Three 20W panels for £165 inclusive. That works out at £2.75 per watt, which is very good value. Most panels are going for well over £5 per watt. For some reason Americans can pick them up for half that price in the US. As usual, anything shipped over here just has the $ sign replaced with a £ sign and no attempt is made to exchange the currency.
Now, I need to get a few deep-cycle batteries, a charge controller and an inverter to convert DC to AC. As stated in my last post, I put a power meter on various devices that I may want to take with me on my off-grid odyssey. A fridge is out of the question and so is a television but I will run DVDs and CDs on my 20W netbook.
Most other things I have run off rechargeable AA batteries that can be recharged with a 1W recharger. I will need my power tools but they can be run off the car battery with the engine acting as a generator to stop the car battery being ruined.
The solar panels will act as trickle chargers to keep the deep-cycle battery topped up. With only 60W that is not going to be possible on an overcast day and so the car will be employed as a generator again. I will try to avoid so-called civilisation but when I do drive in then I will put the batteries in the back of the car and charge them up via the cigarette lighter.
I should really have bought more solar panels but the chap who was unloading them has sold out. I want to get all this up and running here before I go anywhere else so I might make a short video to demonstrate how it all fits together.
NB - I notice that in my previous post I mention some CFL bulbs. They are, of course, useless in an off-grid system that will probably use a modified sine wave inverter. I won't be splashing out on a pure sine wave inverter, and a modified (ie. square wave) inverter cannot be used in conjunction with inductive loads, which CFLs and all fluorescent lights are.
Sizing up a photovoltaic system
I have spent the day determining the power requirements of various electrical devices that I might take with me to a new home. To do that I put a power monitor between the mains socket and the plug from the device I was testing.
I am not a big electricity user so my intention is to go off-grid to avoid paying a standing charge and tax on what little I use. To do that I will need a photovoltaic panel capable of meeting my power needs.
I am not keen on wasting a lot of money on a bank of deep-cycle batteries to cover the needs of the average western lifestyle.
Instead of using electrical devices whenever I feel like it, I will use them during the day and charge up AA batteries for night time use. Lighting has a low power requirement, which can be handled with AA batteries powering LEDs. Alternatively, I can get those lights with small solar cells on them. You leave the lights outside during the day and take them indoors at night to light the house up.
Here are some results from the power monitor
Shaver - 5W
Battery Cell Charger - 1W
HP Mini Note Laptop - 22W
Mobile Phone Charger - 4W
Short Wave Radio Receiver - 6W using mains adaptor or 4 x rechargeable D cells at night
Car Battery Charger - 40W
Various CFL light bulbs ranging from 6-20W - I will probably replace them with lower power LEDs
I will need a photovoltaic panel just large enough to cover a few items being used at the same time and an inverter just big enough to convert that amount of power from DC to AC.
The shaver will only be used during the daytime and no, I won't be touching my skin with a blade. My laptop will be for day use and maybe a little war cycling to make use of an insecure corporate or governmental WiFi router. The short wave radio will allow me to pick up the World Service on Short Wave and other English language programmes on Long Wave. During the day, the radio can be powered by the sun and by batteries at night.
For communication I will just have a mobile phone to receive calls but not to make any unless there is an emergency. I will need a car battery charger to keep the car battery topped up as I intend cycling more than driving.
Of course, I will be taking large power tools with me. I won't be running them off a photovoltaic system because their power usage runs into the kW, which would require many expensive photovoltaic panels. Instead, I will cobble together a homebrew generator from a lawnmower engine to power the tools when needed.
Two household items not mentioned so far are the biggest power users of all, the fridge and the washing machine. A fridge can use well over 1kW of power during a day. My intention is to avoid having too much perishable food that requires refrigeration.
A fridge is a modern luxury that my ancestors got along without quite adequately. If needs be, I can have a small camping fridge running on 12V. In winter time a cold store would probably suffice.
