|
Post by graynomad on Dec 17, 2014 22:45:06 GMT 10
Great replies everyone! Next question! Do you describe yourself as a non-conformist? I bloody hope so.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 17, 2014 8:33:42 GMT 10
Thanks Fractus. No way I can remember an address but it was a no-through road and the name "Jones Rd" rings a bell. Looking at the map I see that Jones Rd is not no-through but there are lanes running off it that could fit the bill. I'll look on Google Earth, pretty sure I'll recognise the farm in a photo if I see it.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 16, 2014 19:41:23 GMT 10
Yeah that manager is a hero by all accounts. I gather he had a go earlier as well, got a beating for his trouble but that's what allowed people (5 I think) to escape earlier on.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 16, 2014 19:21:07 GMT 10
I've been living in an Army surplus vehicle (6x6 ACCO) for 14 years, I love them.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 16, 2014 19:13:25 GMT 10
I grew up on the Mornington Pen, dairy farm near Tyab but we left when I was about 4. Too cold for me now though BTW, if anyone knows of the Minns family, I'd love to get in touch again.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 16, 2014 18:57:44 GMT 10
Yep, pump shotty I heard. About 90 rounds fired by the cops.
They seemed to have a clear shot from the channel 7 news room because the cameras did, but I guess they had reason not to take it.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 16, 2014 9:39:21 GMT 10
I would say that bushfires are not a big thing around here. We had a big burn off 2 months ago and we've cleared most the understory for a few acres around the place. That leaves canopy fires and I'm told by the fire guys that they don't occur here, dunno why that would be as they occur elsewhere, but that's what they say.
We're prepared to live with that risk as I love having the trees around, but plan B is to get in the truck and bug out, we lived in that for 14 years so can do so again I suppose if we lose the "house".
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 15, 2014 22:55:28 GMT 10
GN your possibly one of the coolest people online, that house rocks mate. Thanks Daniel. And for an update
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 15, 2014 22:39:15 GMT 10
There's been a few comments along the lines of "we're shocked that this is happening in Australia", WTF, I'm shocked it's taken this long to happen.
As for what this event does to my prepping, absolutely nothing.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 9, 2014 21:07:47 GMT 10
I'm not getting the point of the relay. Is it a switch to turn on a switch? The switch I've got coming is rated to 20A I think. Might I need to add a resister to the circuit to reduce the amps and volts through the led? Using a relay allows you to run small wires to the switch rather than 20A wires. This may or may not matter, it depends on how far away the switch is from the thing being switched. A relay also allows you to use a nice small switch, once again this may or may not matter, sometimes a small switch is good, other times you want a big switch anyway for mechanical reasons. If you are powering a normal LED you MUST use a resistor in series with the LED, unless it is one of those that have one inbuilt resistor then of course you don't have to add one, these are sometimes marketed as a "12v LED" etc. EDIT: didn't see your link, will have a look. EDIT2: OK, that's ready to rock n roll directly with 12/24 volts, you don't need a resistor.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 9, 2014 19:13:24 GMT 10
I can help with electronics as well, I'm more into embedded microprocessors but should be able to help with more "electrical" issues.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 5, 2014 19:11:34 GMT 10
Awww shucks, thanks Step
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 4, 2014 22:11:03 GMT 10
Me too, in fact what I do (electronics and PCB design) would be impossible these days without a computer, but it's no longer a real job, just the occasional contract and I could drop it like a hot spud if I get pissed off enough with computers.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 4, 2014 19:40:25 GMT 10
Every time my computer chucks a hissy fit I start with panic, but before long that changes to "sod it, I'm sick of computers". So far I've always fixed the problems but each time I get just that little bit closer to dropping the lot in the bin and getting a life
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 2, 2014 20:03:55 GMT 10
Most Australians take for granted the intricate systems that make it possible for us to engage in seemingly mundane day to day tasks like filling up our fuel tanks, loading up our shopping trolleys at the local grocery store... I don't, in fact it never ceases to amaze me that the system works at all. That's why I (and I'm sure everyone else here) am aiming to remove dependencies on the system as much as possible. It should be easy for most of us to get to the state whereby we can shrug such a scenario off for several months, even a few years. A permanent SHTF will be much harder though. I remember the truck blockade of Sydney (and other cities I think), people were going nuts in no time at all. Likewise the recent floods in Bundaberg, people were taking food out of other people's trolleys. And these event were NOTHING compared to a serious system-wide failure.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Dec 2, 2014 19:43:53 GMT 10
2) Assuming we face a grid-down scenario, we won't be able to plug in a charger. Will a simple solar system generate enough power to run one? How else would we be able to charge a car battery? Sure it will, you could do anything from a small system to trickle charge a single battery to a large system able to really belt some current in while running two fridges and a MIG welder at the same time. They are all relatively simple, but if course the cost is hugely different. It's really just a matter of how serious you want to get about isolating yourself from a grid-down situation.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Nov 28, 2014 19:25:01 GMT 10
It seems that there was/is 70,000 people without power, some of them must be members here. Anyone with a success story about how their off-grid backup system?
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Nov 28, 2014 19:15:37 GMT 10
You can certainly weld using a couple of car batteries, that's an old FWD trick.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Nov 27, 2014 0:26:46 GMT 10
After giving my last MIG away years ago I decided to buy another one last year. I found one on Gumtree for $200 but TBH at that price the ones I've seen are toys with bugger all controls. I eventually bought one for $700 new from BOC and it's a beauty. It's gas/gasless, I used to hate gasless but this does a great job and with gasless you can work outside in the wind so that's a big plus to me as I don't have a workshop. OTOH if you go stick then I think you could get something decent for that price and they are smaller and lighter. FWIW I think welding is just about the most useful DIY skill you can have, there is very little that can't be built with steel and a small welder.
|
|
|
Post by graynomad on Nov 24, 2014 23:55:42 GMT 10
Yep, I'm looking forward to trying to make bread in the stove/oven we recently installed, got to buy some wheat berries and a grinder first.
|
|