Solar and Alternate Energy Discussion and Support Group
I have an idea that might get us all pulling together in the right direction and help solve the energy problem. If we start a discussion group where people can ask questions that will help them decide how to buy or build alternate energy systems it would get us all focusing on our real problem which is how do we cut our dependence on foreign oil, and also how do we immediately start cutting our energy costs? We should all remember that some folks know a lot more about the subject than others so let's be fair and share our information with the certain knowledge that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Everyone gets to learn from the ground up. Personally I'm still learning. I expect to learn a great deal. This will be a great experiment.
Tags: bio, grey, hydro, mass, solar, water, wind
Views: 3
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Walt Barrett on -
Hi Bryan,
Wow, is that ever a major undertaking, but you never know, someone with lots of money could read your suggestion, and look into the matter.
On the fuel economy situation and the manufacturers, I believe the 100 MPG full size auto engines definitely comes under the heading of urban legends. I have over sixty years in the internal combustion reciprocating and turbine engine field, and there are certain fuel to air ratios that must be adhered to or say goodbye to your engine. That's the short answer. The Toyota gasoline engine is the one that really impresses me. They seem to have figured out the right combination of engine, drive train, and vehicle weight. Our ten year old Toyota Corolla gets 40 highway and our seven year old Solara convertible gets 30 highway. Everyone I know gets great mileage with Toyota cars. BTW, I do nor work for Toyota. I did work for them for a shot time 36 years ago. At that time they were having a lot of problems with engine bearings, wheel bearings, and rust. Those problems have been long since solved. I love the car.
If you open source any patent you will discourage everyone in the field. I am an inventor, and believe me, no one is going to spend money and bang their brains against the wall if they can't make some money for it. It's the American way these days. You have to think of your own future. Besides, If Detroit had it they would be using it to compete with Toyota and Honda.
Let's here more of your ideas.
Thanks,
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Bryan on -
Actually, GM is working on a 400 mpg hybrid using reverse hybrid tech wherein the battery runs the car at low speeds and during higher speeds, the motor kicks in and recharges the battery further for greater power. Basically it isn't great mileage highway but it's ridiculous mileage in the city. Also the battery is used at all times, the engine itself is only used to charge the battery. It's an interesting concept, though I'd rather see them add the braking rechargers in some SUV's too.
The thing is, all these companies have their patents for all things. Water engines, different ways of using the fuel, even biofuel engines. They've chosen to ignore them or bury them. Worse, they've taken hostile steps in the past toward people with innovative ideas and silenced them.
When I meant Open Source, I meant threaten them to make the cars using the alternative technologies they already have. If they don't, release the patents as open source so they stop sitting on great ideas. Easy specs, make a single car among the whole lot of car companies, it has to get at least 200 mpg if it uses gasoline or have a charge life of 3 weeks if it's a battery. It has to cost less than $25k and have a replicatable engine type that can be used in semi's. They have 1 year to put that car in the showroom and it must last at least 5 years once driven. They can even work together on it, i don't care. Either way, this is one area where capitalism has failed humanity. I feel the same way about the pharmaceutical companies and Big Oil. Once they've gotten their money, they make you addicted to it with no regard to how it may harm you or even the world in the long run. I do think of the future and when I see that the basic car engine that generally operates the same as the one we have now has been around over 100 years, i get frustrated. How come we are teleporting data ( http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/australia_telepo... ) and are developing cloaking technology ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisibility ) and I can buy a iPOD with nano-technology but i have to settle for roughly the same thing Henry Ford drove home. I mean seriously, we're launching a probe in a few years that's going to use an anti-matter propulsion system and you're telling me I have to settle for gasoline for another 20 years?
How come a cure for cancer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIq4xcq2Ojo&feature=related) can be found before a cure for the gas crisis? Will I have to go immediately from the gas powered car to teleportation? Doesn't that sound ridiculous?
