Anyone Into Alternative Energy?

free-energy64 · 19-06-2005, 10:50 AM

Is anyone into alternative energy like solar panels,wind gennies biofuel etc? Would like to hear from people who are interested in or employed in this field. I'm a Electrician who is studying Certificate 4 in Renewable Energy. Haven't the funds to buy solar panels so am slowly building a wind gennie. Hope to hear from Ford drivers who may have similar interest. I live in Adelaide.
Regards Paul.

Mike Gayner · 19-06-2005, 11:11 AM

Sorry I don't know a heck of alot about this stuff, but I do recall when I was going to polytech one of my tutors was tellings us about a windmill he was building which was basically a big *** wind turbine connected through a gear drive to a washing machine motor, bascially like a big *** alternator.

Casper · 19-06-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gayner

Sorry I don't know a heck of alot about this stuff, but I do recall when I was going to polytech one of my tutors was tellings us about a windmill he was building which was basically a big *** wind turbine connected through a gear drive to a washing machine motor, bascially like a big *** alternator.

My Grandfather has something similar to that on the farm back in the 60's. They had a huge windmill charging a shed full of batteries. Thats how the house had power as they were too isolated for mains.

free-energy64 · 19-06-2005, 11:30 AM

Sounds maybe like a Fisher and Paykel smart-drive motor which is a good way to generate power and fairly easy to do. Can be purchased in NZ at Eco Innovation if you are interested?

b2tf · 19-06-2005, 11:47 AM

I'm a Sales Consultant for Solahart?

seano14 · 19-06-2005, 12:05 PM

my family used to live out in the country for 17years beginning around 1984 when i was born. we used to live on 24volt power from a wind generator and a bank of about 4 solar panels. we ran off that for about 10years before getting sick of not being able to run new appliances.

we ended up selling everything except the wind generator. i believe it's an old dunlight, but dont know any of the specs. 40ft tower. i think we are looking to sell it so if anyone is interested let me know and i'll find some details.

bindi · 19-06-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by back2thefutura

I'm a Sales Consultant for Solahart?

Excellent, then you can tell me the best way to clean the solar panels on our hot water service a) without breaking my neck (the roof is a good 2.5-3 storeys off the ground) and b) which cleaning product to use when I get some guy out to do the job for me (he's insured)!

Our solar hot water system froze last winter... it was -5C and we'd never had that in all the time we've had the system (it's about 20 years old?).

And yes, in answer to the first question I am interested in renewable alternative energy efficient ideas for the future of our planet. I don't really know much but do reading hippie magazines qualify me?

Also there is alternative energy... from my hands when I massage ppl

b2tf · 19-06-2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bindi

Excellent, then you can tell me the best way to clean the solar panels on our hot water service a) without breaking my neck (the roof is a good 2.5-3 storeys off the ground) and b) which cleaning product to use when I get some guy out to do the job for me (he's insured)!

Our solar hot water system froze last winter... it was -5C and we'd never had that in all the time we've had the system (it's about 20 years old?).

a) don't do it yourself
b) get a trained Solahart installer/repairer and they will have the neccesary equipment to clean it.

If it's freezing up, consider a new one (this isnt salesman speak btw). Things have changed in the past 20 years and they're now a lot more efficient and tolerant to colder conditions - there are systems designed specifically for areas like yours.

I'll finish it up there as im not paid to work on Sundays :P, and i dont wanna be going on about this stuff on the forums. Let me know if you'd like more info tho.

free-energy64 · 19-06-2005, 08:30 PM

Would appreciate if you could find out a few details and maybe the selling price or me doing some electrical work for you or your parents in exchange? Maybe we can work something out? A great way to start is exploring the wealth of info on the net, just put a search term on yahoo or google on the topic you are most interested in and start reading.

free-energy64 · 19-06-2005, 08:33 PM

What type of mags do you read? Grassroots and Earth Garden are great also Renew if you are interested more in the actual ways of energy production and different building methods rather than the lifestyle. Nothing wrong with hippies!!!!!

GTP 320 · 19-06-2005, 08:43 PM

Does anybody ever reckon we will have Nuclear power one day ?
Cheers John

Casper · 19-06-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 320

Does anybody ever reckon we will have Nuclear power one day ?
Cheers John

Bloody hope so. Regardless of what people say it is far cleaner and safer than burning hundreds of tonnes of coal and creating acid rain.

4 nuclear stations would pretty much power the whole eastern seaboard.

Yes, the waste material is an issue but considering the crap coming out of the current powerstations every day it is a reasonable compromise.

As for safety, no US built Nuke has ever had a serious issue and considering they are over 30 years old in most cases, modern technology would have to make a significant improvement on even this excellent safety record.

MITCHAY · 19-06-2005, 09:40 PM

Wasnt there that 3 Mile Island incident. Not sure how bad that was

Casper · 19-06-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Wasnt there that 3 Mile Island incident. Not sure how bad that was

It wasnt bad. In fact no measurable leak occured.

MITCHAY · 19-06-2005, 09:49 PM

Coolies then. But i think the main probs with nuclear power in this day and age is the threat of terrorism.

megsy · 19-06-2005, 09:49 PM

the last idea of renewable energy i heard of, was using the earths core to boil water to turn turbines, not sure how far this idea got though.

the only drawback to this idea i can see so far, is that it creates a weak point in the earths crust, so we may end up with a volcano

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RED_EL_XR8 · 19-06-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP 320

Does anybody ever reckon we will have Nuclear power one day ?
Cheers John

Properly run and managed Nuclear would be the logical and cleanest alternative. But theres the rub, Properly Run & Managed!!!
I've always been in favour nuclear power. But given the NSW state governments performance managing all our utilities and services, frankly I'd be scared of the conseqences. But then that problem can and will be solved!

