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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 18:04:29 GMT 10
After much thought and study on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that if the lights go out and don't come back on or if I just want to live with out the grid, I needed to look at alternatives! "No good looking for a light in the Dark"
Solar: I think a small solar set up would be excellent! For me 4-6x200watt panels and 3-4x200amp glass mat batteries, using two and the others as backup's.
Just to run my 12vot fridge/freeze and a few LED lights and top up the lap top ETC.
I will also put here a wind vertical turbine, to help the Solar panels during Dark days.
Kerosine: I have learn't a lot about kero over the last 12 months! I have now 6 cheap kero lights and will buy 4 of the better one's in the next 12 months. Also trying to buy a kero/LPG fridge and stove and a heater as back up! Kero will store for 20-40 years. I am also looking for a kero blow torch!
LPG: LPG is expensive, but will last indefinitely! For my gas stove/oven I will need 1.5 x 45kg bottles per year and about the same for the gas water heater! You can buy your own bottles from Melbourne and then get a cheap rate to fill in bulk. Next year I am ordering 30 bottles, which will give me 10 years of LPG.
Note: If you buy out off date 45kg bottles from any gas company, (around 15-30 dollars) you can use them for many projects IE: I made a water heater and a BBQ/fire box from two bottles! and a slow combustion heater/stove from a 9kg after seeing one at the show! ( No you can't make a still from one as they are Galvernised inside and out! )
Fire wood, unless you live in the City or the Dessert you will have plenty of fuel! I have down loaded the plans to make a Wood Gasifier to run a petrol motor vehicle or generator!driveonwood.com/sites/default/files/pdf/FEMA_plans.pdf
Distillation using wood fire, to make ethanol, for fuel to run equipment can be achieved as well! tinkersource.com/ethanol-fuel-still/journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/meCh7.html So who needs the power company or servo, if you prep now for the future!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2013 20:00:53 GMT 10
I guess the problem with fuel is either finding a safe way to store it for prolonged periods, and even finding it after your supplies run out. Providing there isn't a problem with out atmosphere being clouded over, you should be able to always get sunlight and wind. This is why I think these are great options. Kerosine and LPG would be good for luxury things that may not need use all the time.
Always thing to start thinking about though, Gaz.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 7:22:03 GMT 10
I believe Ryan that you need a combination of things in case you run out of one, or something breaks! Being prepared is all about what if! And planing and prepping accordingly!
Common sense says we need to look at all possibilities and use what we have and what we can find! But the problem for most people is they start with nothing and end up with the same and them blame everyone else!
The bottom line for me is that we are all responsible for ourselves and our actions! We can learn and overcome, or we can procrastinate and die, it is up to us!
Knowledge and skills are power! With it we can survive, with out it we stay sheep and end up lamb roasts on someone else's table ...LOL
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Post by Ausprep on Oct 31, 2013 8:01:26 GMT 10
Honestly, with the dealings i have had with Solar, i don't think you can beat it.
Both price, lifespan and efficiency. Cant be beat.
BUT, like everything you have mentioned above, in an EOTWAWKI situation, these will only last a certain time before the run out, break, break down and just plan give up the ghost.
The first few years of SHTF whilst we have these luxuries, we will need to work on other methods for when the time comes and the lights no longer work and the LPG tank is empty.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2013 11:15:04 GMT 10
I would like to get some Bees for Honey and wax to make candles! Also I am going to get some fat from the Abattoirs to make lard and also oil for the lamp!
I can buy a hand crusher/oil extractor to get oil from seed for light and cooking and fuel, but will have to grow them...Not..LMAO
Just a couple of more Ideas!
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Post by bigredtomatosauce on Oct 31, 2013 23:01:52 GMT 10
Can someone give me a rough idea on how much it is going to cost me to get solar on my new house? I have seen people nigrigging their own up on the internet but I don't trust myself to do it. Or is there some parts I can do myself to cut some costs?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2013 10:59:40 GMT 10
Wayne is the man to ask Big red!Just PM him and I know he will help!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2013 11:01:19 GMT 10
Wayne is the man to ask Big red!Just PM him and I know he will help! Wayne knows a bit about solar panels. Not entirely sure he has them on top of his house though, but he'd def be able to share some insight into solar. |
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 1, 2013 12:04:08 GMT 10
Wayne is the man to ask Big red!Just PM him and I know he will help! Wayne knows a bit about solar panels. Not entirely sure he has them on top of his house though, but he'd def be able to share some insight into solar. I can help with portable and fixed solar related to 12v systems. House mounted, i have no experience sorry. |
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kenna
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Post by kenna on Nov 1, 2013 20:56:44 GMT 10
I'm interested in finding out more on portable solar systems - it's all a foreign language to me at the moment!
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 1, 2013 21:20:20 GMT 10
I'm interested in finding out more on portable solar systems - it's all a foreign language to me at the moment! Where would you like me to start? |
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kenna
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Post by kenna on Nov 2, 2013 13:36:13 GMT 10
From the beginning please (blushing) - I would like to have a ground mounted solar panel so that it's not obvious to any passers-by that I have any solar power. I have no idea what else I need, how big a panel would be required....I know zip about solar!
