It’s Father’s Day…A shared letter from A DIYer to his Dad

Posted on June 18, 2011 by George B.

Where did we learn DIY?  In many cases, it was from our Fathers…

Subject: Happy Father’s Day
or Thanks for not playing golf

Dad,

Thank you for all that you do.  I love you and I thank God that you were
my Dad.  I also appreciate all the things we did together in the
past.  Dealing with all the stuff at my work lately makes me really
appreciate all the stuff you had to put up with to work for the same company
for 34 years.  I know at least a few times you’ve said you think you’re
career would have advanced further and faster if you would have played
golf.  Thanks for not playing golf, I don’t like it and I don’t think I’ve
ever missed anything.  Thanks for spending your time and money restoring
some cars with me instead.  This made for some interesting moments, some
tense times like when we had a yelling match and I tossed the keys on the floor
and walked out of the shop.  Some good such as when we started replacing
the leaf springs at 8:00 at night (well, at least I had fun, even though you
were ready for bed), and when we just got the engine we rebuilt, installed
behind the transmission I rebuilt (I only rebuilt it after gaining confidence
during the engine rebuild).  Then it was your idea to break it in hard, to
make more power of course, and we broke the tires free in all three
gears.  And when you told me not to street race because it wasn’t smart or
safe but you said I could race anybody at the track (since they had an
ambulance) but to call you first since you didn’t want to miss out on watching
me smoke somebody.  Not many Dad’s I know tell their kids not to street
race because they don’t want to miss a good race.

Back to the engine rebuild, I went to get plastigage to measure the clearance on
the big end rod bearing of the Listeroid, a middle aged guy at the parts store
knew what it was and was able to dig it out, the slightly younger guy didn’t
know what it was.  He said they really don’t sell it very often anymore
since only shops rebuild engines these days.  It feels good to know what
it takes to rebuild an engine, even if now it may seem like it’s a dying art. I
like the fact that I have the confidence and know-how to work on my own stuff
and keep it running.  I look at all the kids my age and can’t name anyone
who knows how to use plastigage or how to check the clearance of the gap on
piston rings.  Most of them don’t even know how to turn on a
band-saw.  Their dad’s probably all played golf.

Thanks for inviting us to the Model A Ford events I hope I can do the same with
my kids, to spend time with them.  Teaching them, allowing them to explore
their interests and develop their talents in a way that gives them usable life
skills.  I just hope they learn cooking from their mother and not me. 🙂

I love you very much,
Give God the Glory and God Bless,

Rollinns

Posted in DIYer Skills | Leave a comment

Compressed Air Energy Storage

Posted on June 15, 2011 by George B.

Here’s One That really Exists!  ‘CAES’

http://www.youtube.com/user/powersouthenergy?blend=4&ob=5#p/a/u/0/dGd7PIC09AM

If you want to know something about electrical energy production, ask the experts who make it at the wholesale level.

Notice their mention of efficiency. We need understand that they are declaring their CAES system efficient relative to other energy storage schemes, and with the help of their huge economies of scale and possibly a huge amount of waste heat from an adjacent convention natural gas turbine to help heat the compressed air coming out of storage.   The losses in such a system are still significant, but they are charging their storage facility with surplus (inexpensive) KWHs off peak, and they are selling the peak hours for far more money than most people understand.

Glue Sniffers and Flower Children alike are attracted to the Indian Air Powered Tata Nano, a car that was announced to go into production some years ago, but still a pipe dream do to the fact the car is totally impractical.  For those who measure the losses in the overall effort to charge the air powered car, they understand the staggering losses, and just how much fuel you still need to burn aboard the car to put the compressed air to work.

G

 

 

Posted in Alternative Energy Sources | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

A Few Days In Heaven.

Posted on June 14, 2011 by George B.
a-favorite-haunt

a-favorite-haunt

The above photo is one of many beautiful places between Reynolds Creek and the South Fork of the Cowiche.  Much of this property is on private lands, so know where you travel, and mind your manners.  It was well over 20 years ago, I saw our only native Boa Constrictor on a trail connecting the meadow you see in the upper right to the wonderful stand of Birches that often play a melody in the soft breezes found here on a hot summer day. It took me another 20 years to spot a second one and photograph it. Look up the Rubber Boa if you want to know more about this timid snake.  The meadow up top is full of wild onions, and you can sink into the soft wet ground until late summer most years. From where I took this picture, you take a steep game trail down, ford two streams, and then make your climb up thru the birches and take a stair case trail up to the meadow. That big tree with the dead top on the far left is all of 100 feet tall to help you set scale.

We planned our trip to arrive on a Tuesday, we generally don’t see other humans in these parts during the week and listening to nature without the sound of man’s machines mixed in is a special treat. Weekends can bring a lone wood-cutter who takes the easy windfalls alongside the road and fills the air with the noise of a chain saw. The sound can drift on the wind for miles.  weekends can bring in an occasional dirt bike, and some riders think a loud exhaust is all too cool.

