Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Emergency Solar Power Setup SHTF
DIY Solar ^ | 5/14/12

Posted on 05/15/2012 10:25:57 AM PDT by Kartographer

This is my 45 watt solar panel setup. I purchased this kit from Harbor freight for about 0. I use it for lighting in my home, as well different power tools around the house. This is a great source of power in the event of power failures (which happens often).

(Excerpt) Read more at diysolar.alternativeenergydesign.info ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: preparedness; preppers; solar; solarpower
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last
Watch the video and you will see that this is a nice inexpensive and easy to buildset-up that could provide you with basic emergency lighting as well as the ability to charge small batteries and do it all quietly. It's not going to run you house, but it could easily give you enough 'juice' to get by. Please spare me the comments about Harbor Freight I am well aware that a lot of their stuff should be considered 'Chinese’ made junk, but again I say this is an inexpensive system that could make your life a bit easier during shtf and won’t hurt your wallet and just about anyone could easily build it.
1 posted on 05/15/2012 10:25:59 AM PDT by Kartographer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

Thanks, Kart.


2 posted on 05/15/2012 10:27:17 AM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: appalachian_dweller; OldPossum; DuncanWaring; VirginiaMom; CodeToad; goosie; kalee; ...

Preppers’ PING!


3 posted on 05/15/2012 10:27:35 AM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

You purchased it for nothing?


4 posted on 05/15/2012 10:29:40 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer; Alamo-Girl; Amityschild; AngieGal; AnimalLover; Ann de IL; aposiopetic; aragorn; ...

END TIMES PING LIST PING

THis is the system I’ve been trying to cobble pennys together to get.

I think this is worth prayerful consideration, for sure.

Remember—to put it in a Faraday cage . . . and if possible, have a backup duplication of at least major components.

The Faraday cage will lessen umph because of decreasing some sunlight but should protect it from EMP if designed well.

Who can tell us the size of the wire mesh needed to protect from EMP?


5 posted on 05/15/2012 10:33:48 AM PDT by Quix (Time is short: INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

I’ve looked at the harbor freight system - seems well thought out and practical. I’ve currently added a 5.28kW solar system for the house and am looking to see how to integate a battery bank since if the utility loses power, my solar system is blocked. There are plans for a modifictation where they will switch automatically to teh battery bank and maintain the charge with the solar panels.


6 posted on 05/15/2012 10:34:56 AM PDT by Godzilla (3/7/77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

I bought a Goal Zero 10 for my cell phone and recharging my AA batteries.

Totally Kewl!

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/132/Guide-10-Plus-Mobile-Kit/1:1/

One caution. It may look your phone isn’t being recharged but as you leave the Goal Zero attached the battery meter on your phone will go up.

Great for heavy phone users and will keep the phone charged all day long.


7 posted on 05/15/2012 10:36:55 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla

Solar panels won’t do much if a big volcano goes. Just saying.


8 posted on 05/15/2012 10:38:10 AM PDT by wastedyears ("God? I didn't know he was signed onto the system.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Quix

Q there are a number of sites out there that go into the mesh size for a faraday cage. IIRC it needs to be window screen sized. Lots of debate out there as to what effect to expect from a solar CME or a nuke EMP. Pick a theory and go with it.


9 posted on 05/15/2012 10:38:48 AM PDT by Godzilla (3/7/77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears
Solar panels won’t do much if a big volcano goes. Just saying.

Depend where you are in relation to the volcano.

10 posted on 05/15/2012 10:41:16 AM PDT by Godzilla (3/7/77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla

Thanks big.

Heading to lunch with a former student.

What mesh size would you pick for your own home/ retreat/ bunker?

Do you have such a set-up?

Or are you planning to within ___ months?

Much appreciate your kind response.


11 posted on 05/15/2012 10:45:06 AM PDT by Quix (Time is short: INSURE you have believed in your heart & confessed Jesus as Lord Come NtheFlesh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears

I have plans that turn magma and ash into clean reliably energy


12 posted on 05/15/2012 10:47:40 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Vendome

I know a photographic guy that is real big on Eneloop AA Batteries from Sanyo. They are rechargeable, by regular recharger like a LaCrosse BC-900 or by your solar item you listed, but the big thing about these Sanyos is that they retain power when not being drawn down.

