Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 18, 2014 0:56:46 GMT 10
I want to learn about electrical circuits, their design and construction, testings and repair. I've found a site that has some straight forward courses, including electrical topics. I know a few basic concepts but it's been a long time since I've done electrical calculations back in yr12 physics... Are there any good short courses that you know of? What sort of things should I be learning about in order to do things such as build my own solar fixed set ups, wire my hilux with solar panels, batteries, power outlets, etc. I've got a few projects... I want to have a solar/wind set up that charges batteries that can be used for power tools, power a water pump to get water out of my water tanks, etc. What sort of equipment do I need in order to accomplish basic electrical work? How's this multimeter? Also am I correct in thinking that anything connected to the main grid requires a sparkie licence, or is it anything 240V even if it's not connected?
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Post by thereth on Nov 18, 2014 1:07:48 GMT 10
that multimeter looks fine for an entry level one. What major town/city is near you mate? I can have a look for you at the local colleges, I was lucky enough to be born into a family of sparkies and did a few years of my apprenticeship (ended up giving up the 240v for 12v), however I cannot quite remember what you can and cant do with and without a licence.
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 18, 2014 1:11:33 GMT 10
I'm in the eastern suburbs of melbourne. I'm thinking I'll mostly be doing 12v stuff, however I'd like the ability to run 240V.... mainly for power tools, and maybe I'll set up the beer fridge to run off solar.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 18, 2014 6:51:55 GMT 10
I am liking this, I have a mini beer fridge I would like to run on solar as well, issue is it is a 240v
I assume one would need, Enough solar panels, a regulator, a power bank, an inverter(Unless the regulator does both)
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Post by Paul on Nov 18, 2014 7:58:29 GMT 10
Hey austemplar, You can learn alot of 12v and solar stuff on youtube, there is heaps of good info you just have to find what you are looking for. I am currently running a small battery bank and solar setup for my ManCave at the moment, Everything that runs off it is 12v, leds and a engel fridge, it has been in and running for couple of years now and never had a problem. I have toyed with the idea of getting a big inverter so I can run my power tools but never got around to doing it.
At the moment I am renovating my house and putting my two boys downstairs, The hole lighting system for under the house will be all 12v led down lights, I will be putting in a battery bank and some panels to run the setup. I am still deciding which regular to run. Depending on how much money the wife will let me spend as to what goes in. I want to run an inverter and then wire the hole underneath of the house to be off grid so to speak. (she has given me the go ahead,)
I will take pics when I am doing it and do a post when it is all done. it will be a while as I am still doing the framing at the moment.
Paul
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Post by graynomad on Nov 18, 2014 20:57:44 GMT 10
I worked as an electronics engineer for many years, and in fact still do occasionally on a contract basis, I have no idea what courses are available (I was self taught) but may be able to help anyone with specific problems. Note I said "electronics" not "electrical", there is a difference and a lot of electrical stuff is black magic to me, that said I've done all the wiring for several solar projects so have a fair idea about that, and a lot of the principles are the same. I was recently asked by a neighbour to design and implement his new solar system, I originally said yes but then looked into the new rules and regs...forget it, too much crap and (presumably) too much potential liability. I think (but don't quote me) that for low-voltage work you don't need a ticket, but you still have to follow the rules relating to the work. AFAIK you can actually wire up 240 as well but it has to be ticked off by a sparkie. That's one way to save money though as you do most of the work. It used to be the case that you could do 240 wiring if it was at the end of an extension lead plugged into a GPO (power point), if that's still the case you could in theory just get a sparkie to wire up a power board then do everything else off a few extension leads
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Post by pheniox17 on Nov 18, 2014 21:56:27 GMT 10
Jaycar and get some introduction to electronics kits, and a soldering iron..
Get some cheap copper wire, solder them together, without twisting the ends... And make it supper neat
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 19, 2014 0:53:13 GMT 10
Good idea, I saw those on their site and thought they would be a good to learn. Though I'm more looking at starting with free courses and salvaged items and tools I have or can get reasonably inexpensively.