Initially, I will hand wash my clothes but the washing machine is one luxury that is a necessity. Handwashing is very laborious when other things need to be done. A washing machine will have an initial peak surge of power when switched on but gets by on about 250W of power. Something that will have to powered by a generator for such intermittent use.
Of course, the best way to size up an off-grid electrical system is to do away with electricity altogether. However, there are some things (especially shaving!) which are just a whole lot easier with electricity.
If the day is particularly sunny and there is excess electricity then I have a 12V water heating element to boil water. Starting a wood fire to boil water on a hot sunny day is not pleasant.
I am not a big electricity user so my intention is to go off-grid to avoid paying a standing charge and tax on what little I use. To do that I will need a photovoltaic panel capable of meeting my power needs.
I am not keen on wasting a lot of money on a bank of deep-cycle batteries to cover the needs of the average western lifestyle.
Instead of using electrical devices whenever I feel like it, I will use them during the day and charge up AA batteries for night time use. Lighting has a low power requirement, which can be handled with AA batteries powering LEDs. Alternatively, I can get those lights with small solar cells on them. You leave the lights outside during the day and take them indoors at night to light the house up.
Here are some results from the power monitor
Shaver - 5W
Battery Cell Charger - 1W
HP Mini Note Laptop - 22W
Mobile Phone Charger - 4W
Short Wave Radio Receiver - 6W using mains adaptor or 4 x rechargeable D cells at night
Car Battery Charger - 40W
Various CFL light bulbs ranging from 6-20W - I will probably replace them with lower power LEDs
I will need a photovoltaic panel just large enough to cover a few items being used at the same time and an inverter just big enough to convert that amount of power from DC to AC.
The shaver will only be used during the daytime and no, I won't be touching my skin with a blade. My laptop will be for day use and maybe a little war cycling to make use of an insecure corporate or governmental WiFi router. The short wave radio will allow me to pick up the World Service on Short Wave and other English language programmes on Long Wave. During the day, the radio can be powered by the sun and by batteries at night.
For communication I will just have a mobile phone to receive calls but not to make any unless there is an emergency. I will need a car battery charger to keep the car battery topped up as I intend cycling more than driving.
Of course, I will be taking large power tools with me. I won't be running them off a photovoltaic system because their power usage runs into the kW, which would require many expensive photovoltaic panels. Instead, I will cobble together a homebrew generator from a lawnmower engine to power the tools when needed.
Two household items not mentioned so far are the biggest power users of all, the fridge and the washing machine. A fridge can use well over 1kW of power during a day. My intention is to avoid having too much perishable food that requires refrigeration.
A fridge is a modern luxury that my ancestors got along without quite adequately. If needs be, I can have a small camping fridge running on 12V. In winter time a cold store would probably suffice.
Initially, I will hand wash my clothes but the washing machine is one luxury that is a necessity. Handwashing is very laborious when other things need to be done. A washing machine will have an initial peak surge of power when switched on but gets by on about 250W of power. Something that will have to powered by a generator for such intermittent use.
Of course, the best way to size up an off-grid electrical system is to do away with electricity altogether. However, there are some things (especially shaving!) which are just a whole lot easier with electricity.
If the day is particularly sunny and there is excess electricity then I have a 12V water heating element to boil water. Starting a wood fire to boil water on a hot sunny day is not pleasant.
A week of tinkering
I returned to my wood gasification project. One of the biggest hurdles is finding a suitable blower to move air and gas around the system. The 1800W motor would drive the fan at such a rate that the garage was rearranged in seconds.I finally solved the problem, by running the electric motor on DC rather than 240V AC. Now, I have more control and a lot less danger.
A strange thing happened, whilst running the motor on DC, the fan ran backwards. I have no idea why an alternating current made the fan go one way and a direct current made it go the other way. Still, I knew enough to reverse the coils so that the magnetic field ran in the other direction, thus reversing the direction of the fan. Problem solved.
With a decent fan I can now prepare the gasifier for a test run in the near future. My intention is to run a small engine on wood gas thus obviating the need for petrol. The engine will then provide me with electricity when needed.