This is the magic time of year, plenty of feed, there’s countless wild flowers of near every color, the Lupine, Paint Brush, and many other flowers color the landscape so brilliantly that you’ll reach for your sunglasses while walking through the open meadows with the sun high.

My Wife and I generally walk 6 to 12 or more miles a day in order to visit our favorite haunts. Our sense of smell awakens from a long winter’s sleep each year. the scent of wild flowers, the scent of animals, the sweet near overpowering smell of the cottonwoods with their new leaves coated in a sticky sugar-like  resin.  There’s trails here that Animals have used for thousands upon thousands of years.  Some of them are migration paths that will take you from one major stream bottom to the next. You best be in shape because Elk and Deer don’t much care if the trail is steep, there’s nothing in their handbook about grade limitations.

We arrived at the cabin during the early evening and a piece of fat wood got the wood stove going. I struggled to get the L-16 sized battery out of the truck and positioned to feed a few lights, and the TV we pack in.  We unload drinking water, food, bedding and more.  and opening the shutters for the first visit of the year is a 30 year old ritual now.  Sharon has her list of things that need be done, and I have mine, after all these years, it’s almost like a dance.

Once our chores were done, we sat at the table and looked out the cabin window down the long ridge top, there’s still hours of daylight. Sharon noticed a Grose about 120 feet out from the deck, he was ‘sounding off’ and strutting back and forth on a small log, his tail feathers spread, and his chest all puffed up.  As the evening went on, we saw a Coyote come across the top of the ridge, and as he cut across the Grose’s path, the brakes went on and his nose scoured the Grose’s stand.  I’m sure he was taking notes for later, but he continued on towards Rock Creek, he likely had friends to meet up with.

Later, the Elk arrived to graze, one cow had her calf in tow, it was still ‘all legs’, and the calf thought 10 feet was too far to be from Mom.   Then the Deer came to browse, and  we enjoyed watching wildlife till our eyes grew so heavy that we retired to the warm loft and freshly made bed. The wind came up, and like a mountain song can do..  it put me fast to sleep.

The next morning, I got up first and made coffee, we had a basic breakfast of Oatmeal, but for some reason it taste so good up here. Could it be that the pan and the wood stove add to the flavor over making it in the microwave at home?

After breakfast I visited our spring, the small cistern was full, and in overflow mode.  I thought about all the shovel, pick, and bar work I had done over the years, and how I might bury the permanent water line between the cistern and the cabin this year. I’ve been over thinking the system I guess, will it be a 10 year project?  Part of the concern is  experiencing a freak year with no snow for ground cover and a frost driven deep enough to break the water line.  After a lot of thought, I’ve decided to run conduit, and the water line inside, in theory I could run a new one if something unexpected happens.  As a safety, it might be smart to have a valve that automatically lets the water drain from the line so it doesn’t freeze.  How will I set the RV pump up? Occasionally there will be a visitor in the mountains that would work for hours to steal another man’s RV pump, I’ll certainly engrave it with my name and offer a reward right on the side of the pump, but maybe it’s best that I put some quick connects on it and take it with us? The  largest problem is arriving at the cabin expecting something to be there and it’s not.  I’ll do an article on the finished water project this summer.

On Saturday, we sat with our morning cups of coffee thinking about moving our departure time from noon to late afternoon, and we did, it was just too peaceful and beautiful to be in a hurry to leave.

After closing the shutters and door, we both had long faces, the hours had passed too quickly.  After breaking camp and packing up, we headed down towards the South Fork of the Cowiche headed for Tampico, the first bend in the road wit a name on our way out.  We met another pickup above the South Fork, he flagged us down, and had his window down to greet us. I stuck my hand out, and as we were shaking hands, I told him my name… “glad to meet you” he replied  but never offered his own name. I shut off my diesel engine, but quickly noted he left his running.  I don’t like yelling over engines, but I refrained from telling him to shut of his..

He told me he had gotten himself stuck up there earlier and had to walk out..  Then  he went on to say he had bought a 40 acre parcel on the north side of the hill. He was up from California, and now retired and living in Yakima. He went on to say he was having trouble with an adjacent property owner on the hill, how he was a member of ‘eyes in the woods’, and how he thought the mountain was a paradise.

I pulled the brim of my hat up, and said “California Huh?…. you’re not going to be pushing to bring sewers and sidewalks up here are you?”  He didn’t even take a breath, and responded it’s just going to be me and a little travel trailer parked on my property. Soon we parted, and I wished him a pleasant summer..

I’ve been thinking about this ‘eyes in the woods’ thing.. I do hope he calls the Sheriff with the license plate of every person he catches littering on our Mountain, I’ve often thought I was lucky NOT to be armed when I’ve seen people fling beer cans out of their truck window as they go down the road.

