Search found 62 matches
- Fri May 24, 2013 9:12 am
- Forum: Alternate Energy Discussions
- Topic: Solar hot water using wires and PV panels?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 10290
Re: Solar hot water using wires and PV panels?
You probably could drive a 110v element with 12v. It would just reduce the wattage about about 1/10th. Techman does not have a heater at all. If he had an RV heater (which he might soon) he would need to buy an element for it. I've encouraged him to do so. ;-) I think it would be cool being off the ...
- Thu May 23, 2013 8:40 pm
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Optimal Off Grid Living Site
- Replies: 7
- Views: 17639
Re: Optimal Off Grid Living Site
It would be fun to look at the county's tax lien sales. Might be some surprises there.
- Tue May 21, 2013 5:33 pm
- Forum: Batteries and Battery Experiments
- Topic: Alum battery (convert lead acid)
- Replies: 10
- Views: 37343
Re: Alum battery (convert lead acid)
I would like to see some real world test data, a discharge test for capacity of 12v batteries that are the same other than one is altered to aluminum. While it appears to be possible, I'm very curious if it's worth while. Is there a reason to do it other than "it can be done"?
- Tue May 21, 2013 8:24 am
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Optimal Off Grid Living Site
- Replies: 7
- Views: 17639
Optimal Off Grid Living Site
Troy, obviously you'll be moving some day from this property. Hopefully to your own land where you can never be forced off (except by government if you fail to pay taxes). Have you given some thought to the ideal state or region? I am an unapologetic lover of Liberty and I must confess places like N...
- Tue May 21, 2013 8:04 am
- Forum: General Discussions
- Topic: Chickens - Light and Tractors
- Replies: 16
- Views: 38557
Re: Chickens - Light and Tractors
Just saw the completed tractor, looks great. I don't know how densely you can keep chickens. It looks like a lot of birds for the space. Are you thinking of building another?
- Mon May 20, 2013 2:57 pm
- Forum: General Discussions
- Topic: Chickens - Light and Tractors
- Replies: 16
- Views: 38557
Re: Chickens - Light and Tractors
Troy, Love the work you've done on the chicken tractor. It looks great. My only suggestion from what I've seen is to put the wheels on the heavy end, put the man on the light weight end. Also, those look like vintage minibike wheels. They might bring $60 to $100 on ebay. I'd clean them up, take some...
- Mon May 20, 2013 2:48 pm
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Why the water jacketed stove fails.
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9683
Re: Why the water jacketed stove fails.
It's not an issue of Love. It's a technical one. It's numbers, dots and dashes. If you get a water convection unit going above the stove, which you might very well do. Think of this. Your putting energy into the iron, then into the water then moving it to the radiator, then blowing a fan through it ...
- Mon May 20, 2013 2:35 pm
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Having a nice hot shower at the Off Grid Camper
- Replies: 16
- Views: 39988
Re: Having a nice hot shower at the Off Grid Camper
Yes you can, however, you'll need a heat exchange and anti-freeze to make a year round system. It's a question of complexities and reliability. Think of all the issues you've had with the current water based heating system. An RV heater with a rocket stove setup to vent through the internal heat ex-...
- Sun May 19, 2013 9:23 pm
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Having a nice hot shower at the Off Grid Camper
- Replies: 16
- Views: 39988
Re: Having a nice hot shower at the Off Grid Camper
Solar hot water really is only practical with an insulated hot box with black tank inside, glass top, underground plumbing. Having water in black pipe or tank outside will give you a warm or hot shower, however, it's not a real off grid solution because it's not useful year around. Probably all the ...
- Wed May 15, 2013 11:01 pm
- Forum: Off Grid Living Discussions
- Topic: Why the water jacketed stove fails.
- Replies: 3
- Views: 9683
Why the water jacketed stove fails.
Physics, The fire box is surrounded on the vertical walls by water at atmospheric pressure. Water boils at 212 F. As the stove heats up, it can not get above 212F while liquid water exists in the jacket. Thus all the heat gous up the flue and out the very limited radiant area of the top. The 212F si...