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Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 1:32 PM

I'm working on solar solutions for power generation that don't involve batteries and huge collector arrays. I have researched Sterling engines, tracking parabolic solar collectors, glaubers salts, using components that are in the ground to take advantage of the stable temperatures below 1 meter. So far I've come up with a solar thermal generator for power during the day and using a Sterling engine that uses heat stored in glaubers salt for night time generation. I've received lots of valuable information from many people who share the interest of being independent from power companies and want to use available science and engineering techniques to develop sustainable energy sources for domestic applications, in fact some of these technologies have commercial and industrial applications. Can we power a house with using a power company service drop? Yes. Can we heat and cool a house without using AC and scorched air heating units? Yes. Why aren't we? The power company, petroleum industry, building codes, zoning codes etc.. The hope I have is that if we can develop a "power plant" for a single family dwelling. I started in solar in the 80's and things were humming until the petroleum companies started buying up components for solar technology like brass, low-E glass, copper and heat exchange materials. I believe there is off the shelf items out there that can be assembled to provide the power to run a house, with help from people like you I believe we can get this project off the ground. Thank you in advance for information and tips.

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#1

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 6:03 PM

You don't give your location, so an educated guess is the best I can do for you.

In practice, glass-covered solar absorbers are best cost effective, for heating water for use in bath/shower/laundry/kitchen - Insulated storage cylinder/tank is required, of course.

For electricity: Solar Cells are best cost effective, and are still improving, but require storage batteries - NiFe are best, if you can get them, some lasting 70 years or more, normally you need some 60+ kWH storage, or more dependent on your local weather vagaries, and actual needs.........

If you decide to remain connected to a Power Company, you may have the facility to "export" surplus energy, (your Power Meter runs in Reverse when you Export), and receiving a monthly credit check, can assist with other household expenses.

Electric resistance heating element ovens (Normal Ovens), are heavy users of electricity, and a microwave oven, supplemented by a bench-top type cooker/hotplate combination gets you greater flexibility/efficiency.

House heating can be passive Trombe walls, (cheap to make), with fan assistance, and vanes to open/close as required.

Gas, unless you have a farm or animal manure availability, and make a digester, with Biogas and compress that for use in a car, is not energy efficient. The cost of, and energy input to the compressor is huge.

"Natural Gas" - CNG/LPG etc are off the menu, as these are obtained from the planetary "Energy Bank".

The most efficient transport, energy-wise, is the bicycle.

I am well aware of the Oil Companies getting a large shareholdings in the "Alternative Energy" suppliers, but be of good cheer, there are some folks who won't sell out.(Mind you, who does have a copper mine + Smelter in their back yard, or similar).

The major problem I see with an "Off the shelf" solution, is that there cannot be a "One size fits all" solution, due to local latitude/weather variations and actual requirements of the household.

I encourage you to continue, because in the quest for energy independence, you should learn much, and be able to share with others....

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#2

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 8:11 PM

I am assuming that any high current appliances within said house (stove, electric heater, etc) will be powered off of gas (or similar). You are only going to be able to get a few kW from roof mounted solar panels.

I started in solar in the 80's and things were humming until

Until the current silicon-based solar technology dead-ended near its maximum obtainable efficiency, and current methods of extracting silicon from the ground and processing it into solar panels could not be improved (in cost, efficiency and electricity required to actually make an individual panel).

Can we heat and cool a house without using AC and scorched air heating units? Yes. Why aren't we?

Because most of the alternatives (Silicon solar with inverter and battery storage, etc) are worse than using what we already have, with the existing infrastructure. Lets not blame the government shall we, they are quite capable of being both incompetent and oblivious to problems and solutions without knowing about them or intentionally trying to block progress.

There are plenty of others out there on the internet who are doing the same sort of thing (and there are a few threads here on CR4 that could be of help).

I would definitely recommend roof-mounted radiant solar water heating as an economical and 'green' replacement for grid connected energy, however silicon solar panels are not cost effective without the huge subsidies. Promising new cheap (both in cost and resources required to produce them) solar technologies are in development but still need time to get that magic efficiency number high enough. Small scale wind turbines, ahhh no. Seriously.

What else, well obviously LED lighting (oh the technology is coming along wonderfully). In fact, just reduce the entire house's load by using energy efficient appliances. Lots of different ideas that you may or may not have thought of.

In the end I guess I would have to ask why do you want to do this? Specific requirements will require different solutions. You could economically power a house off of stored gas (although you would still need the gas delivered). Also, target country(s) would help as home air conditioning is not really big down here (too hot, I'll open a window, too cold, I'll close the window). And no we are not part of Australia.

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 10:58 PM

Hello jack of all trades

"And no we are not part of Australia".

New Zealand was the second State mentioned in "The Commonwealth of Australia Enabling Act 1898".

In later years New Zealand was still a State of Australia.

Refer:

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:vUPD5uo41PAJ:foundingdocs.gov.au/item.asp%3FsdID%3D82+%22National+Archives%22+Australia+Constitution+%22New+Zealand%22+1898&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=nz&client=firefox-a

I had to use the Google cache page, because that Australian Archives are being closed to the Public or hidden from easy access.

I do still also have several Bookmarks for Official Australian Web-pages, from 10+ years and further back, all now defunct - those pages do not now exist.

Yes, do you remember Mike Moore, NZ Prime Minister for a very short time, some 20+ years ago, when he went to Canberra and signed for the opening of a "Pacific Parliament", and signed on the dotted line.

At that time, Australia and New Zealand, plus some Pacific Islands, became legally under Australian Statutory Law, a single Country, called Australia.

