Power & heat for our camp.

[BIGGKIDD]

I an not sure where to post this I hope this is the right place.

We are building a simi perminate camp in Lunenburg. This is to give us a place to stay while we clear & build our new home over the next few years. It also gives me a chance to dabble in alturnitave power forms.

We are using 6 6V Trogan T-105 batteries and a 1200 Watt Vector inverter for camp power right now. We were using the generator and a battery charger to bring the bank back up but that took to long. So I built this charger.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/secondtriptocampbattcharger002.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/secondtriptocampbattcharger003.jpg

As you can see its a 5.5 HP Briggs engine and an old 70 Amp Delco altinator. I used the frame from a coleman gen. that threw a rod. We can charge our batteries in about 1/3 the time now. ;D

Now its time for more and better batteries so I found these.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/1213010.jpg

They are 3 years old but the price was right. Free ;D I also have ordered a 5000 Watt inverter. This combo should give us plenty of power to run camp and tools for building. The batteries are rated at 134 amp hrs each and theres 16 of them. With the new battery banks I also plan to build a larger charger. Something in the 300 -400 amp range. So that we can charge the entire system once every 24 hrs in about 4 hours. We have to keep charge time down so as not to break the bank. ;) With fuel costs what they are now we have to save every way we can.

We froze our behinds off the other week when it got down to *7 F BURR. So here is my remidy for that.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/woodfurnice005.jpg
It started life as a barrel stove kit from Northern.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/woodfurnace004.jpg
I just went a bit farther and turned it into a furnace. By using a second barrel and a fan. But this whole project came in for under $200. ;D
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/woodfurnace021.jpg
You can see I cut the second barrel down to create the heat box. It is smoke and fume free by design. It works pretty well to as it got upto 78* while I was asleep. I must admit it burns huge amounts of wood though. The old camper was a give me that someone paid to have taken out of their yard. :D Just right up my alley. Today I made some cables for the new battery bank. You can also see the buss bars in one of the other pictures. These cables are 1/0 AWG with soldered ends. I made 8 of them 3+- ft for less than they wanted for 4 of them where I bought the inverter.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/powercables013.jpg

So I would love to hear some feed back on what we have done so far. As some of you know we went all out getting the land a bit over 35 AC out in the sticks. So that doesn't leave much to build with or anything else. So its all going to be sweat equity. I have plans to close the stove / furnace in with earth filled cinder blocks that should help with the heating. I am sorry for the miss spellings as spell chek isn't working and I never could spell.

Thanks for looking
Larry 8)

[Deberosa]

That is really cool! I have a barrel that was left here with all of the cut outs all ready for a kit like that - didn't know they sold them! Seems this would be a great way to heat a greenhouse too!

Thanks for sharing.

How many appliances can you run off of a bank of batteries like that? For instance fridges, freezers, lights, etc. ? Was just wondering how far it would go.

Debbie

[BIGGKIDD]

Debbie,
I have a barrel that was left here with all of the cut outs all ready for a kit like that - didn't know they sold them! Seems this would be a great way to heat a greenhouse too!

Thats cool the stove was real easy to build and cheap too. The kit from northern was $41.99 and the barrels were $6 each.

How many appliances can you run off of a bank of batteries like that? *For instance fridges, freezers, lights, etc. ? *Was just wondering how far it would go.

I am not positive but I believe it will run a whole simi effecent house for two days. Maybe some of the *local experts will let us know. But I am thinking we could even run a small AC for a few hours a night when its hot. We will have to see what those with some experiance have to say.

Thanks
Larry 8)

[machinemaker]

Go Brother Go!!!!!
kent

[BIGGKIDD]

Thanks Kent.

Here are a few upgrades for you guys.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/powerstoveupgrades020.jpg

The new inverter installed.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/powerstoveupgrades023.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/powerstoveupgrades024.jpg

Thats the rod I had to drive in to ground the system. Think god for tractors.

On to the heat side of things. I cut out an area around the stove/furnace to lay a block wall. Then laid the first corse on its side since there was no foundation to keep things from shifting.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/powerstoveupgrades034.jpg

The next four corses will lay the normal way and be filled with earth. Then the top will have 4x8x16 soild block. Covered with sheet metal as both a water shed and another layer to keep the heat in. This will turn a decent stove/furnace in to a real heater with a long burn time on a single load I hope.

Thats about it for now.

Thanks for looking and I would love to hear from some of the off grid crowd. Since we will be living that way for the rest of our lives once we move. It would be great to hear from those who have done it.

