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Started by Solars Toy, November 21, 2010, 04:50:10 PM

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Solar

Quote from: walkstall on November 26, 2010, 08:40:07 AM

So let's Say Yellowstone Blows will you be set.   Humanity will survive, but civilization will be knocked on it's ass big time for sometime.  I for one say when it blows, not if it blows.  It will make Mount St. Helens look like a small fart.  LOL        VolcanoCams     This time a year it may be blocked by fog or cloud cover.
You raise a good point. Based on what I've read here, most prepare based on the geographic location.
Like me, I don't worry about volcanoes, or earthquakes, or even scum from the city, I 'm only concerned with prices.

But for those located near large cities or potential natural disasters to prepare acordingly.
Which makes me ask, why do people that live in hurricane prone areas, build stick houses?
There should be a law, just like those of us that live in the forest, we have to use fireproof materials, no shake roofs etc.
Why don't they have to build with cement or brick, even build underground?

Just something to ponder...
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arpad

Quote from: AmericanFlyer on November 26, 2010, 08:59:44 AM
C'mon now, walkstall.  This is the United States Of America.  We can handle ANYTHING.  Our government is prepared to handle any and all crises.  Just sit back and relax.  Everybody LOVES us. 

Terrorists?  Just a bunch of disorganized goofballs.  They can't do anything right.  Just that one time. 

Multi-trillion dollar debt?  No big deal, we'll just print more money, and borrow more from our enemies.

Corruption and financial fraud and failed banks?  Who cares.  Just keep your money in a mason jar.

Marxists and communists infiltrating the highest areas of our state and federal governments?  No problem, we'll eventually vote them all out.

Looming hyperinflation and hyperunemployment and hyper-interest rates?  No big deal. It's happened before.

Everything is fine, and it will always be that way.

And some canned food and ammunition are going to offer protection against which of those catastrophes?

Wingman

Perhaps my favorite in this topic:

http://survivalblog.com/

Great information.

surfer_squirrel

I read thru this entire topic and didn't see any reference to rechargeable batteries, led lamps and small solar panels to recharge batteries. They're cheap and available at Harbour Freight.
Government- the cancer that consumes wealth

AmericanFlyer

Quote from: surfer_squirrel on November 27, 2010, 12:05:48 AM
I read thru this entire topic and didn't see any reference to rechargeable batteries, led lamps and small solar panels to recharge batteries. They're cheap and available at Harbour Freight.

Rechargeable batteries are fine, except for that word "rechargeable".  Small solar panels take a LONG time to produce enough energy to recharge NiCad batteries.  Unless you have a solar panel array and already live off-the-grid or close to it, the small solar panels are very limited in what they can do in a reasonable amount of time.  Solar, you are the expert with this.  If I am wrong, please let everybody know. 

Your best bet is to buy a diesel-powered backup generator, and plan on running it for a limited number of hours each day (3-4 hours).  Store a lot of diesel fuel/heating oil.  It's very safe to store in large quantities, unlike gasoline.  If you have a boiler for your heat and hot water, and you use home heating oil, you already have about 150 gallons of diesel fuel if your storage tank is only half full.  Otherwise, buy several 5-gallon plastic cans (or larger) and stock up on diesel fuel.   

Make a "duty list" of the things you want to do during the time that your diesel generator is in service.  Things like charging rechargeable batteries (buy the "quick-charge" charging stations.......they're more expensive, but well worth the cost).  If you have a well, run that well pump and top off all of your water storage containers.  If possible, this is also the time for everybody to take a quick hot shower or hot bath.  If you have children, let them watch some DVD movies on TV during this time, to take their minds off of what is going on.  If you don't have a wood stove or "alternative" means of cooking, this is also the time to cook the food for the day.  The list is a long one, and it will make life easier for everybody.

Solar

Solar chargers are fine, if you have plenty of batteries in the system charging, but you can't always count on the Sun.
Ideally buy a cheap inverter at Sams club and about 6 true deep cycle batteries (T-220 or L16) type batteries and that will give you plenty of back up power for the small things like portable DVD players, cell phone chargers radios etc. If you want to run a fridge, try 36b batteries and an Outback inverter for around $1500.00 with a built in charger.
It would be cheaper to buy a propane fridge in the short term.
To keep the batteries charged, you will need a couple of shop type battery chargers with a steady 60 amp output at 12v, this way while the Gen is running 3 hours, the battery will deep charge, one charger won't be enough.

On well water, the best and most cost effective means of pumping water, is solar, for $2500 you can drop a small pump in the well that will pump 230' ft in elevation to a holding tank, at 600 gallons per day.
This is cheaper than the utility will charge you with a big ac pump, pumping the same amount of gallons of water.

One other point, if there is heavy smoke, don't rely on your generator, I've seen many occasions where people were fighting fires near their home with a gen running because the power lines burned up, only to have the smoke choke the gen and lose everything.
This is why a battery bank is so important, you can have a holding tank and a small 12 volt pump for under $100 and be able to shower and fight fires.

If you are thinking of gravity feed from a water tank, you get roughly a half pound of pressure per one foot drop.
In other words, to get close to usable pressure, you will need a minimum of  50 ft tower, or hill side.
Oh and a minimum of 1" poly pipe to avoid friction loss.

But if you're going to invest in solar, Harbor freight is fine for just a couple of panels, but the quality is questionable at best, but you get what you pay for.
If you want more, see me, I will be happy to educate on the subject.
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surfer_squirrel

BTW, for small rechargeable batteries, NiCads are obsolete. The more efficient ones are Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). The NiMH are 1.5 volt cells and the NiMH are 3.0 volt cells. Both have high density energy storage and no charge memory problems. I built my own chargers to recycle these. I also have solar chargers for these batteries that I use during daylight hours. The solar chargers are cheap, only about $6.00 each. and are pocket size.

I have a lot of digital measuring instruments that use these cells as well as my calculators and other items.

I'll leave the big power stuff to Solar and Solar Toy.  ;)
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Solar

Quote from: surfer_squirrel on December 05, 2010, 09:33:41 PM
BTW, for small rechargeable batteries, NiCads are obsolete. The more efficient ones are Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). The NiMH are 1.5 volt cells and the NiMH are 3.0 volt cells. Both have high density energy storage and no charge memory problems. I built my own chargers to recycle these. I also have solar chargers for these batteries that I use during daylight hours. The solar chargers are cheap, only about $6.00 each. and are pocket size.

I have a lot of digital measuring instruments that use these cells as well as my calculators and other items.

I'll leave the big power stuff to Solar and Solar Toy.  ;)
Lithium is the only way to go in my book, I love the fact that the battery gives you full power until it shuts off.
A bit expensive, its still my only choice.

One warning though, they cannot get wet, or the internal circuitry will short out.
I'm talking about the ones for tools, the individual cells are pretty well sealed.
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