The facts above are not generally known, even to most Politicians on either side of the Tasman, but the legal framework is firmly in place, also notice the Aust$ dropping, while the NZ$ increases so eventually the open merger will be announced.

I do enjoy referring to Australia as New Zealand's "West Island".

Australia and New Zealand have far more in common than most Countries, even though geographically separated by 1200 miles of sea.....

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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 11:43 PM

"either side of the Tasman" Never noticed the Tasman on a map or heard of it before.

Learned something new today. Thanks for the informative post

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#7
In reply to #2

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 1:34 AM

Jack-of-all-Trades wrote: I would definitely recommend roof-mounted radiant solar water heating as an economical and 'green' replacement for grid connected energy

REPLY: Is there any technical reason for mounting the solar heat collector on the roof instead of mounting it on the ground? Higher elevation would mean more exposure to cooling winds and more potential heat loss in longer pipes. Or is it simply a question of convenience because the roof space is unused for other purposes.

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#11
In reply to #7

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 9:53 AM

The black asphalt roof shingles absorb and hold alot of heat

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#13
In reply to #7

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 1:35 PM

Well for one thing, better utilisation of available space (unless you like to spend a lot of time on the roof). There are other factors (such as reduced shadow effect).

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#21
In reply to #13

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 8:58 PM

Suggestion in favor of roof mount; better utilisation of available space (unless you like to spend a lot of time on the roof) - reply: Plenty of ground space available.

There are other factors (such as reduced shadow effect). True!

As for heat retention of black roofs. -- Only true if black asphalt is used.

Factors against roof mount: added weight of water fulled drums at approximately 450 pounds per may well overload the roof trusses during peak snow load conditions. Cost of doing reinforcement to roof may well exceed any payback compared to continued use of other means to make hot water.

Snow removal in winter. So far we have already had 24 inches accumulation. Climbing on roof to clear this is more dangerous than cleaning snow off the collectors on the ground. This is assuming the solar collector will work in arctic winter conditions.

My roof line is oriented N-S; not optimum for solar panel of any kind. My south facing gable wall has only one little window and makes a perfect reflective backstop to solar collectors. Only shadow would be me walking past to inspect etc. Ground mounting also means shorter pipe runs to reach interior of house basement where a hot water tank has to be located; or the under floor piping if using hydronic heat for space heating.

Ground mounted collectors can be expanded considerably without worry about increasing weight on roof truss which would most likely not have been designed for such increased loading concentrated in a small foot print compared to typical snow load.

Roof warranty ( 20 year from last spring) void if such an installation was screwed or bolted into the new roof installation.

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#60
In reply to #21

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

05/17/2008 10:37 AM

This is exactly why all good energy-efficient solutions tend not to be off-the-shelf; there are always individual factors that rule out certain solutions and open up other opportunities.

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#4

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 11:36 PM

"So far I've come up with a solar thermal generator for power during the day and using a Sterling engine that uses heat stored in glaubers salt for night time generation."

Unless you are an expert in the design of StIrling engines, (which I can assume you are not since you don't know how to spell StIrling) you had best scratch that idea. You can not buy a Stirling engine that would do the job and it would be priced out of reach to have one built IF the temperatures available for its operation were available in your contemplated set up.

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#8
In reply to #4

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 1:46 AM

In our area many houses are heated by a wood burning boiler. The hot water is circulated through the house in pipes and radiators. The circulation pump requires electricity. If the utility power stops you either freeze or start a generator. In the absence of much sunlight during the long, dark and often cloudy winter months; I was speculating on the viability of a small Stirling engine to generate modest quantities of electricity to drive the circulation pump. The Stirling engine would mount on top of the wood burning boiler fire box.

I know of at least two places where a thermo-siphon pump likely would not work due to elevations and most solar collectors I have seen also do not rely on a thermo siphon. Must be some reason.

What is the lift limitation of a thermo-siphon and what is the maximum flow rate achievable?

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#6

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/10/2007 11:58 PM

Can you give me your contact email. I would like to use a few of your exerpts on my webpage (www.peacenikinternational.com ) thanks,

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#14
In reply to #6

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 1:53 PM

Perhaps you should get the 'Guest's' permission before posting his/her posts on your website, especially considering its content. Better yet, please use CR4's 'private message' function rather than posting off-topic content in a discussion forum.

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#9

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 3:39 AM

other day i was going thro carbon nano tubes--a new technology. these r the carbon tubes of nano dimensions. a typical thing about them is that depending of their construction, they may be conductors or may be semi-conductors. we all know, solar cells r harnessing silicon- a semiconductor. if we make use of carbon nano tubes in place of silicon, the efficiency of solar cells may be enhanced. this is just an idea--

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#15
In reply to #9

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 2:11 PM

Many are working on it, but the science is so new that it is going to take some time. The promise of huge leaps in areas ranging from power storage right thru to materials manufacturing makes me all warm inside.

Carbon nanotubes - What can't they do.

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#10

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 6:32 AM

Things to look at in higher latitudes:

  • Multiple-glazing with low-emissivity glass
  • Extra-thick loft, wall and floor insulation
  • Low-energy light emitters
  • Maximum recycling, then use the remainder as heating fuel
  • Biomass secondary heating
  • Pressure-cooking
  • Wind and solar micro-generation and heating
  • Refrigerate the garden using a heat-pump
  • Minimise water consumption and heating
  • Thermostatic valves on all radiators
  • Nothing plugged in and drawing current in standby mode - turn it off when not in use
  • Buy only locally-originated produce

Etc., etc.

