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corky52
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 20 2006 Status: Offline Points: 168 |
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Posted: February 03 2006 at 9:42am |
6 volt golf cart batteries are cheap, strong and long lasting. Two or four golf cart batteries will give you a long lasting high current power source to work from, two will hold over 200 amp hours and four will give you 400 amp hours. Unlike car batteries the golf cart batteries are designed for deep, long term discharge and lots of recharges. Golf cart batteries are available all over, and are reasonable, about $60 each. Look for a rating that is in amp hours rather than cranking amps. Many places will sell that batteries to you without the fluids added, makes storage easier. You'll also need some distilled water to keep them topped of and a means to recharge them, solar works well. A place to start! http://bart.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm Must have if you have wet cell batteries! http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnu mber=47532 Edited by corky52 |
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I've got two deep cycle marine batteries and two large Solar Panels. Here in Florida, on an average day, I can expect 50 -60 amp/hrs of charging from this system. A cheap inverter, and I can run 120volt appliances and/or battery chargers.
Having lived aboard a sailboat for 13 years, I'm used to the 12volt lifestyle. Will miss the A/C, but other than that, should be fine. I'm also using White LED lighting, so the current draw will be minimal for lighting. |
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corky52
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 20 2006 Status: Offline Points: 168 |
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I like the cheap fluorescents from Wally World's home section, 16 watts and less hard than the LEDS. LEDS are also to directional for my personal tastes. Look for the undecounter lights with a wall wart that are marked 12vdc, lots of light for very little power or cost. Inverters have gotten dirt cheap in the last couple of years. I have used several from the source below. http://www.techbuys.net/power-inverters--12-volt-power-inver ters.html |
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bruss01
Adviser Group Joined: January 12 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 448 |
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Storage batteries are the heart of an independent power system. They store electricity for use at a later time when a charging source (sun, wind, water or generator) is not available. They also provide a reserve of available energy to run loads that require more power than that provided by the charging source. Batteries wear out and must eventually be replaced. Regular monitoring and maintenance will extend the life span of your battery bank and save you money. The deeper they are discharged, the shorter their life span will be. Batteries contain toxic materials and should be disposed of properly. Choosing a Battery Car Batteries RV and Marine Batteries Motive Power Batteries Stationary Batteries Gel cells are filled with an electrolyte that is in the form of a gel or sponge. It is not possible to service this type of battery or replace the electrolyte. They have a much shorter life and cost considerably more than liquid filled batteries. These batteries require no maintenance, tolerate low temperatures, do not spill and do not produce corrosive gases. They are good at remote sites where maintenance is not possible and cold weather prevails. Precise charge control is critical. Edited by bruss01 |
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corky52
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 20 2006 Status: Offline Points: 168 |
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Bang for the buck and availability make golf cart batteries the hands down winner for the kind of thing most people here need! You need to be aware of the out gassing while charging and make sure you have it vented out to a safe place. I use a big plastic tub with a lid that came from Home Depot, to store 4 batteries and have built venting by using a 12v fan and some flex tubing. Not pretty but does the job nicely.
