Or at least as well as I can describe it. LOL Please comment, favorite, rate, and subscribe Some images used under creative commons attribution license Attribution is required as follows; commons.wikimedia.org commons.wikimedia.orgMusic used with license “Babylon Bring Me Down” by spinningmerkaba ccmixter.org Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Noncommercial 3.0 United states creativecommons.org Lawyer talk – In my video’s I may on occasion – Play with sharp objects, really hot things, or other inherently dangerous stuff! Since I have no control over what skills YOU might have, materials you use, or whether you have a moment of sheer and utter stupidity… By EVEN watching this video… You agree that, Your family, heirs, neighbor fred, and anyone even remotely connected with You… Hold Me, my family, heirs, pet dog, and anyone even remotely connected with me – NOT liable if You (or anybody else) get’s hurt, by You copying what I do. As a matter of fact… (Legaly speaking), just don’t try this at home!)
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Woohoo, he said my name!! LOL
Thanks for the info.
Thanks
Hey Carlsten, That was the best representation of how to explain basic electricity application I have seen in many years. It is a really good representation for people that are visually inclined. Thanks for this video. I am sure many Canadians appreciated the clarification of what electric utilities is in the U.S.
Talk to you sometime next week, I am working night security at a fair this week end. Mike, London, On.
You clever guy — great visuals!! Were you a teacher? You should have been if not. Thanks for doing this video. It helped me understand much better what is involved with setting up a simple solar system. : )
Very enLIGHTening!!
well done sir,
and you don’t have many months on me….LOL
Great video!! I’ve put this solar kit on my short list recently after watching your last video on it. What are you using the system to power now? Do you use it on a regular basis?
That helps me understand this a lot better. I suppose you could substitute some type of wind generation of DC current as well couldn’t you? In other words, sub a wind turbine for the solar panels.
Hi JoeShmoe,
Id’ have to have a different charge controller. Wind generators need to have a place to discharge. If not they spin way too fast (Not good, pieces start flying off). I need to buy a charge controller with a “Diversion” circuit that redirects that extra juice to a heating element to dissipates it.
boomd1791,
We’ve been just messing around with it for now. I’ve run lights, and a hand drill. Waiting to get roof replaced, so I can mount everything permanently. Then I’ll have 5-6 outlets wired in the house, for some lights, maybe a fan, CD player? Small system… won’t handle much more than that.
I am curious if it would sufficient to handle a pressure well pump.
Kevinmpgtv,
In a word no. a well pump uses way too much power. You could put an old hot water tank in the attic, for storage…… and use a really small fountain pump to fill it. If your well isn’t too deep. Or you might look for a 12 volt “Bilge pump”. Or you could install a hand pump. Or rain barrels, or, or or. I could go on for a while. In other words “Think outside the box” to find the answers you might need.
Good start to basic understanding of Ohms law. I have lived on sailboats for my adult life, and have always lived in the 12 volt world. Your batteries are going to live a tough life my advice is to purchase top line battery from ChinaMart. 3 year 100% guarantee, seven year total (last four years pro-rated). Replaced my 12 battery bank at 3 1/2 years for almost NO cost. Original investment, 12 batteries at $60 = $720
If I was to charge my banks with solar cells, my boat would look like the NASA space station. When at dock big charger. When underway 100 amp Delco on diesel. When at anchor 1000 watt Honda gen/set and small 15 amp charger four hours a day. Still, solar panels good idea for small system. Keep up good work. First two laws of thermodynamics = there is no free lunch & and you cant eat it all.
2cats, Imagine a situation where the power goes out over a large area. For an extended period of time. No shore power… and no marina (or corner station) gas pumps working for 1000 miles of coastline. Looking like a space station, and some peace of mind… for a couple of hundred bucks, seems like a good idea.
Re: the power goes out over a large area. For an extended period of time. No shore power I expect that to happen any day. With my sailboat my answer is mobility; I plan on not being where the trouble is. Dont forget that I sail at 8+ knots using wind, moving 25 tons of mass. I am already in the solar power game with a thousand square feet of sail. Sailboats do not necessarily require electrical power gps, vhf, and the two worst offenders of amps the auto-pilot and refrigeration do.
A solar powered gps would be bringing magic into the dark ages that are to come but will there be satellites and will the govmt let you use them? A sextant will suffice for a noon shot for latitude and in the dark ages if I can get an almanac and a good time piece longitude also. Bowditch has ways around that, too.
Vhf, who do you really want to talk to? Learn semaphore. I will really miss the auto-pilot, it replaces two GOOD men that never sleep, but labor will be cheap and might work for food and safety. Refrigeration I am already eating beans and rice on my new Bush/Obama diet (and lost 30 lbs this year). I have learned to preserve pork and fish by salting. The boat has kerosene lights. Maybe whale oil will come back! Its back to the future 1800s here I come.
Your Harbor Freight solar panels are a good idea, just not for a salt water and dynamic environment. They will work fine on a farm, but not in a world were everything at some point in time gets flooded with salt water and beat up. The panels are glass and the first run away halyard will surely break everyone. Marine solar panels are many multiples the cost, sealed and tough. If you are producing watts/$ for me I have not gone that route.
But, if you had 500 square feet of roof pitched to the south to match your latitude to get max exposure that is a winning idea. Just make sure the kids play softball on the other side of the farm. The Harbor Freight deal is a good start and will power low draw items with no problem, a friend of mine gave them a try. They are a great value for the money. Thank you for all your good work in getting the word out, making people think, and most importantly acting on their convictions.
Got a couple of good quality deep cycle “Trollers” , from local auto parts store. 24 mo warranty 125 amps reserve ea.. It’d be nice to be able to afford $200 gel packs….. But not on my part time income. These should last me 5 yrs… If I take care of them, don’t over – under charge. keep topped off with water etc. I’ve got one in a car that’s 6 yrs old. (reg batt). It’s getting tired, and will probably quit on me at the worst possible time this winter LOL
A prepper could use a simple system like this to recharge his re-chargable batteries too.
Batteries for flashlighta and LED lamps.
Batteries that power your portable 2 ways for neighbor shifts when watching for looters and pirates. Or batteries to run your security and motion detectors.
Or batteries to wake you up early before the goats and chickens go hungry.
I don’t think the goats and chickens will starve if I sleep in once in a while do you? LOL
Ok, I am taking the solar plunge. I bought the kit on Harbor Freight – on sale for $199 by the way. My plan initially is to use it in my barn/large shed (I call it a barn) for lights and charging batteries. I already own a deep cycle marine battery that i use on my camper. What do you suggest for an inverter? Thanks for the inspiration!
You just answered my question from the other video. haha