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#12
In reply to #10

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 12:01 PM

PWslack WROTE:

Things to look at in higher latitudes:

  • Multiple-glazing with low-emissivity glass DONE
  • Extra-thick loft, wall and floor insulation DONE
  • Low-energy light emitters DONE
  • Maximum recycling, then use the remainder as heating fuel - ALREADY DONE
  • Biomass secondary heating NOT AVAILABLE AT PRESENT
  • Pressure-cooking QUESTIONABLE WITH SOME FOODS THAT LOSE NUTRITIONAL VALUE BEING OVER COOKED
  • Wind and solar micro-generation and heating -UNDER DISCUSSION NOW.
  • Refrigerate the garden using a heat-pump - SHORTENS GROWING SEASON - COUNTER PRODUCTIVE
  • Minimise water consumption and heating ? WASH ONCE PER MONTH INSTEAD OF ONCE PER WEEK? - SOMEWHAT ANTI SOCIAL APPROACH <GRIN>
  • Thermostatic valves on all radiators ONLY APPLIES TO HYDRONIC HEATING ONCE SUCH A SYSTEM IS BUILT. MOST NEW DESIGNS WOULD AREADY INCORPORATE THEM.
  • Nothing plugged in and drawing current in standby mode - turn it off when not in use ALREADY DONE - EXCEPT FOR CLOCK WHICH REMAINS PLUGGED IN WHETHER I LOOK AT IT OR NOT.< GRIN>
  • Buy only locally-originated produce NOTHING GROWS LOCALLY FOR SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR. IMPORTS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTH

Unfortunately, for those areas that experience freezing temps and often much snow fall accompanied by cloudy skies the choices are limited. Solar power relies on sunshine and wind generators require moderate winds. Micro generation using water power becomes problematic when total mass of flowing water is to small. Large hydro-electric plants can be sustained due to the stored heat in deeper water that avoids the surface water freezing. Maybe these big megawatt projects are not so bad after all? < smile>

I investigated the bio mass experimental projects from the mid west. Apparently the amount of mass required to sustain biomass heating or methane generation far exceeds what a single home owner with 25 or 50 chickens can produce. The experimental projects involved 300 heads of cattle or more.

Garden composting ceases activity during winter months, except down south in the lower half of the lower 48. In the absence of some new technical approach we may be stuck with cramming too many people close together in the warmer southern latitudes. Or continue burning fossil fuels.

Geographic location and elevation becomes critical to any such project.

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#16

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 2:42 PM

"So far I've come up with a solar thermal generator for power during the day and using a Sterling engine that uses heat stored in glaubers salt for night time generation." From OP

For more information on Stirling engines and applications:

American Stirlig Co. Register/Check in and go to the Power Producing Engines Forum.

Access the thread, "Stirling engines for the Third World and go to posts dated in 2007 for the current state of affairs as to power producing Stirling engines. The last two authors comments result from extensive study and field experience.

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#17
In reply to #16

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 7:37 PM

Your link is broke! please repair!

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#18
In reply to #16

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/11/2007 8:34 PM

CORRECTION:

The American Stirling Co. Register/Check in and go to the Power Producing Engines Forum.

Access the thread, "Stirling engines for the Third World and go to posts dated in 2007 for the current state of affairs as to power producing Stirling engines. The last two authors comments result from extensive study and field experience.

Thanks for heads up Andy G.

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#22
In reply to #18

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 9:59 PM

Access the thread, "Stirling engines for the Third World and go to posts dated in 2007 for the current state of affairs as to power producing Stirling engines. The last two authors comments result from extensive study and field experience.

REPLY

I noticed they mentioned the Whispertech design from NZ but somehow dismissed it as of little consequence. It is not clear why. Was it for technical reasons or cost effectiveness?

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#35
In reply to #22

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 1:06 PM

Quite simply, technical issues could not be overcome. They could not find a manufacturer that could provide the incredibly close tolerances necessary for the device to work. As far as I am aware this has not been rectified. I have not been following Wispertech very closely, so if anyone else could provide a link to their current project progress I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

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#19

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 6:52 PM

Hi, I am claude l.rivers sr. ,I have the solution to your need , it is the Rivers Green Power System (patent pending). I would be happy to send you a copy of it for your personal use. You will have to sign a statement that you will not use it for anything or for anyone else other than yourself. I have the solution to zero-emilsion power prodution in the 1000 megawatt range, but not enough money to build a power plant . I have a design for the power systems to produce electricity for a home or for a nation. My email is claude.rivers@yahoo.com , contact me.

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#20
In reply to #19

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 8:01 PM

"I have the solution to zero-emilsion power prodution in the 1000 megawatt range, but not enough money to build a power plant . I have a design for the power systems to produce electricity for a home or for a nation. My email is claude.rivers@yahoo.com , contact me."

There is a Patent up for bid on eBay starting at $10,999,999.00 with no bids to date. Go to eBAy and look for triplebatterylife. Bidding ends Dec-16-07 @ 11:31:44 PST.

Take a look at the Power Producing Stirling Engines discussing forum at the American Stirling Co web site at <stirlingengine.com> , log in and go to the forum. Read the entries near the bottom of list beginning in early 2007 through today. There should be some thoughts of interest that apply to your situation.

Hopefully your patent will be granted soon so that all can look at it to get some understanding of what you propose that covers such a wide range of applications. Sounds very interesting. SS

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#23
In reply to #20

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 10:05 PM

$11 million for that scam device? Madness (and off topic). Mind you, after talking with triplebatterylife on CR4 regarding this particular patented device, I should not be surprised. Madness.

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#24
In reply to #20

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 10:08 PM

The original question of can we power a house without using a power company service drop seems to have faded. If price is not a consideration, then yes. However if the question is modified to ask "can we power a house COST EFECTIVELY ? then the answer becomes very much less clear. Much depends on what rate is charged by the local power utility. It also depends on what alternative resources are available locally to any given place.

