The power/solar/batteries/generator thread

[Seamonkey]

This thread and another one got me thinking about a solar unit to charge batteries for power tools.
If the SHTF and your house is damaged power tools would let you fix your house up faster. Being able to charge the batteries for the tools off a solar powered battery system seems like a logical step to me.
Could the same set up be used for recharging cell phones, flashlights and AA or AAA batteries?

[offgrid]

A small solar setup will absolutely work for charging you cordless tool batteries.

Get yourself a 100 watt panel, 12 volt charge controller, 150 AH battery, and a Pure Wave Sign inverter.

You can not use a modified sine-wave inverter. There is a high probability your battery chargers will not work or worse burn up your chargers.

You can start small with just a solar panel, charge controller and battery. Run a few lights in your house. You can get 12V lights at most RV/camper stores. You can use a 12V light in any standard lamp.

[paulmartin483]

Yups I am also trying to design a solar power battery charger that won't overcharge batteries. I've worked out how to make a basic solar charger with solar panel, blocking diode, voltage regular, battery, but I can't figure out how to prevent the batteries from overcharging if I leave them out. I was thinking that an NPN transistor might be useful as a switch, but I don't know where to start.Any suggestions.

[offgrid]

Yups I am also trying to design a solar power battery charger that won't overcharge batteries. I've worked out how to make a basic solar charger with solar panel, blocking diode, voltage regular, battery, but I can't figure out how to prevent the batteries from overcharging if I leave them out. I was thinking that an NPN transistor might be useful as a switch, but I don't know where to start.Any suggestions.

Suggest a Morningstar TS45 or a Xantrex C40 charge controller. These monitor the battery voltage/charge, no worries about overcharging. If you are wanting to build a charge controller, check out www.otherpower.com forum, I'm sure you can find a schematic for one. Hugh Piggot, a well know small wind turbine designer posts over there. Or google Hugh Piggot.

What do you have for panel(s), batteries? Voltage?

The link you provided, do you work for that company? Do you have a Southwest wind turbine?

[jerrymrc]

Suggest a Morningstar TS45 or a Xantrex C40 charge controller. These monitor the battery voltage/charge, no worries about overcharging. If you are wanting to build a charge controller, check out www.otherpower.com forum, I'm sure you can find a schematic for one. Hugh Piggot, a well know small wind turbine designer posts over there. Or google Hugh Piggot.

What do you have for panel(s), batteries? Voltage?

The link you provided, do you work for that company? Do you have a Southwest wind turbine?

I do like the article here. http://www.otherpower.com/popup.html This is exactly how I learned. I used to camp for 5-7 days at a time up at the Buffalo Creek range. This is how through trial and error exactly what and how was needed. Even though I have worked the electronics field for 30 years now it was fun and challenging to learn something new. This led to my LED trials and other projects.

I do need to find another place to camp in the middle of nowhere.

[DOC]

I got my own ideas for getting off the grid. About $5,000 will fix all my electric and car needs.

[mangyhyena]

I got my own ideas for getting off the grid. About $5,000 will fix all my electric and car needs.

Wood gas? I priced them out at around $5K and they'll make electricity or run a vehicle. Do I get 5 points for a right answer or the big buzzer for being off base?
If I'm right, have you checked into storing wood gas in pressurized tanks? Someone is doing that right now. Don't know how safe that is, but it's being done. That would allow you to build up a store of fuel ahead of time and it would allow you to run your vehicle without pulling a gasifier along for the ride on a trailer.

[DOC]

Its the buzzer sorry. Wood gas sounds very interesting indeed. If done with the right wood one could smoke a brisket while making fuel for their car.
Mine idea is an engine idea that I've been kicking around since 1999 or so. I've tried it once but haven't committed to finishing it yet. The idea of pissing off the OPEC because we wouldn't need their oil anymore is what I see happening and its a double edged sword. And it wouldn't require a change in lifestyle so I think it would catch on with everyone after a while.