Redneck engine-nuity
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Fleet Owner
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From: Newton America :-P
Redneck engine-nuity
SO thinking about Curts filter on the other thread I have been wanting to try this--- DIY Wind Turbine - Renewable Energy - MOTHER EARTH NEWS
but I want to rotate the whole thing on a bearing and use belts/pully to change the speed of the propeller-- and use something besides a fan for a propeller I think.
Thoughts?
but I want to rotate the whole thing on a bearing and use belts/pully to change the speed of the propeller-- and use something besides a fan for a propeller I think.
Thoughts?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Manhattan Kansas
I think the though process behind is good, but I feel like it would be fairly weak.
I have a hard time believing he is running much of a refrigerator off of it.
I have given a lot of thought to wind generators, but everyone is so down on them, (high maintenance costs compared to output) etc.. etc.
I still like the idea.
I have a hard time believing he is running much of a refrigerator off of it.
I have given a lot of thought to wind generators, but everyone is so down on them, (high maintenance costs compared to output) etc.. etc.
I still like the idea.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Manhattan, KS
If the solar roof panels to replace shingles get perfected, I think that would be the way to go. If you had those in combination with a small wind charger in Kansas, you would be covered for some electricity almost all the time. Especially with a battery bank. I think this technology will continue to develop rapidly along with electric cars. An issue with electric vehicles is the loss of gas taxes to fund roads etc. I would imagine as they become more common we will see a mileage/road tax as opposed to fuel tax. Same thing with solar/wind.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Manhattan Kansas
I love the idea of going off of the grid. I have been in love with the idea for many years.
I used to want to start a wind farm, but the cost is astronomical, and I don't have any land, or money to put toward it.
There is a company in Lawrence that will pull your house up on the Google Maps Internet Machine, and look at your house, determine available square footage of your rooftop, and come up with a plan to install solar panels on your roof. They calculate the amount it saves you from your electric bill, and that is your payment to them instead of the electric company, until it is paid off.
To me it seems somewhat risky, but once its paid off, and if it still functions well, would offer free electricity from that point forward.
I used to want to start a wind farm, but the cost is astronomical, and I don't have any land, or money to put toward it.
There is a company in Lawrence that will pull your house up on the Google Maps Internet Machine, and look at your house, determine available square footage of your rooftop, and come up with a plan to install solar panels on your roof. They calculate the amount it saves you from your electric bill, and that is your payment to them instead of the electric company, until it is paid off.
To me it seems somewhat risky, but once its paid off, and if it still functions well, would offer free electricity from that point forward.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Wind Chargers powered lots of rural farms and homes prior to electrification. Quite a few areas of the country didn't get fully "wired" well into the 1950s. Zenith Radio purchased Wincharger company, a Sioux City, Iowa firm that made the generators. With a battery bank and the winchargers homes had enough power to run lights and small appliances - like radios. They were 32 volt DC appliances iirc. (A lot of these old "Farm Radios" get smoked today because the plug is identical to the modern 120 volt AC, somebody finds one and plugs it in to "see if it works").
The Winchargers are sort of collectable because not too many survived, part of the deal of rural electrification with the gubbmint was that these had to be destroyed, so they are often found with .30-30 holes.
http://www.windcharger.org/Wind_Charger/Wincharger.html
The Winchargers are sort of collectable because not too many survived, part of the deal of rural electrification with the gubbmint was that these had to be destroyed, so they are often found with .30-30 holes.
http://www.windcharger.org/Wind_Charger/Wincharger.html
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From: Newton America :-P
Tesla is making new solar panels that cost the same as shingles- you would still have to pay for wiring and batteries but if you could make energy for free it might be worth it?
Growing up a buddy of mine's dad had a cabin and everything in it was 12volt- lights radio ect ect. They didn't watch tv at the cabin. it was pretty sweet-- had a wind12v generator- wish I would have looked it over as a kid.
