Gideon35T Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 No. The issue with a pressure tank is that you need a pump to pressurize it, haha. Again, trying to avoid pumps when possible. Our batch hot water heater is just a tank, painted matte black, housed in an insulated box, with a glass lid, and refelctive inner walls. Water is gravity fed to the water heater. Hot water must then be manually gathered and transported to its place of use. I chose this method to promote water conservation within the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 I can't see the youtube vid, so it might address what I'm going to ask but : Isn't there a way to leverage hot water rising? Like a solar panel at floor-level, with pipes that run up over the house and back down to the solar panel? So the water heats up in the panel, rises up through the house, then falls back down somehow to the panel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 Yes, and there are hot water systems which utilize such. The issue there is that those are basically giant radiators and can't have piping (for the utilization/transportation of that hot water) because heat loss is rapid enough to stop the convection process. Other systems are inclosed in cases like my batch system but utilize convection. The issue is having enough convection to move a useful amount of water the distances required. Furthermore, if your goal is to heat something with that water you can't have the piping insulated or else it wont transfer that heat. Bottom line, unless you're boing batch hot water heating you need a pump to use it effectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survolvo Posted December 5, 2012 Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 http://mayapedal.org/machines.en Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2012 http://mayapedal.org/machines.en Nice, "Necessity is the mother of invention" after all. I designed (and I'm currently building) our washing machine which is pedal powered. Very efficient in its use of energy, soap, and water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 So, I picked up double-walled/insulated flue piping last night and will be installing this weekend. I've also added a "T" so that I can setup a creasote and excess ash trap. We'll see if this improves things. I may pick up some coal and diesel as a backup too. The acid in coal smoke is harmful to the metal and diesel isn't very efficient but I need a solid backup if I have a wood issue. Also, if anyones curious about long term storage foods my article on making cheese from dehydrated milk should be coming up on off-grid.net before the weekend hopefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfishing3 Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 i think i found your house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Hahahaha, that's pretty cool. Unfortunately, stick construction is few and far between in my area simply because the desert doesn't yield much lumber. Most of the houses here are manufactured homes or site built setups that are just bolted together. I opted for a manufactured so that I could have the air space under the house. I live on a slight slope that continues up into state land and then onto the nearest mountains. So, every morning cold air flows off the mountains and fills up under the house. That air stays cold all day and is drawn into the house with a small solar powered turbine. Warm air near the cieling is drawn out with a similar setup and ducting. It provides cool air all day for most of the year regardless of outside temps. The intake air is also drawn into the pantry (an entire bedroom) to keep food stocks as cool as possible. The system has to be disconnected in the winter and the entrances for the cold air (north side of the house) are sealed up. Works pretty well but if I were in a different part of the country I'd have a log cabin on a stone foundation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yangotang Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 the only inverter that i know we have installed is the sma sunny island inverter for off-grid use. the biggest problem is matching phase once you get back on the grid. the other part, creating an AC sine wave from a DC signal has been done already in almost all grid tie inverters. having that being said don't look to pay less than how much the cost from the grid really is. most people end up saying they're better off with connecting a diesel generator for power failures and using a transfer switch to feed critical loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 My system is completely off grid so I don't have to worry about phase transistion issues. Most inverters are modified sine wave which is fine for most items but can create problems with electronics. I use modified sine wave inverters because I don't have any electriciy being used directly by anything electronic. For instance, the charge controller and battery for the laptop acts as a barrier to modified waves. The point is not so much about initial investment or payoff point (about 6 years out for me). The point is self sufficiency and low long term overhead. Whatever type of system you choose (grid tied, off grid, fully off grid) depends on your situation. If self sufficiency is the goal then you need to be fully off grid. If you're just looking to save some money then leasing a grid tied system is your best bet as the return rate on power outweighs your monthly lease payments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yangotang Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 i don't get it. are you trying to sell me into going off-grid? if so, i should tell you i have a grid-tied system. i guess if your perogative is to be off grid, and that electric companies are evil, i can only wish you good luck in your search. it may end up being way more expensive to you, but you have a handle on it already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 I wasn't tryin to sell you anything. In fact I said it "depends on your situation" and gave examples based on your goal. I don't think electric companies are evil. I simply wish to be self sufficient and not lose power in emergencies or bad weather. No idea why you're imparting negative connotations to my basic statements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yangotang Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 my sentiment is that most people make rational decisions based on actions that have affected them in their lives. for example, maybe you had a bad experience of all of your food spoiling in your refrigerator when the power went out once. someone who has experienced power loss resulting in spoiled food will make a decision to install a solar system or some kind of backup generator. i can't seem to figure out what epiphany you experienced which led you to come to this idea to be off-grid and i'm trying to figure it out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon35T Posted December 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 Ahh, I understand. It's about an entire lifestyle choice that harkens back to growing up in NY while really enjoying time I got to spend in nature. Over time I learned to prefer a quieter life (if that makes sense). I really have no remaining desire for most of modern lifes "essentials". Combine that with my desire for an early retirement and the end result is an off grid lifestyle. As overhead is very low when self sufficient (or close). Furthermore, I don't believe things like credit are beneficial. I've avoided such fallacies of our modern world because they simply don't work. That choice alone has enabled me to retire early and live well even after spending 5 years in the Army making next to nothing, haha. This country had a system that worked. We've gotten away from that and can't figure out why we're perpetually messed up. For myself, I think that returning to the basic principles that are "known goods" is at least the solution for me personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudge_Brownie Posted December 6, 2012 Report Share Posted December 6, 2012 He's cheap. And he's slightly off-balance :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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