You can read more about my wood gasification experiments at http://www.woodgas.org.uk
A strange thing happened, whilst running the motor on DC, the fan ran backwards. I have no idea why an alternating current made the fan go one way and a direct current made it go the other way. Still, I knew enough to reverse the coils so that the magnetic field ran in the other direction, thus reversing the direction of the fan. Problem solved.
With a decent fan I can now prepare the gasifier for a test run in the near future. My intention is to run a small engine on wood gas thus obviating the need for petrol. The engine will then provide me with electricity when needed.
You can read more about my wood gasification experiments at http://www.woodgas.org.uk
My madness resonates across the ether... net
The BBC (socialist propaganda machine) asked the question, "Will Obama's stimulus plan work?"
My answer was
I don't want the stimulus plan to work.
If it succeeds then it will give people the confidence to return to their old ways.
I want a total collapse of this failed system so that we can build a different one.
At a time of diminishing resources, borrowing from the future is no longer an option. We may get through this recession but eventually a recession will come where there is nothing left of the future to borrow from.
I now find myself in the top six by recommendation of over 1000 comments.
This post was powered by 750ml of cava. I bid you goodni...
BBC Have Your Say - Will Obama's stimulus plan work?
My answer was
I don't want the stimulus plan to work.
If it succeeds then it will give people the confidence to return to their old ways.
I want a total collapse of this failed system so that we can build a different one.
At a time of diminishing resources, borrowing from the future is no longer an option. We may get through this recession but eventually a recession will come where there is nothing left of the future to borrow from.
I now find myself in the top six by recommendation of over 1000 comments.
This post was powered by 750ml of cava. I bid you goodni...
BBC Have Your Say - Will Obama's stimulus plan work?
Making chicken stock
Yesterday, I made some chicken stock. My parents, in their usual state of wastefulness, wanted to throw a chicken carcass out. Not only that but it still had meat on it.
I had the meat off and in the fridge. The bones were then simmered in a litre of water with half a carrot and onion, some salt and pepper corns. An hour later, the pot was strained with a sieve into a jug. The stock was allowed to cool then put in the fridge. By the morning the fat had floated to the top and was skimmed off.
Today, I made chicken and noodle soup. The noodles had been lying in my cupboard for a few months. I put the noodles into a saucepan, covered them with water and brought them to the boil. I added a few spoons of chicken stock, a dash of soy sauce and some strips of chicken meat.
A few minutes later and the soup was ready. Poured into a bowl with some shredded lettuce. The only thing I had to buy was the lettuce. I enjoyed it so much that I had a bowl for lunch and another for dinner.
Chicken stock is very useful for making a variety of soups, casseroles, and flavouring rice in risotto or paella type dishes.
I had the meat off and in the fridge. The bones were then simmered in a litre of water with half a carrot and onion, some salt and pepper corns. An hour later, the pot was strained with a sieve into a jug. The stock was allowed to cool then put in the fridge. By the morning the fat had floated to the top and was skimmed off.
Today, I made chicken and noodle soup. The noodles had been lying in my cupboard for a few months. I put the noodles into a saucepan, covered them with water and brought them to the boil. I added a few spoons of chicken stock, a dash of soy sauce and some strips of chicken meat.
A few minutes later and the soup was ready. Poured into a bowl with some shredded lettuce. The only thing I had to buy was the lettuce. I enjoyed it so much that I had a bowl for lunch and another for dinner.
Chicken stock is very useful for making a variety of soups, casseroles, and flavouring rice in risotto or paella type dishes.
Okay, now it's 6 inches of snow and rising
Still, it's not going to stop me from walking to the supermarket for my weekly £7 worth of shopping.
Recession, hundreds of Chinese factories close, millions of Chinese workers unemployed, far less pollution in China and over here we get a winter like the good old days.
A single volcano puts enough emissions into the atmosphere to alter the global climate. What happens when a decade of Chinese economic activity comes to a halt? China's emissions over the past 10 years must equal many hundreds of volcanoes. Enough to warm the planet on its own.
