Alternative Energy

Started by Redoverfarm, October 17, 2007, 05:38:46 PM

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peter nap


Redoverfarm

DARN

I wish I had thought about it before the cabin was built. The 16'X16'X4' or the 16'X18'X4' crawl space would have been the ideal location to put the storage tank. I could shop around and find something that would fit through a 24" X 24" or 36" X 36"crawlspace opening.

The off the shelf price including the lightning arrestor is about$660. I have a friend who is checking with a dealer on his cost.


Got to go pick up the kids from the bus to keep them dry.

Later


MountainDon

#27
more thoughts....

Cabin lights: you mentioned gas before. That works, but most of the hyear I wouldn't want the heat they generate. CF bulbs a low heat emitters and low electrical users.

Coffee maker: I'd get a stove top maker, something you'd just use gas to boil the water and pour it through a Melita type filter.

Microwave: running through an inverter from the batteries is way more convenient than cranking up the generator. Also better for the generator engine. Short runs are not good if avoidable.

TV: LCD use the lowest amount of power. We use a LCD TV/DVD player combo unit in the RV. 43 watts @ 120 VAC. I run it off a small Cobra modified sine wave inverter so the big inverter doesn't have to loaf. Big one uses more DC power at low loads than the Cobra. Cobra has a vari-speed fan as well.

Sat TV: I haven't a clue about them. No idea of their power use.

Sat Internet: I'd like to be connected and that would be the only way. I dislike contracts, so I'd have to get over that. Again, no idea on power use.

Anyhow, with such small demands I think you could get along with about 325 -350 watts worth of panels and 4 - 6 volt golf cart batteries. Lots of variables, so I can't say for sure without youi estimating your power needs and totaling the daily watt-hours. They'd give you 880 amp-hours @ 12 VDC, or 440 amp-hours @ 24 VDC. You'd only actually use at most, one half of that before needing a re-charge. Best would be more batteries and only run them down 25% at most. I'd go for a 24 VDC system myself. Add an inverter to run the m-wave, lights and other 120 VAC stuff. Depending on your abilities to build your own panel racks, your ability to cobble the electrics together vs. having to buy factory made everything such a system should likely run $3K to $4K. Don't hold me to that; it's a guess.

Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

MountainDon

Here is a couple of other photo's of different views. I think I matched the colors fairly well so far. It's hard to decide on addition materials but this was the most economical (board & batten or Jenny Lind). Cedar shakes here are $260 a square, The one photo of the end view of the log cabine I was standing in Virginia when I took this. The cabin is in WV.



Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

Redoverfarm

Don thanks for the suggestions. I will have to try to digest all the information I have received.  

Thanks for posting the photos.  I need to get more computer literate and learn how myself. I tried last night but the photo was took large to be sent and then I lost the post message also.

I think right now I will concentrate on getting what done I can on the cabin before winter sets in. Last year I wasn't able to get to the cabin for 2 months because of the snow and ice on the road.  It wasn't that it was that bad weatherwise but the road is a National Forrest road with no winter maintenance or snow removal. I will be able to use that time this year to figure and order what is needed.

I got the idea of Generator, deep cycle & inverter from a friend who has a summer home off the grid he uses in the summer and has been for about 10-15 years. He lives at the dead end past my cabin about 6 miles in. He is just learning also and tries different things.  I believe he used regular 12 volt marine batteries 6-8 I think.

Talking about wells and water. Another friend from Charlotte is trying to drill a well within eyesight of my cabin now. He has gone 680 to yesterday evening and still no water. Ouch at $10ft. He said he was going to try to go a little further today. I am fortunate I hit at 190 at the same elevation but different formation.

Thanks again

John


Redoverfarm

I have been so used to" measure twice and cut once" it must have bled over into my computer. No this wonder box had done a weird thing and I wasn't sure it had went. So in doubt do it again.

peter nap

This doesn't have near enough headd for you but for those that have springs or very shallow wells, I found this today. Inexpensive, good delivery rate and 30' of head.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1P580


I'm interested in the location, is the cabin in Rockingham or Shenandoah counties?

Redoverfarm

peter

You are too far east.  I believe that Rockingham Co is Harrisonburg. The cabin is actually in WV (Pocahontas County)on the WV & VA (Bath County)line. Harrisonburg is about 2 hrs from me.

peter nap

I was born in Shenandoah, raised in Rockingham and spent a big part of my life hunting in Bath!

Truly Gods country although even that is starting to see some buildup. Many years ago, I owned a small farm in Highland to hunt on. I was convinced it would never start to get built up ....fooled me. It's not the burbs yet but too many people to suit me,

That's a marvelous job your doing on the cabin!


Sassy

Yes, it does really look neat - great that you are restoring it - & you blended the old with the new really nicely! 8-)
http://glennkathystroglodytecabin.blogspot.com/

You will know the truth & the truth will set you free

Homegrown Tomatoes

Looks great... look forward to seeing more pictures of it as you move along.

Redoverfarm

peter

Don't get to Highland county that much. Usually go to the Sugar Maple Festival but didn't make it this year. Too busy. I had a friend who also had a farm there. He was from Charles Town and moved there to raise horses. Name was Buckingham. I don't think he could make a living and went back to the Horse track.  

glenn kangiser

#37
You can build a ferrocrete tank anywhere you want any size you want for a very low cost.  Bags of sand, chicken wire - and cement will fit through the hole.

Chicken wire -maybe 4 layers wired together, sand, cement, light rebar on a bigger tank or to hold shape of the chicken wire.  Maybe an inch or two thick.  Cast a thin ferrocrete cover on the ground and you have it made.

I taught a lady customer how to build a 400 gallon tank for her septic effluent sump tank.  Worked just great.  Cost was under $100.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.

peter nap

That's a great idea Glenn. Any chance you could do a mini tutorial?

Gotta go now and do battle with the Million Mom Marchers! >:(


glenn kangiser

Militant Moms.  What is this world coming to. :o

Check out this online instruction manual, Peter.  Scaling down could use less steel -to just chicken wire - maybe 3 laps for a smaller one.  There are various sealers or crystalizing sealers that can be put on afterward or some can be added to the mix.  I haven't researched that in a while.

http://www.countryplans.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1173198158

http://ferrocement.com/tankBook/indici.en.html

http://ferrocement.com/Page_1/english.html

http://ferrocement.com/casa-contents/contents.en-ferroHouse-web.html
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.