Somewhere I saw a post claiming that solar panels has seen a nearly constant decrease in price over the past five years. Not in my experience. Retail cost of solar panels has remained in the $5 - $7 per watt during all that time. So where is the reduction?

Elnav

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#67
In reply to #24

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 9:02 PM

Harbor Frieght (mail order ) has solar panels at 45 watts for $200. So you could just buy alot of them and put them on your roof and power your house that way (using batteries of course in the usual methods with inverters.) I wouldn't plan on running 10kw heater all winter though.

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#69
In reply to #67

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 9:57 PM

Grin - now why would I spend that much money to heat my house when I at present only spend about $15 - $20 for gas for the chain saw and bringing it home.

O I forgot; I also donated some money to the church because the guy who gave me the free fire wood wouldn't take any money. Said to donate it to the church instead.

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#28
In reply to #20

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 12:44 AM

Hi, JACK, What I purpose is to connect my power system to a electric motor to turn a. permanent magnet alternator to produce 100,000,000 volts @ 82% amps to voltage. I am not an engineer,but an inventor, the technology is proven, so is my design. What I don't have is the ability to control that much power, I need a nuclear power plant engineer to work with me.

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#25
In reply to #19

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 10:16 PM

OK, since hydro is a big producer down here could you please sum up why your invention is so much better than a standard hydro plant (using a damed river to power turbines).

It's not a water wheel in series with the river driving a large motor is it, because that is already patented (and of course a river doesn't have the flow to drive a large turbine, especially under load). Also, you cannot place multiple turbines in series with the river's flow or you will upset the river's flow itself.

I am genuinely interested, and besides it is better to discover an idea is already patented or unworkable before you waste the time and money on a patent. Could you please provide an overview to someone who is here to help.

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#30
In reply to #25

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 12:58 AM

Hi, Jack, MY system is simple , it consist of invertors, an electric motor, 12 volt batteries ,this will power a motor that will turn a permanent magnet alternator. That is all that is to it. Do you know a good engineer who has worked with nuclear power , who would be interested in working with me.

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#34
In reply to #30

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 12:03 PM

you are kidding us!! Right? In post #28 you said you were an inventor not an engineer. Right again! So where in your concept does the nuclear part come into play? In post #28 you said the permanent alternator produces 100,000 volts @82% amps to volts. I think your keyboard might have skipped something. Can you repost and clarify please?

Don't tell me you found a way to manufacture unobtainium for mass producing bipolar inverse magnets with double density flux lines for greater output. Engineers have been striving to develop that for decades. Congratulations!!

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#39
In reply to #34

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 7:47 PM

Hello---Hello, I said 100,000,000 volts @ 82% ampsto voltage... Hello, I need a nuclear power plant engineer to be able to use and sale the electricity produced. Nuclear power plant produce 1000-2500 megawatts or more. I need someone with the working knowlegde of this kind of output. NO,NO ,NO I have not manufacture unobtainium for mass producing bipolar inverse magnets with double density flux lines.K.I.S.S. Simply maybe too complicated for you.

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#37
In reply to #30

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 1:28 PM

So your saying that you are using a battery-powered motor to power a permanent magnet generator. Sorry, but that doesn't work, and increasing the generator's output voltage to reduce the current won't work either. You probably don't realise this but as you electrically load up a generator the shaft becomes harder to turn. This makes it impossible to run a huge generator off of a small motor.

This idea has been around for a very long time (and there are numerous totally unworkable patents on it) and it breaks numerous energy conservation, physics and electricity laws. I am sorry but you are going to need to go back to the drawing board and start over. I would seriously recommend taking the time to further your education in the field of electrical engineering as you appear to have the interest and the drive but just lack the practical understanding. Remember, you need to learn how to crawl before you can run.

Jack - A power Engineer (we don't have nuclear plants in New Zealand but I have worked on major wind and methane gas turbine plants).

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#38
In reply to #37

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 1:50 PM

Agreed. It defies the first law of thermodynamics. Energy can not be created or destroyed. And you're going to have loses somewhere. I'm all for new energy inventions but I don't want to break and thermo laws in the process. There's serious penalties to pay for that.

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#41
In reply to #37

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 8:01 PM

My DEAR Jack, If you have work with wind turbines, you should know that it take very little power to turn a permanent magnet alterator( wind turbine ). I said that I am using my power system to turn the motor (electric)to turn the wind turbine(permanent magnet alterator). DO you understand NOW!!!!!!

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#51
In reply to #41

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/16/2007 1:51 PM

Oh, I understand exactly what you are saying. Please reread the first paragraph of my post #37. An unloaded shaft is relatively easy to turn, but as soon as you electrically load the (alternator in this case) up the shaft becomes much harder to turn (think of it as becoming an electromagnetic brake). That is how these motors work. Try it for yourself with a car alternator.

Sorry, but motors don't work that way. Driving a big generator under load with a small motor will not work. Let's look at it from a common sense point of view. Your saying that if I take (for example) a 1kW motor and connect it to a 10kW generator I can produce (approximately) 10 times what I am putting in. That's over-unity, and no manner of ac, dc or pulse width modulated input signal to the motor or motor/generator size/type combination can change that.

Do you understand?

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#52
In reply to #51

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/16/2007 7:02 PM

Dear Jack, suppose you had a 18 feet in diameter wind turbine with 42 feet blades in a wind of 5mph. how much horsepower would be produced and at what rpm would it turn the PMA? Answer this and we can talk with more understanding about my project. Thank you for your willingness to communicate. Claude Rivers

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#53
In reply to #52

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/16/2007 7:30 PM

I don't understand the question as there is not enough information to calculate an answer. Are you saying the turbine is 18 feet in diameter? What is the turbines Horsepower rating, what is it's gear ratio, how high is it off the ground and why does it matter? I thought you were discussing a small motor powering a large generator (post #30)?

