Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 23, 2014 23:58:11 GMT 10
Hey guys, I've got a few DIY plans in the works that are slowly coming together and hopefully I'll be making some progress on them.
My current projects are:
-Gravity fed water filter... 2 food grade buckets, a ceramic water filter, a tap, some dirty water. Put them all together, you've got clean water. At the moment I've got the buckets, I've ordered the filter and tap and I've got 11000L capacity of rainwater tanks. Once the filter is done, I want to make a either a hand pump or work out how to rig the electric pump to work off a battery.
-Mead production... fermentation vessel, honey, yeast, and a few other bits and pieces. These make a delicious beverage and will be the first step in my alcohol production set up. I had a look around but couldn't find a suitable fermentation vessel so I'm still looking around but I've asked a current maker of mead to have a look for a similar one to his. After that's up and running, I'm going to make something a bit simpler and make a still. then distill it for use as disinfectant and a cooking fuel. Yeah, it's gonna be strong.
-Solar setups... First up I'm going to make a little wooden stand, to hold a goal zero charger on an angle so it catches more sun. Also it's going to have a spot hidden from the sun to protect the electronics from sitting in direct sunlight for a while. Also gotta get a AA charger and some rechargeable that can also run off this. This is a short term measure while I learn to make something more effective. Currently I can only charge 12v cigarette lighter plug items or USB chargeable items. So that's really only my phone and my Baofeng radios. I want to get a USB chargeable torch, and the aforementioned AAs. Then when I've learnt more about electronics I'll set up a more workable arrangement.
So anyone have suggestions for my DIY projects, or does anyone have their own DIY projects that they'd like to ask people questions about?
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Post by graynomad on Nov 24, 2014 0:43:07 GMT 10
Geez, how long have you got  Major projects include Finish container house Build steel and wood work workshop Get smithy running Finish Ardwidget (electronic gadget) design and get PCBs made. LiFePo4 monitor (another electronic gadget for lithium battery charging) Design and build camper on 4x4 Get 6x6 motorhome back into roadworthy shape and ready as a BOV Design and install front gate alarm (it's 400m away so will need RF link) Build walking tracks (with foot bridges and shelters) around land. Get back into nature photography Mark out the Rob Gray memorial track (16k along the creek into town), hopefully not really a "memorial" track for some time. Build a bucking stand for firewood cutting. Learn how to grind wheat and make bread from resulting flour. ... Some of which have a 100 sub projects Actually I'm interested in mead production, I do normal home brew now but mead interests me. |
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Post by Fractus on Nov 24, 2014 6:09:28 GMT 10
I started bee keeping about 10 yrs ago so I could make mead. Never made it. The honey was so popular I kept selling it all. Lost interest after about five years. Work required did not equal gratification.
My next DIY is simple sheep yards with some bought sheep handling equipment as I am not as strong as used to be and don't relish the wrestle.
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Post by pheniox17 on Nov 24, 2014 7:00:16 GMT 10
My ammo can project... (I haven't forgotten)
My survival kits (building 2 as Xmas gifts)
Ongoing, inch bags/setups
Bug in stores
A possible future project a storage cubbord.... (For knives, bow, weapons, food and water stores)
Another possible future project a pram set up for bugging out
A lot of other goals are planned but all longer term
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Post by Paul on Nov 24, 2014 7:39:08 GMT 10
I don't know where to start have to many to list. I am waiting for the kids to go to school this morning and then I am off to purchase some new LED lighting for the house in 240v and some 12v lighting as well. I want to change all of my fluros to Leds.
I am getting 2 different lumen types to test for a couple of week then I will chose witch ones I will go with.
If they are any good I will do a post on them and let you all know what I think of them.
Paul
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bilycart
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Post by bilycart on Nov 24, 2014 19:18:11 GMT 10
Next project is a wood fired bread oven - no good having a lot of flour if you can't make some bread. Trying to track down some plans, plenty of pizza oven plans not many for bread ovens.
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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.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2014 12:19:00 GMT 10
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Post by Peter on Nov 25, 2014 13:17:57 GMT 10
I have to finish doing up the spare room so I can clear other things out of the way, tidy the shed & get more shelving in there, convert the walk-in-robe into a store room (with backup fridges plus space for a desk & PC), all in that order so I don't get gridlocked.
I'm also a small part of the way through getting the backyard changed around to plant heaps of fruit & veg.