Larry

[BIGGKIDD]

Hi Guys,

I have upgraded the heat and added to the power system so I thought I should update this thread.

First here is a pic of the wood furnace now.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp005.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp007.jpg

I still have to seal off the top and close in the front. But right now the way it is we are getting heat through the night. Going from bed time to wake up with out having to refill the stove wood. Staying a comfortable 70 -72*F . Not to bad for a home made furnace. Burning what ever is at hand, pine, cedar, oak, poplar, and iron wood.

Now on to the power system. I added a HF 45 watt solar kit into the system. This is more to keep the batteries topped up when we are gone. One nice thing about this kit is it came with 2 12 volt lights 5 watt CFs they work great.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp008.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp009.jpg

While I am at it let me show a pic or two of what we have gotten done.

This is what it looked like before we put the camper in.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/settingupcamp026.jpg

And this is what it looks like after a few weekends of work.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp021.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp022.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp023.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/clearingyardatcamp013.jpg

Thats my tractor which has done all of the clearing so far along with my Echo chain saw.

I guess its time to start a homesteding thread now. I guess thats what most people would call what we are doing.

Thanks for looking. I would enjoy your comments.

Larry

[flatwater]

Great pics. Isn't it strange how we can work at work and be tired after eight hours but when we start on the homestead projects we can work our butts off for 12 or better hours a day and feel good about it.
Flatwater

[BIGGKIDD]

Great pics. Isn't it strange how we can work at work and be tired after eight hours but when we start on the homestead projects we can work our butts off for 12 or better hours a day and feel good about it.
Flatwater

Flatwater,

I don't know about all that working. By the time I get home after a weekend there its all I can do to hold my head up. I would have to say I do work a lot harder at camp than work. Its all the same type of back breaking labor. The biggest differance I see is there I am spending money and at work other people are paying me to do these things. ;D Maybe not all the same things but My company is called Outdoor Specialties so as you can imagine I get all kinds of jobs. The more off the wall the better. Last spring I did a putting green for a guy not to far from home.

larry

[12vman]

Sure reminds me of the good 'ol days.. ;)

I started with a 20' camper and a kerosene heater. I carried my 2 marine batteries in my work van and had them connected to the charging system to get them charged while I was driving around all day. I would bring them inside at night when I got home and run a small light, car radio, and a c.b. radio.. ;)

I carried all of my water in 5 gal. containers. Took baths in a wash drum, heating the water on the kerosene heater.. :o

Sometimes the drive was so bad, I had to carry the water and stuff over 1/2 mi.! :P

I had very meager beginings BUT I SURVIVED! I never lost my dream! I would do it all over again if I needed to.. 8)

Very good BIGGKIDD!! Thanks for sharing!
~Don

[wy0mn]

I'm jealous, at least until I begin my projects in Spring! Love the pics.

The battery bank upgrade tickled me, since a prior pic showed the alligator clips... lol. (I hate 'gators.)

I'll have to look into the heater/furnace for my future needs.

Did you install the blocking diode in the PV lighting kit, or unplug it after dark? That looks like the Harbor Freight kit I have.

Whats for septic?
Lex

[BIGGKIDD]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. wy0mn the solar panels are from harbor freight. They suposidly have a blocking diode built in so I didn't add one. We are using a porta potty for now I haven't figured out the septic yet. grey water dish/ wash water is going on the ground. No antibacterial soap.

12Vman we haul water in in aqua tainers (from walyworld) 7 gal each one for every day we plan to be there, plus a few odd gallon milk jugs full. So far it has been a great experiance.


*At the rate fuel costs and the cost of living are going up we may end up being homesteders sooner than we had planned on. I plan on adding more of those HF solar panels can anyone recomend a good inexpensive adjustable charge controller that will handle many of those HF solar kits? My understanding is that the panels are pretty good but the charge controler leaves a bit to be desired. My batteries call for a flote charge between 13.5 and 13.8V I think the charge controler that comes with the panels flotes at 14.2V.

12voltman another question for you if you don't mind. Our system consists of 16 12V batteries how low should I let the charge go before recharging them. I think I am charging them to often or more often than needed. I have yet to see the voltage below 12 volts usually around 12.2. After setting a little while or several weeks after charging the batteries hold 13.1volts untill they are used. I know the inverter cuts itself off at 10 volts but I think thats to far down. I am guessing that 11-11.5 volts would be about right to get the most life out of the batteries. I need these batteries to last 5 -7 years. What do you think? Also correct me if I am wrong but the more low voltage things we can run that don't have to draw power through the inverter the better right? For example lights 12V LEDs, 12V fans, 12V TV, 12V radio. Wouldn't that stuff use less power than comperable 120 Volt stuff running through the inverter?