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Ella Fitzgerald
Valued Member Joined: January 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 586 |
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I guess I need to understand what an inverter is first.... Help! |
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corky52
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Ella, An inverter turns 12vdc in to 110vac to run things that you already have! Most of your home appliances use 110vac. 110vac is what you have at the wall sockets. |
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Ella Fitzgerald
Valued Member Joined: January 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 586 |
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Thanks Corky! This is when I wish I would have listened to science class a little more closely. As a female I just never had much interest in the mechanical side of life. I appreciate your help! |
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corky52
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 20 2006 Status: Offline Points: 168 |
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Ella, This isn't the rocket science that many try to make it out to be, pretty simple really if lyou take it in chunks. I just keep seeing visions of lots of people sitting in the cold and dark, bored out of their minds getting very fat on all the stored food. Making your own power in limited amounts isn't that hard, and makes life a whole lot nicer! Edited by corky52 |
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bruss01
Adviser Group Joined: January 12 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 448 |
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Just be aware, if your house is the only one on your street with lights on after dark, harbor no illusions that no one will notice. You just posted a neon sign stating: WE HAVE... AND YOU DO NOT! Don't be surprised if that attracts beggars, the curious, and those who would want to take what you have. It's not much of a leap to infer that if you had foresight to have batteries and/or a generator and fuel, that you'll have other valuable commodities on hand as well. Keeping the heavy drapes drawn, the noise down, and tight lips about your provisions are precautions worth taking. What begins as admiration ("boy, that guy was thinking ahead...") may progress to envy ("Who does he think he is, having lights and tv and hot meals, while we shiver out here in the cold and dark?") and eventually become malice ("Somebody ought to show him a thing or two... wouldn't be so high and mighty if that generator turned up missing... "). Become a student of human nature, it's one of the few things that never changes. Edited by bruss01 |
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corky52
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 20 2006 Status: Offline Points: 168 |
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Due to my traveling for extended periods all windows and doors have interior 5/8 in bolt up plywood covers, no light gets out! You want to have nothing showing that arouses attention, Sat antennas and solar panels are on the backside of the house screened from view. RV is parked crossway's in front of garage with enough room to get a car in to unload things out of view.
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I was already thinking that I plan to have candles for light and the tv small portable in a boarded up room. I plan to give off the appearance I a m no better of than the rest of the neighbours. I plan to watch my weight I will need to appear to be losing weight. There will be alot of other tricks , One half a sad looking candle at the front entrance. I worry about cooking smells coming from the house, On of my neighbours had generator and sure enough one of the neighbours asked for a extention cord to it during a power outage. several people on the street knocked on the door to ask why they had power and this was just a minor power outage. I plan not to curtain the front room so that looter can look in and see no food no heat sourse, no lighting . The back room upstairs will have the only heat sourse and food will be hiden in the walls. If looters break in the cupbaords will have some tuna a few dollars hidden in a tin can and a half a candle . If looters get in the house I figure its best to let them think they got everything Edited by RBARNES55 |
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Ella Fitzgerald
Valued Member Joined: January 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 586 |
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We are lucky to have a room that has no outside windows or doors and is insulated pretty heavy. This is my husbands recording studio right now but I plan to make it our safe room. I'm planning on covering our front windows with full screens that are dark and for the back of the house I was planning on draping with black sheets. In the evening I think it would be best to hang out in the safe room. |
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mightymouse
Valued Member Joined: January 27 2006 Status: Offline Points: 487 |
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bruss- You are right on. Survival Bling-Bling could be the reason for one's demise. Camaflage your lifestyle. Good stuff. Point well taken. |
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Nothing matters - Therefore everything matters
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Enumclaw,WA
Adviser Group Joined: January 31 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 67 |
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If it gets real bad I plan on making my presence knowin. If house looks empty of people I believe they will break in and loot the whole house including breaking down any locked door. (the one with family and I behind). I have the means and will protect my house from any looters. Period. My dogs will let me know when people are near by. We live in the country and can see car's comming from far away. PA system will warn people not to come any closer. This is just my thought and hope none of it comes to that.
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RB
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apomales
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 15 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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I've been considering getting an insert wood stove for my fireplace for efficiency and warmth. The regular fireplace does nothing to provide heat. However I'm concerned that the smoke from a chimney is going to attract unwanted attention. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I live in a cold climate and the solar idea is pretty expensive. Although I did find an interesting solar panel that heats a home from http://www.cansolair.com It sells for $1995 + 250 shipping + 200 installation. Don't know anything about it but it looks interesting.
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Spoon
Valued Member Joined: January 29 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 607 |
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Hi Apomales, I decided to get an insert for my fireplace (Regency H2100). I can heat about 1800 sq. ft. and cook. My small solar power setup can run the internal fans if we lose power. My only issue with using solar for heating is just when you need heat the most, you normally see sunshine the least. A couple of cloudy days can run down just about any reserve. |
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It's not so much the apocalypse... but the credit card bills ;-)
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