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scoutmum
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North Queensland
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 25, 2014 13:21:06 GMT 10
I looked at them too, and wasn't convinced they would work in my climate. Have also looked at building a solar dehydrator, as I'd like something that isn't reliant on electricity. Here's a few that look pretty good... www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Food-Dryer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.motherearthnews.com/diy/solar-food-dehydrator-plans-zm0z14jjzmar.aspx#axzz3K2xAtSy8 www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Food-Dryer/ For the time being, I've decided to go electric... But would love to hear from anyone who's built a solar one! |
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Post by StepfordRenegade on Nov 25, 2014 17:49:11 GMT 10
My garden is always a work in progress, I haven't had much luck with a mini orchard in the front yard, and the heat wave we had a week or so ago has fried most of my veggie patch. My proper project is turning a garden cart into an on foot BOV for the kids. I am going to have so much fun pimping out that baby!  |
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 25, 2014 19:06:54 GMT 10
Made the water bucket filter today, its at home rinsing. Then I'll dry it off tomorrow and put it in my store room.
Tomorrows task is tidying my storeroom. so I need to get another locked ammo box on the shelves, sort all my comms gear and get it into one box then make room for the water filter bucket then clear out the bookshelf of junk. Then I'll be able to start on the mead project.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Nov 26, 2014 11:53:48 GMT 10
The only thing we are currently working on is our vege garden.
Have quite a few project coming up when we move:
- Fencing the entire property
- Additional water tanks and pumps
- New Vege garden
- Hopefully a chicken coop
- Build a self contained and insulated room within the shed
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 9, 2014 14:29:46 GMT 10
Just ordered a multimeter, wire strippers/cutters, mini gas soldering set to be the basis of my self-teaching electronics projects. And for my first project, adding a work light to my hilux, I also ordered a 2250 lumen row of LEDs, a bunch of wire and a 12v illuminating toggle switch.
I've now got all the items for making mead, just need to melt the hole in my container for my airlock, wash everything thoroughly and follow the recipe. Then need to source a siphon.
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Post by Peter on Dec 9, 2014 14:47:27 GMT 10
I spoke with a South African customer about the biltong they make (it seems to be the "done thing" amongst Sourth African men). He showed me the biltong box in his shed - you can see heaps of similar ones by doing a google images search for "biltong box", and you'll get a tonne of ideas. He did mention to me that it's not ideal in the [Perth] summer - it's best done during the colder months. I hope this helps. |
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Dec 9, 2014 18:56:21 GMT 10
Just ordered a multimeter, wire strippers/cutters, mini gas soldering set to be the basis of my self-teaching electronics projects. And for my first project, adding a work light to my hilux, I also ordered a 2250 lumen row of LEDs, a bunch of wire and a 12v illuminating toggle switch. I've now got all the items for making mead, just need to melt the hole in my container for my airlock, wash everything thoroughly and follow the recipe. Then need to source a siphon. AT, I would be more than happy to help you with your electronics projects. Also try ebay for a siphon www.ebay.com.au/itm/Easy-carboy-Siphon-Syphon-1m-hose-home-brewing-NEW-/280725930365?pt=AU_Barware&hash=item415c91c17dOr your local homebrew store. Back to the electronics, as far as Auto work goes it really pays to do it right, use a relay, use a fuse, use a switch, wire it correctly and when adding relays and fuses try to take advantage of the blank or spare spaces already present, rather than just wiring one in mid way through a circuit and hiding it behind a piece of trim or bolting it somewhere inside the engine bay. Also on top of that gear get some heat shrink tubing too. |
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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.
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Post by pheniox17 on Dec 9, 2014 19:34:11 GMT 10
Just ordered a multimeter, wire strippers/cutters, mini gas soldering set to be the basis of my self-teaching electronics projects. And for my first project, adding a work light to my hilux, I also ordered a 2250 lumen row of LEDs, a bunch of wire and a 12v illuminating toggle switch. I've now got all the items for making mead, just need to melt the hole in my container for my airlock, wash everything thoroughly and follow the recipe. Then need to source a siphon. AT, I would be more than happy to help you with your electronics projects. Also try ebay for a siphon www.ebay.com.au/itm/Easy-carboy-Siphon-Syphon-1m-hose-home-brewing-NEW-/280725930365?pt=AU_Barware&hash=item415c91c17dOr your local homebrew store. Back to the electronics, as far as Auto work goes it really pays to do it right, use a relay, use a fuse, use a switch, wire it correctly and when adding relays and fuses try to take advantage of the blank or spare spaces already present, rather than just wiring one in mid way through a circuit and hiding it behind a piece of trim or bolting it somewhere inside the engine bay. Also on top of that gear get some heat shrink tubing too. Vote 2, relay and heatsrink.... Heat srink makes the connections look neat and helps last longer The relay is to spread the load, you don't "need" one if you over killed it with the switch... Good luck, not the first project I would have suggested, a rf bug "kit" is a great start for a noob, (IMHO) and you need to use a solder heat sink (a clip) on the transistor, if you get one together and working it is a great first steep.. |
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Dec 9, 2014 20:18:15 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?
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Dec 9, 2014 20:28:59 GMT 10
Technically yes it is a switch activated by a switch. Is it one LED you are using or an LED product? There are many reasons to use a relay, firstly it is good practice, secondly it reduces the amount of wires you run that carry a high load.
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