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DIY electricity
http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/ ^ | 12/6/12

Posted on 12/06/2012 5:20:29 PM PST by Kartographer

The Dallas Observer published a report1 recently that Texas has worst electric grid in the nation. This was based on a North American Electric Reliability Corp report2. That’s not very encouraging. They are also reporting that there is the possibility of rolling blackouts in 2013.

For a couple of years I have had the interest in setting up a backup power system for home use. There is a mobile system that provides power for work a couple of times per month, and is a backup system when at home. It provided power for 2 freezers, a refrigerator and a fan during 3 days of outage one summer several years ago. But we really want a system that has the specific purpose of supporting the house.

When looking for a mobile 120 volt (V) system I did talk to an “expert” who wanted to sell the best system that they had. He wanted to get me excited about selling power back to the electric company. After redirecting the talk with the expert to a mobile plan, and taking some of his advice, it proved to be an exercise in frustration.

(Excerpt) Read more at thesurvivalistblog.net ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: electricity; emergencyprep; preparedness; prepping
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To: greeneyes
I'm not using the batteries now. They are for lanterns and three way flashlights, 4 fans that are about 12 inches square, put out a lot of air, water bottle/fans that lower ambient air around you by 20 degrees. I was comfortable, not hot, after Ike and it was hot summer Texas weather. One of the fans at night let me sleep without being hot.

I just found the directions to make a refrigerator out of two pottery pots. I'll take these directions and go to Lowes close to me and have someone there help me pick out the right kind pottery pots - can't be glazed pots. I'll make two or three of these refrigerators. Bigger and smaller.

Here's the link to the pottery refrigerators:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pot-in-a-Pot-Refrigerator

61 posted on 12/06/2012 9:37:46 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: Marcella
I used to call those butter dishes.

/johnny

62 posted on 12/06/2012 9:48:23 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes
Water: I have a WaterBob to put in bathtub that holds 100 gallons water; have 30 gallons Ozarka water in heavy duty Ozarka bottles that stack on top of each other so take small amount of space.

Have 55 gal. water barrel connected to diverter in downspout. Have two plastic kiddie pools to put on deck to catch rainwater.

Have 15,000 gallon swimming pool here in our townhouse group and it's right across our street in front of my house behind the house there.

Have Big Berkey that will purify even water in a ditch. Have 2,000 big coffee filters to filter out crap in water before putting it through the Berkey.

63 posted on 12/06/2012 9:50:12 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

What item did you call butter dishes?


64 posted on 12/06/2012 9:54:59 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: Marcella
The stacked flowerpots.

Evaporative cooling devices may not help anyone that lives in an 80+% humidity.

/johnny

65 posted on 12/06/2012 10:03:50 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Kelvinator -now that’s a name I haven’t heard for a coons age. LOL.


66 posted on 12/06/2012 10:05:35 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella

Thanks for the link. Did you buy your water bottle fan, or did you make it yourself? I remember we used to have these water cooler fans before the air conditioner came along, but they weren’t homemade.


67 posted on 12/06/2012 10:08:45 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Evaporative cooling devices may not help anyone that lives in an 80+% humidity.

I thought about that and am wondering if I put a fan blowing on it if that would counteract the humidity? There has to be a way to do this.

68 posted on 12/06/2012 10:09:09 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: Marcella
Not much, in my opinion.

Worked great for me in the mountains where the humidity was about nothing, and nosebleeds were de rigeur.

/johnny

69 posted on 12/06/2012 10:15:08 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes

These are hand held water bottles with fan attached at the top - mine use two AA batteries. These are usuallly call sport fans, bicycle guys and tennis players use them. Most of them are junk. Mine are Squeeze Breeze, not junk.


70 posted on 12/06/2012 10:15:19 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Then, what is the answer for them to work for me? I would have them in the house, not outside if that would help.


71 posted on 12/06/2012 10:17:59 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: Marcella

The tips section claims that you can keep meat fresh for 2 wks. Also, that you only need 1 pot for liquids.


72 posted on 12/06/2012 10:21:19 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Marcella
Keep a technical society functional to provide lighting and refigeration. Or restore it quickly.

I can do a lot, but that's a trump card.

Hard country life is well... hard, and country.

I bathed and washed my hair tonight. Guess how many pots of hot water that took. That had to be heated over a fire.

Rustic is only good for dumb-asses that have lived it.

/johnny

73 posted on 12/06/2012 10:23:24 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: greeneyes
The tips section claims that you can keep meat fresh for 2 wks

Depends on where you are. Up where you live... maybe. Down where I live? Ferget it. I can make jerky in the kitchen in 2 weeks.

/johnny

74 posted on 12/06/2012 10:26:58 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Jerky is my grand daughter’s favorite. LOL.


75 posted on 12/06/2012 10:29:29 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: greeneyes; JRandomFreeper

Thanks, I’ll read on there. I’m going to make those things and ignore Johnny. I’ll try a fan on it and see it that makes it work right. There would be less humidity here in winter.

What is your usual humidity in summer?


76 posted on 12/06/2012 10:29:29 PM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today.)
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To: eyeamok
Magnum ms4024pae 24 volt 4000 Watt/240 volt pure sine inverter $2000

Your setup is similar to mine, but I built mine over 12 years ago with stacked DR2024 modified Trace inverters. I just recently replaced my 8-L16 Trojan batteries. I am currently getting ready to upgrade to true sine for the reasons you mentioned.

Will the Magnum MS4024pae provide surge power of up to 10KW? I have a deep water well with a 3/4hp motor rated at 10KW (G) inrush. This was the reason I originally went with the stacked inverters and used the generator for charging rather than starting/running the pump. Thanks.
77 posted on 12/06/2012 10:33:14 PM PST by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the Occupation Media.)
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To: Marcella
and ignore Johnny.

Never bad advice. ;)

/johnny

78 posted on 12/06/2012 10:35:26 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Marcella

Pretty high humidity usually except for last summer. Usually the air conditioner produces 10 gallons of water from the air. Last summer, a few times it was down to 5 gallons even though the heat was record breaking.

However, as I mentioned the wet burlap bags around the water cans always worked, and that is the same principle. Evaporation of water.

I think it will work even in very humid climites. The fan would probably help it, but in most cases not be necessary JMHO.


79 posted on 12/06/2012 10:36:33 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: PA Engineer
Look at Outback gear. Get your hands on some to examine, if you can.

Their form, fit, function, and good skullsweat moved them in front of Trace. My opinion.

/johnny

80 posted on 12/06/2012 10:38:08 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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