Steve, I would like to hear what you think of the electric chain saw and log splitter when your evaluation is done.
I have an old 14-inch, 110-volt AC chain saw. It doesn't get much work, but I'm always pleased with it when I do use it. Not for professional lumberjacks, but quite adequate for yardwork. I'm thinking about building a log splitter, probably based on a motor and screw jack rather than hydraulics, but I have not done enough investigation yet to be sure which way to go. Spent about six hours near a gas-powered unit a couple of weekends ago - really want to avoid doing that again. Darryl Steve <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm not Kim, but I though I'd answer some of these questions just to give Kim > and > others an idea on our off grid solutions. See below: > > = = = Original message = = = > > Hi Kim, > an ambitious project for most people, however, I suspect you are up to it. > > Are your telephone lines strung on the same poles as the electrical lines? > If so, > does the telephone company have the same rules as the electrical company? If > so, do > you have other options for telephone service? (I'm assuming that telephone > access > provides your Internet access and you do not wish to give up your phone > service.) > > SS> We have no power poles to our property. The phone company delivers voice > and DSL > on underground lines. > > What do you use electricity for now? Lighting (SS - ELECTRIC/INV), > refrigeration(SS > - PROPANE), cooking (SS - PROPANE), well pump (SS - ELECTRIC/GEN), air > conditioning(SS - NONE), hot water (SS - PROPANE), space heating (SS - WOOD), > computer (SS - ELECTRIC/INV), entertainment equipment (SS - ELECTRIC/INV), > washer > (SS - ELECTRIC/GEN), dryer (SS - ELECTRIC/GEN & PROPANE)), yard or farm > equipment > (SS - ELECTRIC/GEN), etc? Do you have your recent electrical bills, and do > they > show your consumption by period? > > How can you reduce those requirements? Substitution, efficiency, > conservation, > other? > > How do you propose to generate your own electricity? Generator (SS - YES), > wind > turbine (SS - YES), solar panels (SS - YES), low head hydro (SS - N/A), > other? I'm > assuming a generator (biodiesel) as your primary source initially (SS - Ours > is WVO > and Biodiesel), but that doesn't preclude other options in the future. > > Can you set up all your loads so they will run only when a generator (or other > source) is running, or will you require local energy storage? If so, > batteries are > the most practical option (IMNSHO), though not perfect by any means. Most > likely a > non-trivial investment (batteries, inverter, charger, etc). (SS - We have a > 675 ah > battery pack, 2kw inverter, 30 amp charge controller, 90 watt PV and 300 watt > wind, > with 12.5kw wvo gen) > > Other lists may also be helpful to you. Homeenergysolutions, alternate > energy, > renewable-energy come to mind. (ss - also 12vdc group at yahoo.) > > It is certainly an interesting adventure. The first step is examining current > consumption to look for ways to reduce it. That will be worthwhile whether > you go > off-grid or not. The least expensive electricity is the electricity you > don't have > to produce. > > SS - We installed all CF lighting, and switched outlet strips on all phantom > loads. > Biomethane will replace the propane next year. Electric chainsaw and electric > log > splitter are being evaluated. > > Darryl McMahon > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Sent by ePrompter, the premier email notification software. > Free download at http://www.ePrompter.com. > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): > http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ > -- Darryl McMahon http://www.econogics.com/ It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will? _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
