diameter permanent generator's rod a 4-inch diameter pulley with a 1/2-inch center hole. Position this directly above where it comes out of the H-shaped frame's top side. Fasten this into place with epoxy putty.

3. Slide a lock washer that is 1/2-inch diameter locking washer onto the threaded end of the permanent magnet generator's steel rod.

4. Secure the permanent magnet generator to the generator's frame by tightening a 1/2-inch wing nut to the steel rod's threaded end.

5. Split the permanent magnet generator's negative and positive wires from each another. This is needed for safety in the installation of everything needed for the generator later in the project.

Joining the permanent magnet generator to the steam engine

1. Mark and fold in half the 12-foot rubber fan belt. This will be needed to create a 6-foot circular belt.

2. Create a 6-foot long circular belt by attaching the ends of the belt together with glue.

3. Place onto the generator's frame the 6-foot long circular belt.

4. Position one of the belt's ends around the steam engine's 4-inch pulley.

5. Position the belt's other end around the permanent magnet generator's 4-inch pulley.

Attaching the battery to the generator

1. Attach the permanent magnet generator's negative and positive wires to the charge controller's input side at the negative and positive points.

2. Fasten the charge controller to the permanent magnet generator's side of the H-shaped generator frame.

3. Attach the negative and positive wires of the battery to the negative and positive points on the charge controller's output side.

4. Link the 12-volt-to-120-volt inverter unit by its negative and positive wires to the battery's negative and positive posts.

5. Position the parabolic solar boiler beneath the generator on the steam engine's end of the generator. You have now finished the generator. Allow about an hour or so to pass for the steam engine to start working after placing the unit in direct sunlight. After that amount of time the steam engine will build up steam causing it to spin in one direction and turn the permanent magnet generator. This will now create electricity to be stored in the generator's 12-volt battery. This electricity can then be used to operate 120-volt devices by using the inverter, or it can be used for operating 12-volt devices by connecting them directly to the battery.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use caution when dealing with steam or electricity because it's possible to be scalded by steam or shocked by electricity.

References

• The Internet Encyclopedia of Science: Aeolipile
• Green Trust.org: Steam Power
• Other Power.com: Alternator and Generator Comparison for Wind Power
• Technology Student.com: Parabolic Solar Collectors