Could we stick to the facts please as I have tried to keep it simple due to your lack of engineering qualifications and knowledge (you said so yourself after all). Lets get the basics right on a small scale device first before we complicate matters further. K.I.S.S after all, besides I am still here and I am still trying to help you. Did you even read the first paragraph of my last post? Firstly, did you understand the basic principle of electromagnetism I am trying to explain to you or are you just ignoring it (I am not making it up you know)?

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#54
In reply to #53

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/16/2007 8:14 PM

Dear Jack the small motor is a 3 hp motor I use to turn a high out put alternator ( car type) in my power system. I use the power system to power a 259 hp electric motor to turn my PMA. SO, Jack I hope this clears things up a little bit. I cannot give all of the speciications to my systems (power system and PMA ), if I did you would be very rich and I would spend the rest of my life with sick feeling in my gut in the POORHOUSE. I do want you to understand that what I am doing is possible.

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#59
In reply to #54

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/18/2007 1:59 PM

Yes I understand what you are trying to do, and no it isn't possible. Since you do not appear to want to listen to an actual power engineer with the qualifications, knowledge and experience tell you that what you are theoretically trying to do is obviously a free energy over unity device that breaks numerous laws of the universe and is impossible, then I don't think i can help you further. Why did you not bother to do a web search and discover for yourself that these free energy devices have been tried (and patented) over and over again. They don't work, and not understanding the fundamental principles behind the technology is no excuse for not at least doing some background research before getting to the stage that you are with your little project. Gaaah, even a simple prototype experiment would have shown you that it doesn't work. Why must people put the cart before the horse?

I suggest that you go and learn the basic principles of electricity and power generation as we are obviously not on the same page here. A web search will also show that what you are trying is not unique.

No I don't want any further details on your free energy device. I am so sick and tired of backyard inventors with a flawed and incomplete understanding of engineering and scientific principles thinking they know more than me and arguing with me, when they won't even bother to go out themselves and learn and gain a better understanding of the theory behind their inventions, or bother to even build a working prototype. Go and prove it to your self, your device is so obviously wrong that I cannot be any clearer.

I have taken the time to respond to you, for the love of GOD please step back and take the time to listen. I didn't join CR4 to shoot people and their ideas down I joined to help people, and it would be a really nice Christmas present for me if I could actually help at least one backyard free energy tinkerer.

Jack - At my wits end with people who just want to argue and not listen.

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#55
In reply to #53

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/17/2007 7:15 PM

Drea Jack, 259 hp is a typo it is 250 hp Claude.

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#61
In reply to #51

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 3:04 PM

This is off the topic a bit but still about being off the grid. Could A large Bedini pulse or similar type generator be used to charge a bank a batteries while runninig on a couple of the batteries? The Bedini could run constantly at night and while you are away to keep the batteries working good. The run batteries would be electronically cycled back into the pack that is being charged when they got too low to run the generator. I believe they call it a closed loop set-up. Has this ever been successfully done? Would it be practical? Don

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#62
In reply to #61

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 5:25 PM

While doing a trade show last weekI I talked to a Dutch power company engineer. He told me that in Switzerland they now have pellet burning stoves that incorporate a Stirling engine to generate around 2kw of electrical energy. He thought the name of the manufacture was "bilfinger" but so far my Google seach has been fruitless. I suspect the reason might be my server point of origin. " bilfinger" gave me lots of hits including a bridge being built locally but nothing about any european products. The corporate investment page told me the company is into power generation but gave no link to any specific products.

Corporate wise it looks like GE or WESTINGHOUSE with so many divisions that to find one specific product is a major task.

Has anyone heard of this co generation home product in Switzerland?

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#63
In reply to #61

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 5:30 PM

Could you elaborate on the bedini pulse generator? Googling that name got me lots of U-tube footage of whirring motors but nothing like a solid explanation of the operating principle. Most of the U-tube footage was more along the line of " Wow! lookit run, I really did it!" rather than a decent explanation.

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#64
In reply to #63

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 8:14 PM

I agree with you sbout the you-tube videos. Many of them are useless as far as information goes. I have seen videos of small Bedini generators running on one battery while charging 3 or 4 batteries at the same time. I have also seen pictures of large Bedini generators charging a row of large batteries, but unfortunately I don't remember how I got to that particular site. I was hoping that someone that knows about these generators would chime in. When it comes to electronics stuff, I am as dumb as a box or rocks due to lack of training. But I do find it interesting all the same, Hopefully someone wiho knows about the Bedini will catch this article and respond. Don

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#65
In reply to #64

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 8:32 PM

As presented, the bendini generator appears to get something for nothing. Maybe that is merely due to poor presentation skills. However, I'm pragmatic and would prefer an explanation in detail . Failing that I will stick to more mundane but proven ideas. The beginning of this thread had several such posts.

We need to get away from the mind set of bigger must be better. Sometimes small is truly beautiful. Yes I know it sounds trite but only because of frequent repetition.

I have scaled back my life style but do not feel deprived as a result. I don't need a 6 room mansion with three bathrooms or toilets. Even the king or Queen can only sh** in one pot at a time. I have a meal whenever I'm hungry and sleep in a warm bed every night. But american marketeers feel threatened by people like me because I am no longer a consumer of irrelevant goods. If more people turn their back on materialism They would be out of a job and a cushy income.