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 2, 2013 13:43:21 GMT 10
From the beginning please (blushing) - I would like to have a ground mounted solar panel so that it's not obvious to any passers-by that I have any solar power. I have no idea what else I need, how big a panel would be required....I know zip about solar! Well, day in day out i deal with solar and the direct products involved with solar. This is all 12V systems though (car, caravan, camper mounted etc) The first thing you will need to do is work out what you want to run from the solar. What you need will be based on this. |
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kenna
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Post by kenna on Nov 2, 2013 14:32:35 GMT 10
From the beginning please (blushing) - I would like to have a ground mounted solar panel so that it's not obvious to any passers-by that I have any solar power. I have no idea what else I need, how big a panel would be required....I know zip about solar! Well, day in day out i deal with solar and the direct products involved with solar. This is all 12V systems though (car, caravan, camper mounted etc) The first thing you will need to do is work out what you want to run from the solar. What you need will be based on this. In a perfect world....I would like to have a system to run my small freezer (totally off grid if possible) but I realise that may be a big ask cos the "google god" says that you can't do it due to the high demand that freezers pull from the solar set-up! I don't want to run a genny (and possibly blow myself up making moonshine....uummm I mean fuel!) due to the noise they create, so solar would be my preference. It would be handy to have a solar set-up to recharge/run small devices (ie laptop, a single light, battery charger etc). What can you actually run with a solar 12V set-up? |
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 2, 2013 14:51:54 GMT 10
kenna with a deep cycle 100 amp hour AGM or Gel battery and a small panel, say 120W, you can easily run lights, a radio, charge laptop and phone plus even a 12V tv. If you want a few lights, look at using LED as the life expectancy and power consumption is significantly less. I run quite a bit from my camper with no worries, never had a flat battery yet.
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 2, 2013 14:54:23 GMT 10
Pricing here (at my place of work) i would sell the above for:
100a/h AGM battery $350.00
OR
100a/h Gel battery $380.00
120W Portable solar kit with 15A regulator $349.00
right up to:
220W Portable solar kit with 30A regulator $599.00
The idea is to find out what your appliances draw power wise.
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kenna
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Post by kenna on Nov 2, 2013 15:11:53 GMT 10
We don't watch TV, but I do have a lot of info on my laptop. If I purchased the smaller portable solar kit then I only need to get a deep cycle battery to get it up and running, is that right? (ie $350.00 for AGM battery and $349.00 for kit and I'd be good to go?) I almost purchased a 10W panel yesterday thinking that it would charge small devices (would I have been kicking myself if I'd bought it?)
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 2, 2013 18:04:25 GMT 10
We don't watch TV, but I do have a lot of info on my laptop. If I purchased the smaller portable solar kit then I only need to get a deep cycle battery to get it up and running, is that right? (ie $350.00 for AGM battery and $349.00 for kit and I'd be good to go?) I almost purchased a 10W panel yesterday thinking that it would charge small devices (would I have been kicking myself if I'd bought it?) To charge anything more than your mobile and yep...you would have been. You can opt for smaller panels, these would most suit if your only drawing small amperage from your power supply. ie: I purchased a (new) 40W panel from ebay $40 free post from Melb. I then purchased a 15A regulator, $30 free post. I use these to keep the battery in my camper maintained and charged at all times. Theres no great rush to charge it, so it just trickles away untill its done. Then it cuts in and out as needed. By keeping it above 12.9 - 13V you can also extend the batteries lifespan. |
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kenna
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Post by kenna on Nov 2, 2013 18:19:17 GMT 10
We don't watch TV, but I do have a lot of info on my laptop. If I purchased the smaller portable solar kit then I only need to get a deep cycle battery to get it up and running, is that right? (ie $350.00 for AGM battery and $349.00 for kit and I'd be good to go?) I almost purchased a 10W panel yesterday thinking that it would charge small devices (would I have been kicking myself if I'd bought it?) To charge anything more than your mobile and yep...you would have been. You can opt for smaller panels, these would most suit if your only drawing small amperage from your power supply. ie: I purchased a (new) 40W panel from ebay $40 free post from Melb. I then purchased a 15A regulator, $30 free post. I use these to keep the battery in my camper maintained and charged at all times. Theres no great rush to charge it, so it just trickles away untill its done. Then it cuts in and out as needed. By keeping it above 12.9 - 13V you can also extend the batteries lifespan. OK, thanks Wayne - I'm going to start saving and will take your advice re the 120W solar system. One last question (actually there are 2) could I set this up freestanding in the back yard or do I need to mount it on something? and how do I plug stuff into the solar power if I have it freestanding in the backyard? |
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Post by Ausprep on Nov 2, 2013 18:29:09 GMT 10
Ok, so yes..The portable kits have legs and can free stand. The regulator is mounted on the back
From there, you connect to you battery.
From your battery, you connect your appliances. This is where you will need to make/buy something with 12V outlets that you can attach to the battery.
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