I have a large wood burning stove and a big wood fired smoker- I am starting to gather more and more archery / fishing equip- I am finding lots of good stuff at estate sales :-) I have serveral books and magazines on doing things the old way-- I am betting that skill beats stuff- so I am learning all I can
I just need a place to put down roots
Growing up a buddy of mine's dad had a cabin and everything in it was 12volt- lights radio ect ect. They didn't watch tv at the cabin. it was pretty sweet-- had a wind12v generator- wish I would have looked it over as a kid.
I have a large wood burning stove and a big wood fired smoker- I am starting to gather more and more archery / fishing equip- I am finding lots of good stuff at estate sales :-) I have serveral books and magazines on doing things the old way-- I am betting that skill beats stuff- so I am learning all I can
I just need a place to put down roots
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Manhattan Kansas
I overheard someone talking recently about the same kind of thing, (living off of the land) What they mentioned that seemed to make sense to me, is that unless you are near a large body of water, the fish population would suffer tremendously and couldn't restock as you pull enough out each day to feed your family, and the same with the deer population, or whatever food you pick. Say you kill a deer per week to eat, or even per month, and that is all the meat you have access to, then even if you are the only one hunting them in that local area, they don't reproduce fast enough to ensure you aren't going to have to migrate often to keep up with population.
We currently have cars/trucks, but if the world comes to a point where you are forced to seek this kind of life, chances are you will not be able to locate gasoline, or have a way to pay for it if you find it.
We currently have cars/trucks, but if the world comes to a point where you are forced to seek this kind of life, chances are you will not be able to locate gasoline, or have a way to pay for it if you find it.
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From: Newton America :-P
All of that is true that is why location is key-- plus I am not above hunting "cows" or rabbits or squirrels -- if it gets really bad coons and maybe even opossums -- now a days goes bad in 6 months and you cant save it from going bad so within a year it won't be much of an issue-- and more then likely the a apocalyptic phase will only last a couple years- until we fix what we need--- so we only have to live a couple years. I our part of the country there is bountiful food you just have to get it-- grain in grain bins- there will be crops just sitting on the ground waiting to be harvested-- and what is not harvested will grow next year wild-- Having a way to make raw grain into flour- or corn into cornmeal and alcohol will go along way to being a skill to trade for food -- allot of the city will be heading to the grocery store and riots will break out- So I intend to move away from population centers. Unless there are zombie bears then I will just lay down and die :-)
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From: Newton America :-P
8months to a year- maybe- depending on the vehicle--
I have been looking into smoke powered vehicles-- its something they did during ww2- basically build a fire and use the smoke to power your engine (its a little more complicated then that but you get the point)
I have been looking into smoke powered vehicles-- its something they did during ww2- basically build a fire and use the smoke to power your engine (its a little more complicated then that but you get the point)
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Manhattan, KS
A could of years ago I saw a wood smoke powered truck at the Mother Earth Fair in Topeka. Still the range was somewhat limited. One might be better of with horse power, as in a horse in a total collapse. There is really no way the world can support the population without agriculture. Even in Kansas, living off the land without some form of agriculture would only support a very limited population long term. There simply isn't enough game or wild edible plants to sustain very many people.
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From: Newton America :-P
Yep Del I agree-- those that will survive will be those that know how to. Since video games and cell phones won't work most kids will die in a matter of hours or days :-)
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Manhattan Kansas
There is no real way of knowing if someone could survive for sure. You might be very efficient at survival, and everything could go great, and then you step on a sharp object, and suddenly you have an infection. Well, medicine and medical supplies may not be available, and you have to eat, so you keep moving forward on, and on, and ignore the infection, suddenly, it becomes life threatening, and you have done everything right, but your foot turns black and the poison spreads through your body, etc.. etc.. or even a spider bite, anything like that is possible, which makes all of the training, and preparation completely wasted.
On the other hand, you and your family might be the only ones to survive, and you have the responsibility of repopulating the world. Congratulations!
On the other hand, you and your family might be the only ones to survive, and you have the responsibility of repopulating the world. Congratulations!