I have reduced my dependence on oil based energy systems. Price fixing at exorbitant levels prevent me from buying into any of the newer alternative energy systems. so I make do with what is available. I stil have to travel and use fuel but I have reduced the number of trips I make.

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#66
In reply to #64

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 8:55 PM

Looks very, very much like an over unity free energy generator (specifically pulses of current from a rotating wheel lined with magnets, powered by a battery which also charges it up, creating more power than was used).

http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Bedini_SG

http://keelynet.com/bedmot/bedbear.htm

Other mentions linked to the Bedini generator include "How to extract the energy from the vacuum or from negative resistances in batteries".

I would steer clear of this supposed over unity device if I were you, as the science and measurements don't add up. Yet another case of bad science and lab results.

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#26
In reply to #19

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/12/2007 11:38 PM

Hello claude I rivers,

I would like to bid on the Ebay Auction - The one starting the Bidding at US$10,999,999.

At present it is the season of Christmas, and what with gift giving, I find my pockets a little empty.

What I could offer as a serious Bid is what I have left in my pocket - NZ$1, and am prepared to do the direct International Transfer to your Bank Account in Lagos, Nigeria, within a few days.

I see that I have up to US$200 Buyer Protection, that's very encouraging.

Please advise further.....

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#27
In reply to #26

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 12:27 AM

Hi,sparkstation, If my patent for sale on Ebay, well I didn't put it there, I am not a sale-out. I have formed a company Haleluyah Green Power Systems to produce power for the betterment of all and hopefully make a few billions dollars in the process. I have a need for a nucular power plant engineer to show me how utilise the elecrticity that I can produce 100, 000, 000 volts with amps 82% of voltage with the premanent alternator design that I have. I need help to get this company up and running , I am applying for a grant from the DEPT. OF ENERGY ,QUEIN SABA, who knows, if I will get it. A LITTLE ENCOURGEMENT WOULD BE NICE.

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#29
In reply to #27

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 12:51 AM

Hello claude I rivers sr again,

Thank you for your prompt response, and the advice re the Ebay Auction.

I shall try and encourage you.

I see you are located in Florida the Lightning capital of the US.

So, to obtain freely 100,000,000+ Volts, at 20,000+ amps, it is easy in your location: Fly a kite with a metallic string, during a thunderstorm.

The energy so obtained in a typical thundery day in Florida, would be enough to power the US for several hours.

There are only a few problems to overcome:

  1. How to survive the strike.
  2. How to store that energy safely and efficiently in a few nanoseconds.
  3. How to distribute that energy safely and efficiently, over hours or days, as necessary.
  4. The DC to AC Converter is going to be a costly item.
  5. There are other problems, but of a minor matter, in comparison with the first 4.

Please don't think I am being facetious in the above, sometimes good things come from what seem like rather odd ideas at the time....

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#31
In reply to #29

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 1:04 AM

Sparky, Thanks

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#42
In reply to #31

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 5:29 AM

The energie comming from tightning is tremendous.

In a lot of large biomass energie plant they power the turbines with steam.

Could there be a slotution to catch the lightning over an thermal element wich can create steam wich can be stored in a fraction off a second. After this we can power a steam turbine and control the outcoming energie much better?

Just an Idee.

Harmen Beskers

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#43
In reply to #42

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 11:35 AM

hello, Harmen, small minds cannot believe great things, small persons belittle great men, I did not design the permanent magnet alterator, three great profeessors of electrical engineering did for a government in europe for a high wattage application of limited use, once it was done, mission accomplished, the design lay in storage for 30 years. I found it by the will of GOD, increased the flux , the size of the cable, the diameter of the machine, there by increasing the output. If you know anything at all about permanent magnet alternators, you should understand that the power production I have spoken of is possible.

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#44
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Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 12:42 PM

you wrote: the design lay in storage for 30 years. I found it by the will of GOD, increased the flux , the size of the cable, the diameter of the machine, there by increasing the output

REPLY

How then can you claim a patent on it? You did say earlier that a "patent was pending" didn't you? Unfortunately your credibility would be better if you could articulate your concept in better terms so that technical people on this list could more clearly undestand what you are getting at. Your statement of needing a "nuclear" engineer also detracts from your claims. It isn't a nuclear engineer you need. You may need the expertise of a power generation or distribution engineer. With such an (apparent) abyssmal lack of technical skills your claims sound very weak.

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#46
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Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 4:36 PM

Your ability to read weak is , very much so, I have patent pending on the Rivers Green Self-perpetualating Power system. Check the U.S Patent Office. Thank you for clarifying my need, thank you for that. As for technical skills I do not have near enough, but I am standing on the shoulder of GIANTS, BLESS GOD for them and for knowledgeable persons such as yourself, as for credibility, I am a man of true in a world of dishonest man , hater, robber, crooks, backbiters, arrogant and greedy men. I do not have all the technical skills I need to operate or build my power plant, but that is what employees are for. If this forum is of men of good intent, it is just the place I need to find the answers and the people I need to accomplish this great endeavor. Thank you for your comment. Rabbi Claude L. Rivers Sr.

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#56
In reply to #43

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/17/2007 11:31 PM

Hi,

we are looking for an engineer, who could teach us - how to convert car/trucks alternators - into wind generators.

Compnesation - upon agreement,

Please contact with details

Shimon

foridel@yahoo.com

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#36
In reply to #26

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 1:12 PM

You have your wires crossed wires here. The $11 million Ebay patent scam is relating to Triplebatterylife, not Claude rivers.

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#68
In reply to #36

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

06/09/2008 9:15 PM

You talk quite a bit but you don't say anything, in that I mean that you have not once provided any proof to you outlandish claims. No a patent is not proof. No abusive comments, personal attacks and rants do not strengthen your position.