Just throwing an idea into the air.
Recession, hundreds of Chinese factories close, millions of Chinese workers unemployed, far less pollution in China and over here we get a winter like the good old days.
A single volcano puts enough emissions into the atmosphere to alter the global climate. What happens when a decade of Chinese economic activity comes to a halt? China's emissions over the past 10 years must equal many hundreds of volcanoes. Enough to warm the planet on its own.
Just throwing an idea into the air.
It's only a little snow
I took a couple of books, I sold on Amazon, to the post office. I walked through the park and it was full of children sledging down the hill. School had been cancelled due to the 'bad weather' but there was barely an inch of snow on the ground.
When I was at school (the same school as the children I saw today) I never had one day off due to bad weather. Back in the 1970s, it snowed for weeks and we often had to dig our way out. Now, it hardly ever snows in winter but these days we have the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) sticking its nose in to everyone's business so it no doubt put a stop to education for the duration.
On the way home, I walked by a different route. The road had been gritted and was clear of snow so I walked on the road and not the icy pavement. I passed many people who looked at me but carried on slipping their way along the pavement. I don't know what is wrong with this world where everyone conforms all the time. If a car approached me then I just stepped off the road until it passed and then continued my walk on the road.
In the news the country seems to be paralysed and yet there is ONLY 1 INCH OF SNOW! In Northumberland, a remote county in Northern England, (where I had assumed everyone was rather hardy) a village is cut-off. The gas mains failed so everyone in the village had to be given free electric heaters. The moment they all switched on their heaters, the local power sub-station failed so now the village has no electricity either.
The villagers complained of being cold and of not being able to cook. Whatever happened to wood fires for heating and cooking? You would think that villagers in the countryside would have the skills to look after themselves in trying times. I can knock up a wood gas stove in 30 minutes. I can cook and keep warm with it.
Makes you wonder how this country will cope in future years if people in the countryside, as well as in urban areas, struggle to look after themselves when everything is not handed to them on a plate.
And cope they will have to. This recession is blamed on a "credit crunch" but that is only part of the problem. Since we reduced our consumption the price of oil has fallen. If our economies recover then so will the price of energy and we will hit our head on another recession creating, energy price ceiling.
Better to learn a few self-reliance skills now than to be fighting others over a few scraps in the future.
When I was at school (the same school as the children I saw today) I never had one day off due to bad weather. Back in the 1970s, it snowed for weeks and we often had to dig our way out. Now, it hardly ever snows in winter but these days we have the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) sticking its nose in to everyone's business so it no doubt put a stop to education for the duration.
On the way home, I walked by a different route. The road had been gritted and was clear of snow so I walked on the road and not the icy pavement. I passed many people who looked at me but carried on slipping their way along the pavement. I don't know what is wrong with this world where everyone conforms all the time. If a car approached me then I just stepped off the road until it passed and then continued my walk on the road.
In the news the country seems to be paralysed and yet there is ONLY 1 INCH OF SNOW! In Northumberland, a remote county in Northern England, (where I had assumed everyone was rather hardy) a village is cut-off. The gas mains failed so everyone in the village had to be given free electric heaters. The moment they all switched on their heaters, the local power sub-station failed so now the village has no electricity either.
The villagers complained of being cold and of not being able to cook. Whatever happened to wood fires for heating and cooking? You would think that villagers in the countryside would have the skills to look after themselves in trying times. I can knock up a wood gas stove in 30 minutes. I can cook and keep warm with it.
Makes you wonder how this country will cope in future years if people in the countryside, as well as in urban areas, struggle to look after themselves when everything is not handed to them on a plate.
And cope they will have to. This recession is blamed on a "credit crunch" but that is only part of the problem. Since we reduced our consumption the price of oil has fallen. If our economies recover then so will the price of energy and we will hit our head on another recession creating, energy price ceiling.
Better to learn a few self-reliance skills now than to be fighting others over a few scraps in the future.
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