MITCHAY · 19-06-2005, 10:02 PM

Didnt someone invent these massive things they put in the water and the movement from the current in the water generates electricity?

RED_EL_XR8 · 19-06-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Didnt someone invent these massive things they put in the water and the movement from the current in the water generates electricity?

Now there is a suggestion thats really going to take hold during the midst of a 100yr drought? How bout we put one on the Goulbourn Weir.

:

b2tf · 19-06-2005, 10:27 PM

Ok regardless of my job, one thing I would like to see is a LOT wider use of Solar Energy. Anybody who has been outside on a summer's day will know exactly how much solar energy and radiation is available, and its a renewable energy source - coal may run out, nuclear waste may mount up to the point where it would be wrong to create more, but regardless of what happens, the sun will always shine.

So why not use it?!

And in regards to cloudy days, with a properly managed and capable grid system, enough power would be available anyway so that when you do get the odd cloudy period (unfortunately something less and less common now), there would still be enough power available for everybody.

Nuclear is a very, very efficent, safe and clean method of power generation, but its one MAJOR downside is that it creates waste. And as we all know, unless you're a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, a Mad Scientist, or you're french, you would have no use for Nuclear Waste.

As i said, aside from the fact that my job deals in Solar Power/Heating, I think Solar is the way to go.

Mondie · 19-06-2005, 10:29 PM

Nuclear energy, l hope not

:

There is a very exciting Australian company that is garnering worldwide recognition for their work on renewable energy - www.geodynamics.com.au

They are drilling 4500m into the ground in Innamincka, South Australia and circulating water through the super hot granites (250 deg C) to extract heat. Water is returning to surface at 210 deg C and will, in the next stage of the project, be converted to electricity. The company l work for have Geodynamics as a client, they are a very dynamic company run by some very smart people. l believe what they are working on will be the way forward for Australias future energy needs.

MotherNatureVer2 · 19-06-2005, 10:32 PM

I had solar power about 13yrs ago ..... it wasnt the right size for what was needed & it peed me off no end ..... only 1/2 hr tv a night if I was lucky .......... Thank goodness the kids were too little to demand all the stuff they do now ......

Should I ever get to purchase my own place I would defenatly look into it now ....... I think were at a stage now where we all have to look beyond the square we live in & look after what we have left ;)

MITCHAY · 19-06-2005, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Now there is a suggestion thats really going to take hold during the midst of a 100yr drought? How bout we put one on the Goulbourn Weir.

:

The drought as far as i know hasnt affected the ocean.

b2tf · 19-06-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotherNature

I had solar power about 13yrs ago ..... it wasnt the right size for what was needed & it peed me off no end ..... only 1/2 hr tv a night if I was lucky .......... Thank goodness the kids were too little to demand all the stuff they do now ......

Should I ever get to purchase my own place I would defenatly look into it now ....... I think were at a stage now where we all have to look beyond the square we live in & look after what we have left ;)

Yeah, I know that at least in my field things have certainly developed a lot further than how it was 10 or so years ago. I wouldnt be involved in it if I didnt feel it was a good product.

seano14 · 19-06-2005, 10:40 PM

here we go. it's an old dunlight. i remember we tried to look around the net numerous times for info on it, but couldnt seem to find anything definate.

dont suppose anyone can identify?

RED_EL_XR8 · 19-06-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

The drought as far as i know hasnt affected the ocean.

Do you know what an ocean is? I'll let you pause now for thinking music!!! then may be can think of something a little more feasible like solar collectors on the moon, or veal powered wireless.

MITCHAY · 19-06-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_EL_XR8

Do you know what an ocean is? I'll let you pause now for thinking music!!! then may be can think of something a little more feasible like solar collectors on the moon, or veal powered wireless.

Umm last time i was down the coast there was a lot of water lol.

Casper · 19-06-2005, 10:43 PM

actually, based on my efforts tonight, Mrs Casper would probably say we could run this house entirely off my gas production. Is that a biofuel?

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EXECJIM · 19-06-2005, 11:08 PM

I would like a Brock "polarizer" for my VX

bindi · 20-06-2005, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by free-energy64

What type of mags do you read? Grassroots and Earth Garden are great also Renew if you are interested more in the actual ways of energy production and different building methods rather than the lifestyle. Nothing wrong with hippies!!!!!

ATM I read Health & Alternative mags... things like Conscious Living, Good Medicine, New Vegetarian and Natural Health, Men's Health etc. I also am starting to read about organic gardening and vegetable production.

I am about to volunteer at our local organic garden co-operative to learn more about being kind to the environment through organic gardening methods.

Back 2 The Futura, yes I will be looking at getting a bigger and newer tank and system in the next couple of years. I was thinking about getting a natural gas system instead but I think solar is better for our needs.

There is a guy in our local area who has solar panels absolutely everywhere on his house and shed to produce electricity for his house.

Also I had heard there is an electricity project where if you can power your house and have enough left over, you can sell it back to the electricity company.

Very interesting topic. Yes it is a shame about Nuclear power, but we can't have any more Chernobyls... it's just not worth the risk.