As I have previously said, your lack of understanding of even the basics of electricity, and your abusive behaviour against anyone who asks a simple question regarding verification of your "invention" that contradicts numerous known and proven laws speaks for itself.

This is not your own personal site for marketing your sham over unity free energy device. If it really did work as claimed you would not be trying to sell it here and on ebay.

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#40
In reply to #26

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 7:51 PM

I don 't have an item for sale on Ebay. Nor do I have time to look at whats for sale on Ebay.

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#32

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 3:12 AM

The loonies are in so I am gone....

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#33

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/13/2007 9:57 AM

Another idea is to use collected rainwater that is stored at elevation to run a turbine for a short time to charge batteries. Now this would be hard in the city b/c you would have to have the tank right under your gutter/downspout. Or you could have the tank lower but pressurize it. But then you're using energy to pressurize the tank rather than just hte PE of the water.

Heat Pipe Evacutated tubing works well if you have a goodsouth facing location. There are two main reasons for putting the system on the roof. One, its out of the way and two, it shades your house.

Solar is predictable, the sun rises every day, and even on cloudy days we're getting a lot of energy. Wind is great if you live in a good area for it. I would look into the vertical axis wind turbines right now, they don't require rotating when the wind direction shifts.

A few thoughts.

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#45

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 1:53 PM

Do know much about the laws requiring power companies to purchase your extra power. Also need some info on the meter required to do that, is it just a regular meter that run backward? I have been looking into the stirling engine to, do you know anyone that can build a big one, i placed an add in Texas wanting an old jack pump ( those big oil well pumps), it would be a simple stirling conversion and there are plenty out there. Great work, keep it up. John Kangas

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#47
In reply to #45

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 7:28 PM

Hello John Kangas, and other interested readers.

Co-Generation: 2-way Meters

Under legislation in many locations, the local utility generally has the opportunity to purchase excess home-generated power.

The Utility or home-owner may well be entitled to get financial assistance or grant from energy Authorities, State or Federal Government, depending on location and local Statutes - It is important to check this out FIRST, because Application for a Grant must normally be placed, complete with Engineering Drawings, BEFORE any work commences.

The meter required is not the household digital readout variety, because the mechanical gearing at "flip-over point" from the units to the tens etc, does not easily work in reverse.

All the older "pointer" readouts work equally well either way - the meter runs forward when using power from the Lines Company, and backwards when exporting power to the Lines company - Most of these "old style" meters are being or have been replaced.

Presently many two-way meters are still electromechanical, and only installed by special arrangement with the Utility Company, but there are now available fully electronic ones, complete with mini-transmitter, which may be remotely read via a coded "cellphone type" technology.

With these newer types of meter the "Meter Reader" does not have to arrive and "read the Meter" - Your Power account still arrives though.

These days because the costs of generation and reticulation of electricity is rapidly increasing, normally a Power Supplier Utility will be grateful for all extra local generation it can use.

Saying that, you first of all need to be a customer of that Utility, then have a talk with the Distribution Engineer for the Utility.

Most Distribution Engineers realise that local generation is a good thing, will help you, and will be happy to arrange for you to import/export electricity, providing they check over your system, and certify it as complying.

Many Utility Companies are interested in co-generation, as in future, much of the electricity used domestically will arrive from that system, thus the Utility normally wants to get experience at that sort of thing - remembering the home-owner pays for most of the hardware, as always.

Stirling engines

To be of highest efficiency, need to be carefully designed, preferably also looking at the requirements of each installation.

While the idea of getting old machinery and modifying it is very appealing, generally the costs of modifications, and final total machine efficiency are poorer than obtaining a new unit, especially chosen for the location and usage needed.

As increased design and manufacture of Stirling engines continues, prices will continue to fall, making that type of system cheaper and more efficient in real terms.

Kind Regards from faraway.....

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#48
In reply to #47

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 8:26 PM

Ther are two regulatory issues all co-generation and grid tie uses MUST be cognizant of. Steam boilers must be ASTM certified and retested periodically. Anyone caught operating a boiler without the requisite certification and permits in place is liable for severe penalties. No exceptions!

Grid-tie equipment must be UL certified plus inspected and approved by the local power utility. There is much more to a grid tie than just a two way meter. The equipment must be capable of instant disconnection from the grid in the event the ulitity power goes down. This is not as easy as it may seem. The equipment must be capable of detecting the presence of absence of utility power, even when your own generator is putting out power. When the utility power is not detectable, the grid inter-tie breakers must be opened on all current carying conductors. This circuit must be fail safe.

Why? because if line crews are out there doing storm repairs the last thing they need to worry about is some unknown power source feeding power into a grid section when they think the section is disconnected from any energizing source. And it's not just line crews. Pedestrians and motorists encountering downed wires are also at risk, Power utility systems have sophisticated fault detection gear that can determine when a wire is laying on the ground. This will cause the power utility equipment to open the feeder breaker. Unfortunately your little micro generating source is not equipped with anything more sophisticated than a normal circuit breaker. Broken wires laying on the ground may be high impedance and would not present a dead short to ground. Your generator breaker would not trip and would continue feeding voltage into the grid.

By law the power utility must ensure any grid-tie equipment meets all relevant safety requirements and design criteria.

Naturally this would not apply to off-grid applications. But I have observed an unfortunate tendency for some people to ignore the safety precautions. They will fire up their portable genset and plug it into their house by the simple expedient of using a dryer or stove cord set. They assure me they remember to disconnect the main breaker. Yeah sure!!

As a former power utility worker who on occasion had to be out there helping with storm damage I was really upset by this practice.