Got to go
Larry

[edward_4576]

Larry, your right. When ever you convert a voltage whether it be AC to DC or vice versa you loose energy due to inefficency (2nd law of thermodynamics I think). This also occurs when converting solar energy to electrical or thermal to physical etc...

[BIGGKIDD]

Thanks Edward,

*Thats what I was thinking. We are already using 12 V fans for the furnace blower and some 12 V lights. Now I need to find a 12 V TV & DVD for the kids. If I can keep them happy that keeps the wife happy & that keeps me happy. ;) Know what I mean?

We were / are planning on going back this weekend but I think I am coming down with the flu now that the wife & kids are better and I have finally gotten over the penominia (sp) Its been a tough winter for sickness around here.

Larry

[wy0mn]

I think I'd just buy a laptop & play DVD's from it. Most come with 12v recharging capability. Remember, most TV stations are going digital (HD). Any 12v TV you buy now probably won't be worth a hoot by the end of the year. Unless you have more luck than I have had locating a 12v HDTV or one of the taxonomic clones.
Wife bought me a fancy 12v coffeepot last year, and we've located ceiling fans, evaporative coolers, microwaves and other appliances in 12v flavor.
RV & boating appliances are worth a google.

[edward_4576]

As for 12 V. TV's and such how about the following idea (and let me know if any one succeeds). Check you local auto junk yard. With all the TV's their putting in cars today check and see if their not stripping them out of wrecked SUV's and such, heck they're made for 12 V systems. What you think?

[BIGGKIDD]

As for 12 V. TV's and such how about the following idea (and let me know if any one succeeds). *Check you local auto junk yard. *With all the TV's their putting in cars today check and see if their not stripping them out of wrecked SUV's and such, heck they're made for 12 V systems. *What you think?


Thats a good idea in fact we were a wally world last night looking for a after market version of auto TV/DVD.

Thanks for the replies.

wy0mn thats also a good idea my wife wants a new computer anyway. I just need something low end at this time.
Larry

[BIGGKIDD]

Hi All,

Finished the stove/furnice this weekend. Its now surrounded in cinder block. It heats great. If you fill it with good size logs after it has a bed of coals it will go 12 hours till its next fill. Its a bit hard to regulate the heat. Three or four hours before its down to coals it burns real hot and gets hot 79-80 in the camper.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/camploadingdamage012.jpg

In hind site I would build this differently. I would also add a way to heat water. I have learned a great deal and am very happy with the results. But thats the great thing about what we all do. Now when I build my house we know how to better do this.

Now on to the power system. We ran the system all weekend with out running the battery charger until we were ready to come home. We do have the 45 watt solar kit from Harbor freight on and running.

I also got the hard wire in place and ready to hook up the next rainy day.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/camploadingdamage014.jpg

I used 6666 aluminum service cable. It direct bury cable I did use a couple pieces of PVC to protect the cable where it comes out of the ground. That way the weed wacker doesn't eat it. I ran an extra leingth of cable to run 12V in also. I am using 12V stuff where I can. Can't wait until I can get some more of those panels. If I get two or three more sets I should be able to run all weekend and let the batteries recharge during the week while we are gone.

One other interesting thing I noticed today. I touched the conection from the charger and It was hot HOT HOT had just a little corrosion on it. The system was charging at 30-35 amps after cleaning it was charging at 55-60 amps and cool as could be. Amazing what just a little thin bit of corrosion does to an electrical connection. When I finish out the charging system I will hard wire the charger. I use anti oxidant when I do that.

Larry 8)

[BIGGKIDD]

I added another alt. to my charger.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/th_ripcharge004.jpg (http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/ripcharge004.jpg)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/th_ripcharge003.jpg (http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/biggkidds/ripcharge003.jpg)

I have tested it but not with much of a load.

We are going to be gone for a week or 9 days.

Later larry

[edward_4576]

I work in telecom and in major offices where they have big battery plants one of the things they do on an annual basis is to replace the anticorrosive greese that is used to protect the terminals and cables form corrosion.

Here's a couple of great articles for you.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago87.html

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago88.html