Topic: Moving off The Grid

[gerhed]

The first step:
Power for my RR crossing rig now comes exclusively from
the D.C. power that drives the 3-wheeler.
More batteries and inversion/conversion to come.
Anybody else moving off? In whole or part.
<a href="http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u251/gearheaded_photos/bellOne-1.swf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u251/gearheaded_photos/bellOne-1.swf</a>

[Steve F]

Yes, but what are you using to charge those batteries?

[gerhed]

Yes, but what are you using to charge those batteries?

A valid point.(note:a power plant burning coal is more efficient than an I.C.E.)
by that ,I mean the polution produced to charge the batteries to run a certain distance is less than the polution
produced by an I.C.E. to run the same distance.
The electricity probably comes from a coal fired generating plant.
I could buy "green power".
Or generate my own electricity.
   -solar
   -wind
   -hydro
   -nuke
   -geothermal
The path is clear--not easy, but clear.

[super pasty white guy]

Gerhed,

I took an environmental health class this fall which included a section on power generation and a tour of the coal fired Mirant plant in Alexandria.  During the presentation there, they showed a diagram of the power grid in our area and that we are served by nuclear, coal, natural gas and waste to energy. 

Just a fyi for curiosity sake.

spwg

[tramp]

i look at cost effectiveness
wind generator---$28,000 over 20 years before it pays for itself( my area rated 2 out of 10 for wind power}
solar panels--- in michigan the sun never shines{ solar panels only 25% efficient in shade, works only during daylight}
geo thermal--- will never pay for itself during my lifetime
i do have gas lights instead of old ones
shut stuff down when not using it

[Artfrombama]

Sell me that Triumph and you can buy several batteries!!

[Steve F]

I'd love to reduce my gas bill, and was thinking of solar heat system to start, by heating up the  water we use for showers and the dishwasher and laundry.  Has anyone tried this, or have any source for plans for a rooftop system?  I'm also wondering about having to store all the hot water somewhere once it's been heated to near boiling.

[Retro Rocket]

Solar hot water systems are  very popular in Aus and have been around for as long as i can remember. They usually store water the same way as a normal hot water system, the water doesn't go cold because the heat keeps the water recirculating through the system by creating pressure, they produce extremely hot water. They are very easy to design and make yourself. Plenty of info on the net..

Mick

[rbmgf7]

not an energy generator but energy saver. was watching some "green" show on discovery and saw a guy who makes soda can heat exchangers to warm your house. drill a hole on the top and bottom of the can, braze a bunch of them together, build an insulated box with double pane glass, install the cans and somehow coil them together, paint it black, hook up an inlet and outlet through the house, and voila, a cheap solar heater. the guy claims it can warm air up to 20F on what looked like something around a 3'x6' grid. might be beneficial for northerners or anyone in cooler climates.

sams club has a 900W 60A generator for $2k. some that generate half that much are around $500. get a wind farm going and you'll definately move off the grid.