We had a co-worker who was missing his hand and half of one foot because of such an incident. The control room operator assured the crew foreman that power was off; the section was isolated, and it was safe to proceed. when the lineman touched the high tension line with gloved hands, he was instantly burned by high voltage coming from who knows where. By the grace of God he lived to tell about it. His missing finges reminded him daily never to take anybody's word for anything regarding safety.

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#57
In reply to #48

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/18/2007 12:16 AM

Hello elnav,

"We had a co-worker who was missing his hand and half of one foot because of such an incident. The control room operator assured the crew foreman that power was off; the section was isolated, and it was safe to proceed. when the lineman touched the high tension line with gloved hands, he was instantly burned by high voltage coming from who knows where. By the grace of God he lived to tell about it. His missing finges reminded him daily never to take anybody's word for anything regarding safety."

That worker should have known never to take things for granted.

In New Zealand, same as in most countries, electrical workers know never to assume any line is ever "dead".

Always remember to use Earth Sticks, and ensure they remain on both sides of where you are working, for the job duration - The Earth Sticks are the last thing to be removed, before power is re-connected.

I do appreciate that in times of emergency, workers sometimes take a short cut - but the short cut taken may well be the last.

I was almost caught out twice, once with secondary feeder into a substation - I had been assured via radio communication that all was disconnected and safe for the work to commence - the applied Earth Stick and roar of the exploding fireball told a different story.

In the second case, at a Power station, a 11kV/400/230v transformer had the 11kV terminal cover removed by a person who was told the power was off, and was given the "Clearance to Work". Jokingly he dropped a large crescent spanner across the supposedly dead terminals, there was a large explosion, and he lurched back with eyebrows and eyelashes melted, shaken but still alive.

As in many cases of this nature, with the numbering schemes for switchgear/transformers/circuit Breakers and Transmission Lines it is easy to make an error.

NZ largest State generating system at that time, had a single special master security key to open all electrical switchgear, yards and isolation equipment, for convenience if there was an emergency - I understand that the single Master key system has been altered, and now each equipment isolator has it's own key, which is obtained from the System Operator.

Many years ago, I saw the instant results to friends of mistakes or improper procedures, 1 fatality, and 1 with serious burns to eyes/face/chest/arms/legs requiring massive skin grafts.

In many distribution networks there are multiple feed-points, and each additional feed-point brings further complications, when all protection relays have to be re-set to make provision for the additionally connected supply.

Being involved over some years in an Industry which generated and distributed large amounts of Electric Power, has taught me to use the best safety practices, which is why I am still around, unlike so many others who took those "short cuts", which led them to a very sudden, unhappy and one-way experience.

As you say, elnav, the protection relay equipment for safe co-generation connection has very stringent specifications, and is not allowed to rely on simple isolation, but to ensure that at all times, that the safety of the user plus the safety of distribution workers remains paramount.

In most cases, semiconductor controllers are still not relied upon for the Power Systems, as a protection relay with visible air gaps is far safer.........

Mind you, in my travels I had a good friend, who had developed "The Universal Extension Cord". I said there was no such thing, and he said that no matter which end you arrive at, it always works.

Upon my stating there was no such thing, he produced his masterpiece: A 20 metre length of 3 core flexible extension cable, with a "tap-on" or piggy-back" type plug at each end. The "tap-on" plug has a side entry for the cord, with 3 pins out front and a 3-pin matching socket at the rear - in earlier days you could see 8 or 10 of these, plugged in a row, a fire just waiting to happen.

I got some cutters, cut both "tap-on" plugs off that Universal Extension Cord, as my friend looked on aghast.

Later that day, I returned with the correct fittings for the extension flexible cable to ensure my friend, and his visitors and grand-children, remained shock-free.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing but a lot of ignorance is just as bad." - Bob Edwards.

Kind Regards......

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#58
In reply to #57

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/18/2007 1:41 AM

Of course he should have known better. But who knows what exactly went though his mind the instant before his mishap.

He was in fact in the process of placing the "Earthing Sticks" as you call them. The point being, we are human and despite all efforts occasionally screw up. i had a lineman nearly blow himself up doing a perfectly routine action. He and I had done this same thing half a dozen times earlier in the day. But maybe it was in fact defective equipment. We could never prove it one way or the other.

Which brings us to the point of the whole discussion. Some people seem to think wonderous technical solutions are so simple to devise and implement. They fail to realize just how much background knowledge, experience and training is often required to achieve something. When somebody older, wiser, and still alive tells them it might not be such a good idea they get all huffy and defensive about their "brain child". Seeing many of the questions posted on this forum I can only wonder because these exact same questions had already come up 30 - 40 years ago. I guess the younger generation prefers to make their own mistakes instead of learning from the experience of others.

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#49
In reply to #45

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 9:19 PM

Hello, John Kangas, I guess,you are the person I offered my power system to,email me claude.rivers@yahoo.com the offer is still good. FREE . The laws on national level are Commerce and Trade 15 USC section 79z-5a , North American Electric Realiability Corporation. STATE; Your state utility commission . For less than 1 megawatt , your local utility company. Your meter on your house will turn back just fine.For a Jack pump check with these guys, if they don't have one, will know where to get one. Jimmy's Well Service 512-303=4473 Loehr Drilling CO. 979-272-8665 Quinn Pumps 979-567-7831 . For Stirling conversions check with Stirling Stan.

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#50

Re: Can We Power A House Without The Power Company?

12/14/2007 11:52 PM

Does anyone want to make a bet that Mr Claude will soon announce the world's first "dilithium crystal matter/anti-matter conversion system". Based on a design by Zephraim Cochrane and built at the Utopia Planitia fleet yards.

Sheeseh, the loonies are on the loose!

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