They hold 20% less charge initially but they will hold over 85% of that charge for a year or better. They will also hold thier power after partial usage — something regular or rechargeable batteries of other brands never do.


13 posted on 05/15/2012 10:49:58 AM PDT by KC Burke (Plain Conservative opinions and common sense correction for thirteen years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Quix

Q-
I use broken microwaves to store/protect my CB/Gmrs, batteries, portable hard drives, misc key electronics and have a large ammo can to store my laptops.

RE Solar CME EMP, we would have a couple day warning

RE Nuclear EMP - my reading of the report on effects indicates that a thermonuclear (H bomb) sized device is necessary for a nation wide effect. That limits our potential sources to Russia and China and we would have 30 minutes warning (fwiw - nuclear war). Really only ones capable of surviving that now adays would be the ones with underground facilities and hopefully not downwind of targets. Those are few and far between imho. I havn’t made any preps to that level, focusing more on higher probability events such as increasing crime and civil disturbances. But I have bug out plans in place, route and destination in MT.


14 posted on 05/15/2012 10:51:40 AM PDT by Godzilla (3/7/77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Quix
Who can tell us the size of the wire mesh needed to protect from EMP?

There's no one answer on that, unfortunately.

The most powerful pulse from an EMP blast in the ionosphere, the E3 pulse, has a wavelength so long that only devices connected to the mains (wall socket) will be affected. The E1 and E2 pulses have lengths (and therefore frequencies) that depend on the design of the bomb, and the blast's distance from the active Compton effect layer. The altitude of the various layers changes based on the time of day (which is why you can hear distant AM stations at night, but not during the day).

I'd be pretty comfortable with copper or brass mesh with 10 wires or more to the inch.

You have to shield the solar panel's power cable, too, or it becomes an antenna. GROUND IT AT ONLY ONE END, not both.

15 posted on 05/15/2012 10:55:16 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (I will vote against ANY presidential candidate who had non-citizen parents.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer
Can I get on your ping list?

I am embarrassed to say that I have not considered an alternate energy source for the long term. I've been assuming that your basic camp-stoves/grills would be fine for cooking and candles or oil lamps would be fine for light in a true SHTF scenario.

We have a “wind-up” type radio, but re-energizing batteries without an outlet just never really occurred to me before now - I guess I thought stored batteries would last forever. Thanks for the Solar info!

16 posted on 05/15/2012 10:56:20 AM PDT by KittenClaws (A closed mouth gathers no foot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ShadowAce

Why would you say that?

Like Quix I am saving up and it’s now fairly close to the top of my list.

I am the keeper of the Prepper Ping List, but most of those you see on shows like Doomsday Preppers, sadly for me put my efforts to shame, but I am trying.


17 posted on 05/15/2012 10:56:43 AM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: KC Burke

LOL

I just so happen to have 3 packs of Eneloops and saw they were back at Costco the other day.

Going shopping tomorrow and picking two more packs.

Can’t have too much of anything.

The recharge I use a Duracell thingy and seems to work real well.

I bought these because of their claim and I wrote the date I purchased them to remind what their charge will be when I use them.

I do the same on my other rechargeables. I charge them then put them in a plastic container, place a stamp on the container and write the date those went in the container.


18 posted on 05/15/2012 10:57:31 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Kartographer

Either there is a typo, or the gizmo is stupid. What lighting or power tool can be run on only 45 watts?


19 posted on 05/15/2012 10:58:27 AM PDT by expat2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla
Nuclear EMP - my reading of the report on effects indicates that a thermonuclear (H bomb) sized device is necessary for a nation wide effect

I disagree completely.

Just because Starfish Prime and the Russian bomb that blew the generators in Khazakhstan were H-bombs doesn't mean that's what's required.

What's required are high-energy gamma rays, high above a significantly-ionized layer in the ionosphere. A good-sized uranium bomb with a uranium tamper can do that just fine. And Iran is developing a heavy-lift missile capability.

There are Iranian missiles in Venezuela NOW. Who knows if they have uranium bombs on them?

If I was a whackjob Islamonazi terroist, that's exactly what I'd do. Lob one up from Hugo's Paradise, peaking at 250 miles over Manhattan, Kansas, with a peak yield in the 50 to 100kT range, with a nice uranium tamper for a boost in gamma output.

20 posted on 05/15/2012 11:01:09 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (I will vote against ANY presidential candidate who had non-citizen parents.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson