Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Random question on power technology

[George <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

For some fun and a lot oddities..

http://www.electronsoup.com/xcom/index.shtml
http://terrasol.home.igc.org/alky/alky-appendix.htm
http://www.greasecar.com/
http://rense.com/general21/free.htm (you can delete the free.htm and get to 
the index)

George



On Monday 09 December 2002 11:44 am, Michael wrote:
> > I was reading some of the mlug stuff, as well as slashdot, and had a
> > random question for people:
> > A)  What alternative power supply technologies are there out there?  I
> > know there are probably several solar power supply vendors, but the
> > question I guess is how do they tie into battery backup systems for
> > sunless times, where to find costs for setup and running of such systems,
> > how they're going from DC to AC current, etc.
>
> I'd suggest a mixed system of solar and wind. This'll give you fairly
> reliable power throughout the year. I think most systems usually charge
> the batteries and then the batteries power things. I don't think most
> people set it up such that the household is powered directly and only
> switched to the batteries when the power fails. An inverter is used to
> convert from DC to AC or if you want more effiency at the cost of $ and
> effort they have DC appliances. Most people go with the inverter unless
> it's just a summer cottage or something. Try looking at homepower.com.
>
> > B)  Are fuel cells a viable option for power supply systems?  What are
> > the costs of fuel cell technologies?  What options are there out there?
>
> Fuel cells are usually better for things like cars because batteries are
> heavy and slower to charge than filling a tank. For powering a house you
> suffer more ongoing costs with fuel cells than solar or wind. Obviously
> you have to keep buying and hauling in fuel from someone too which could
> be a pain.
>
> > C)  Any other alternative fuel system options.
> >
> > The whole thought of this is something like this:  You figure a standard
> > house could use over $200.00 a month during the winter in electricity.
> > Figure on a large house, 5+ bedrooms, etc.  (Yeah I know, how many of us
> > will ever see that blah blah blah).  Well, if you figure 200 a month, for
> > say 6 months, and 130 a month for the other 6 months.  That's almost 2000
> > a year.  If you figure you could at least cut some of your costs by a
> > massive chunk through solar panels, battery systems, etc. over 10 years,
> > that's a big savings.
>
> It's not cheap setting up your own power source but the longterm costs are
> typically a lot lower than paying your utility bill. If you have a credit
> card with low interest and a high limit or some other way to cough up the
> sizable initial investment a full switch could save you maybe half off
> your utilities over the lifetime of the equipment you buy. IMO the freedom
> you get of not being responsible to a utility company is more important
> than the financial relief. If you have less finances but want to save some
> money try setting up a batteryless system. You hook solar panels (or if
> you have room a windmill) up to your house and take what power you can
> from it, the rest comes from the utility company. What power you use but
> don't use s sold back to the utility company. Allowing your bill to be
> dramaticly lowered.
>
> > Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, new technologies they see, etc.?
>
> If you want a nice place to start try out the solar packback. You can
> power a laptop or other small appliances from it.
> http://www.solardyne.com/solpowpaccom.html
>
> Or look for the iSun which is < $100 and lets you run things like cell
> phones, gameboy, etc from it.

-- 
George B. Robb III
System Support Analyst
College of Education (LAPS)
http://laps.coe.missouri.edu
(573)884-3333

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