Air System
- This is the switch that
deflects airflow to either the interior of the shed, or the dehydrator.
It was built by Bud at Duck's Sheet Metal shop in State College, for a
total cost of about $100.
- The metal parts are
contructed of aluminum, and the duct pipe is PVC.
- It works on a simple 5
bar crank-rocker mechanism, powered by a 3V DC motor, and a computer
fan is inserted into the PVC pipe to aid in drawing air through the
system. The control motor for the crank is controlled witht he data
logger, and the computer fan is always on.
- This is the crank-rocker mechanism
that selects whether air is taken into the thermosiphon from the
interior or the exterior of the shed.
- It is constructed from 1/4 inch
plywood bought at Lowes, with 1 1/4 inch bolts and wing nuts acting as
pin joints.
- The crank is powered by a 3V DC, 5500
RPM motor with a 9:1 gear ratio that was bought at Nittany Line
Hobbies, and it is controlled with the data logger.