Sorry for ranting, I just get flustered quickly when someone tell's me how limited we are and we're not. We are literally getting to the point where we're powerful beyond reason. I just hate to see us kneecap ourselves for the sake of the almighty dollar. Btw, an update on the teleportation thing. They have teleported a hydrogen atom successfully. It only went 50 feet and it was destroyed and then perfectly remade, not star trek style, but it worked. With about 2 more years of development, I imagine they could have a replicator constructed and could just duplicate the molecule we call oil a few zillion times. You could probably replace the tank at a gas station with the main hub of the system and the thing could just teleport gas into your car after it made it. Of course at the point we have that, we have quantum computers ( also VERY close) and can replicate any simple material.. like gold... and we watch the world economy crumble at a keystroke. You want a 10 yr. plan? There ya go.
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Permalink Reply by Walt Barrett on
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Hi Bryan,
No one is telling you that you have to put up with anything for the next 20 years. Where did I say that in my post? We have bio diesel on the market right now as an example. The hard facts are that until the recent giant spike in fuel prices the American public was buying gas guzzling SUV's and pickups in great numbers. Detroit only gave them what they wanted. They were not rushing out to buy smaller cars with three times the mileage than the guzzlers. My money says that if the fuel prices ever go down again the public will go right back to the gas guzzlers Just like in 1973 - 74, 75 etc. Many people are just big energy wasters and will always be so. It's a selfish attitude that probably won't change for many people. Most of the folks with the money are still driving the big cars around here. In case you are interested, we have a Corolla and a Solara by Toyota. The mileage is incredible.
Again, It's going to be up to people in the private sector with fresh ideas to develop vehicles with better mileage. This is also true for heating and electrical generation. Unfortunately these things seem to drag out forever. My best advice is to jump in and do something constructive. I have my money into building an experimental off the power grid solar micro home. Action speaks louder than words. If anyone has a good idea for some solutions to the problems then they should move forward. All the rest is only words.
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Charles Ivie on -
Replicators in two years? Maybe not but it is comming. Two new technologies, quantum teleportation and nano-robotics will revolutionize our civilization before the end of this century and probably within the next couple of decades. Tiny robots that can manipulate individual atoms are being experimented with NOW in the laboratory and, this is a bit frightening, they can reproduce them selves virtually without limit. GOOGLE "NANOBOT" for a more complete story on this.
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Permalink Reply by neil cox on -
All of the above posts are good info, in most respects. Florida is only half as good as the very best locations for solar and wind, with rare exceptions. You can typically make a green statement and help with alternative energy in the future at only slightly higher cost than being totally dependent on the utilities.
I bought twelve 0.3 watt LED night lights from Walmart for about $1.50 each, which is amazingly cheap considering these lights switch off automatically when there is considerable light from other sources, and they plug directly into 120 volts ac. I have not noticed any flicker except when my utility skips a cycle or two, which happens frequently, considering I thought I lived in a first world country. I suspect they use about one watt as they are noticeably warm. All twelve of them produce less light than a 40 watt incandesent, but use much less electricity, even if my one watt each guess is correct. My hope was, enough light so we wouldn't turn on a brighter light, as I am the only family member who turns lights off. My stratagy is working somewhat. Every little bit helps. These LEDs have a significant blue tint, but that is good, as it offsets a modest deficiency of blue in incandecent and street lighting which suppliments the LED night lights. I've had three of the night lights out in several very hard rains without a failure. They are guarenteeded for 17 years. They are slightly brighter than typical LED solar yard lights, which have frequent battery failures due to too many trees to get adequite recharge during the day. I bring the yard lights inside very close to a compact floresent, which beats sunlight with too much shade, but I have burned out on carring them back and forth and replacing batteries. With one exception ordinary non-rechargable Duracel or Energizer AA have out lasted the crummy nicads that typically come with solar yard lights.