I've got some big expenses coming up... also a mate is having some financial struggles and he's selling off some of his firearms, associated ammo and gear. I'm gonna buy some of it off him and just hold it for when he gets some disposable cash back and laments selling them.
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Dec 15, 2014 21:28:29 GMT 10
I'm self taught, being playing with electronics since I was 10 There's enough people who know about electronics here by the looks of it, here's some thoughts that might help.
You can probably get by with some simply understandings of how Amps(A), Watts(W) and Volts(V) related to one another for what you've described as well as understanding limitations of solar panels, batteries and equipment that regulates etc. Perhaps an introduction will help you work out what you want to achieve.
W = A x V
A = W / V
V = W / A
So, if you've got a 120W solar panel in 12V, it can at best produce 10A. So if you've got a 100Amp/Hour battery, it would make sense that you could charge it in 10 hours if you had the solar panel running maximally. What makes that tricky is that panels don't give you a full day worth of charge [they hardly run at max], batteries capacity ought to be thought of as half the rated amount so you don't discharge them too far reducing their life, and there's losses in conversion and regulating the power input. Those losses you'd have to look up if you want to be precise, though
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So, give us some numbers and I for one [I'm sure the others here would do similarly] are happy to walk you through your application and hopefully tying together the different elements and how they relate to one another, and in doing so show you how you can do it yourself in other applications.
Power tools & Water pump What is their power usage of each, which can be found on the side of the tool in Watts(W) How long and how often would you be using each of them for? What voltage are they running on?
Below is a chart I set up for myself for the Melbourne region showing different panels and battery set ups and the likely output per day in kWh. AGM lead acid batteries are the cheaper and easier to get equipment for and are recommended. [You have to use special chargers and potentially make up your own packs for Lithium Ion, even though they have less losses when charging]
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 15, 2014 23:20:56 GMT 10
I have no idea what my requirements would be. I'll have to investigate
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gasman
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Post by gasman on Dec 16, 2014 6:07:25 GMT 10
Shinester you need to come to our next meet so we can pick your brain What you recon aus?
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 16, 2014 13:47:22 GMT 10
Haha that's already been discussed in another topic I think. I tried to send a message to everyone from my phone internet but it wouldn't select some of the usernames so I've gotta try again later from my computer
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Dec 16, 2014 14:00:21 GMT 10
That is some great stuff Shiney.
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Post by thereth on Dec 16, 2014 14:14:52 GMT 10
are you guys mostly in NSW or Vic? I am thinking of a trip over east next year and thought it may be a good chance to catch up with you blokes
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 16, 2014 14:18:30 GMT 10
Me daniel gasman shiney are all in eastern vic
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Dec 16, 2014 16:43:56 GMT 10
Hey gasman, assuming you're in Vic, I can probably do that
Gasman, sure thing bud, see below. I'm putting a system together [grabbed an 70Amp AGM battery today!] now anyhow, so great timing for all of this.
Aus - Eastern Melb: We've really got to link up! I think I'll just write you up [and others] a spreadsheet where you can punch in your usage, panel size, battery size and give you some approximate figures [always aim to have a little extra]. Give me a week or so as it'll take me a couple of hours and I don't get a lot of time for such fun
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Post by Fractus on Dec 16, 2014 17:39:48 GMT 10
Me daniel gasman shiney are all in eastern vic Don't forget me ;(
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 16, 2014 17:53:19 GMT 10
Me daniel gasman shiney are all in eastern vic Don't forget me ;( I was looking at that quick list for about a minute and a half thinking I'd forgotten an obvious one. My apologies fractus..
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shinester
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Post by shinester on Dec 16, 2014 18:30:11 GMT 10
Mornington Peninsula is another country
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Post by Fractus on Dec 16, 2014 18:41:33 GMT 10
Mornington Peninsula is another country True I call it utopia!
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