My wife has finally accepted the compact floresents that have replaced nearly all of our incandecent bulbs. Neil
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Permalink Reply by Walt Barrett on
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Hi Neil,
This is great input. We also have switched to the compacts and also are testing several LED models both 120 volts ac and battery models similar to what you have described. I have now ordered twenty LED bulbs that are supposed to be strong enough to read by. Ten are bright white and ten are warm white. I plan to use them in our test model of our micro home. I'm looking to cut down on the number of solar modules (cost) required to power a tiny home. One of my goals is affordable housing. We need to develop more energy efficient systems and I mean not to just talk about it. It's up to us to do it and not just talk about it. I like the fact that you are already doing something -- Great input!
Thanks,
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Charles Ivie on
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About two years ago we bought about two dozen CF lights. Within a year half of them failed and two even caught fire. I appreciate the advantage of lower power consumption the CF's provide but I don't like having to replace safe appliances with potentially dangerous ones. We still have about six of the things in use but I watch them like a hawk. I took several of the failed lamps apart and discovered that the failure occured in the power supply base. Better quality control and design can probably reduce the failure rate but I am skeptical of these lamps now. They have a poor reliabliity and safety record. I would like to know if anyone else has had these problems with CF's.
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Permalink Reply by neil cox on
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While I typically do not like General Electric, their CFLs from Sam's Club have lasted almost as long as they claimed, at about half the price. A friend has had bad luck with a brand from K Mart. None have over heated. One produced only about the equivalent of 6 watts incandescent and produced more radio noise, then failed after about 100 hours use. Some still light about half as bright after about 10,000 hours, so I have saved a little money and helped the environment.
We had a 1/2 hour brown out at 65 volts. I was pleasantly surprised that several of the CFLs lit almost full brightness, one dim and the rest did not light at all. I have two CFLs that have been rained on several times, but are still lighting. Neil
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Permalink Reply by Walt Barrett on
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Hi Neil,
Thanks for your input. We all keep learning by each others experiences.
I have sent for twenty of the 60 LED bulbs from the manufacturer in China. We will soon find out about the quality when we test them in our micro home. I will report on these ASAP. I have also just ordered four 3000 watt modified sine wave inverters to be tested with our solar power supplies. It should prover interesting.
Thanks again,
Walt Barrett
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Permalink Reply by Walt Barrett on
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If you want to build an inexpensive solar hot water heater a good start would be to view the simple solar blog on my Pickens page. Solar hot water heaters can be built from practically all salvaged materials and still be very professional looking. They can be ground mounted or roof mounted. If you are on a tight budget or if you just want to recycle some parts from the scrap heap, the DIY is the way to go. Also, the Internet is loaded with free DIY solar information. Again, it is not rocket science. Solar hot water heating is a wonderful way to start saving energy!
Walt
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Permalink Reply by Auntie Tutu on -
When I built my first solar home in 1997 the contractor was clueless, but he gave me $500 allowance for all fixtrures and bulbs in the house, and I did 100% fluorescent, and my $9750 invested in the PV setup paid for itself in just 4 years three months---the savings of NOT having any electric bill at all. .
Solar works. Only the lobbyists for Exxon and BP are naysayers. And a much better site than Pickens for real alternative enrgy ideas is www.wecansolveit.org. Go there. Leave the natural gas and unnatural gas behind.....
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Permalink Reply by Lee White on -
Well, group...I have a problem and need advice on how to proceed.
My plan:
Erect a small VAWT (Verticle Axis Wind Turbine) on the roof of my shed, generating 12 VDC with an automotive alternator and regulator to keep a couple of storage batteries charged. I was planning to convert my house trailer to 12 VDC and not using the 240 VAC at all. The things like my computers, TV and other appliances that need highly regulated 110 VAC would be supplied by computer standby systems (UPS). Hopefully, by using LED lighting and 12VDC appliances, I could cut down on my electric bill and save a bit of energy, too.
My problem:
As I mentioned. I live in a trailer park. I own my home, but pay lot rent here. The park will not allow a VAWT "at all", but will allow decorative windmills.
Is there a way that Mr. Pickins group could influience the park officials?
My vision:
I would love to see each home-owner in America erecting low-voltage wind powered systems. Leave the 50,000 KW plants to the wind farms, but leave the personal use systems to the people.
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