As we traveled towards home through the most beautiful Yakima Canyon. I thought how fortunate it was to have met this guy on the way out versus on the way in.  God’s creatures and my Wife were the perfect company, and it was 3 or 4 days of relaxing with nothing to stir my thoughts of what lays in the lower elevations.  His place is on the North side of the Mountain, ours is on the South side, I was thinking that might work out just right.

elk-saturday-morning

Photo above: Part of the 15 head of Elk that surrounded the cabin when I  got up to visit the outhouse around 5:20 AM. Elk make good Neighbors…..

George B.

Posted in Cowiche Cabin | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

An Interesting email from Jerry Bartlett ‘Crazy Changzuki Jerry’

Posted on June 7, 2011 by George B.
Jerry Bartlett's Auroa Project

Jerry Bartlett's Auroa Project

I’ve known Jerry Bartlett for sometime, you may know him as the guy that sold the CD on how to build the Changzuki Motorcycle. Hmmmmm, I’m still wondering where Jerry got the name “Crazy Jerry”, I don’t think there’s a thing crazy about him.

I’ve written about Jerry before, maybe I should touch on the fact that Jerry is both innovative and has a pretty good grasp of physics and design. Jerry lives “simply well”.

Having owned and worked on a number of bikes including a Hayabusa, Jerry knows his way around both ultra fast and slow machinery. So here’s Jerry’s email, do take the time to look at his links and projects, I learn something new every time I visit!

Jerry couldn’t live much further away from me, and right now, he’s the number one reason I’d consider a visit to upper state New york. Following is Jerry’s email and my comments..

Hi George!!

Hope this note finds you well and enjoying yourself! The following will either
give you some firepower for a great rant (which you know I live for – or better
yet – which I know you live for!!) or some gear turning for down the road
regarding off-grid….

Jerry.. you know me well 🙂

For a number of years I’ve been looking to have all the amenities and still
reduce my usage to make a very good off-grid system even better. This is all
well and dandy but as the polishing continues a couple of things are now very
apparent:

1) Generator runtime for the entire year is pretty much
limited to once a month maintenance runs…

2) Two – thirds of the solar panels can now be covered up
as they are just needlessly baking in the sun.

3) The Wind generator is completely shut down as it too is
not needed at this time.

Part of the reason is because you are a practical man and burn a renewable resource with low emissions (wood).

So, in looking at my to-do list, there was one item that had the highest daily
out-of-pocket cost; “The Daily Commute”. *My current car will pull 42 mpg with
a light touch, windows up, lights off, radio way down low, and me staring
incessantly at the ScanGauge II. **The Changzuki will still pull 115-120 mpg
but lacks weather protection (not a problem if you wanna dress up like the kid
on “A Christmas Story”

No way Jerry!

.. June 3rd we still had a frost advisory one night!!)
***A bicycle is a thought (I have plenty of those from days gone by) but would
need to seriously pre-plan for the one-way 15-mile roller coaster commute. So,
taking all of this (and much, much more) into the cave, this winter was spent
on “The Aurora Project”. What I did is not exactly new, but is novel to
the off-grid system in that; there’s now a great use for some solar that could
not previously be used, and, the battery technology involved may well put a new
twist in the off-grid storage system down the road.

The Aurora Project is simply an enclosed tricycle that is well suited to a
daily commuter. The aero shell helps to reduce the energy (or watts) used
between point A and B regardless of the “engine” used… In this case there are
“dual” engines with myself as one, and a battery/motor combo as the other. The
current off-grid system I have uses six-big-blob lead acid batteries for about
1700 amp hours. I have a really good feel for them after about a decade and
understand their behavior over a variety of conditions. Enter the newer battery
technology used in Aurora = LiFePo4. Having on-hand, a 48 volt sealed lead acid
battery group (four 12 volt in series at 18 ah) compared to a 48 volt LiFePo4
(also four 12 volt in series but at 20 ah) I can make a couple of side-by-side
comparisons. Dimensionally, the lead acid 18 ah batteries are identical to the
20 ah LiFePo4. The lead acid have less usable amp hours than the LifePo4 and
are markedly heavier (50-ish pounds vs 26). I chose these LiFePo4 since the
charging and high/low voltage characteristics are right in-line with the lead
acid almost no learning curve there.

The big difference between the two is life cycles. The lead acid can be 300-800
or so depending on care (depth of discharge, etc..) Care also pertains to the
LifePo4 but the results can be a striking 1500 plus cycles – and that’s huge ~
So is the price ~ but that is coming down. The maintenance on these newer
batteries is next to zero and their performance is really outstanding compared
to the lead acids.

As of this writing, “Aurora” has racked up a bit over 700 miles. The
30 mile round trip commute to work (and yes it’s hilly!) can be made within a
total of 6-7 minutes of what it takes me in the car (that’s like 3 minutes
one-way), and will take roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes to completely recharge
the batteries – from previously sleeping solar panels. The depth of discharge
from one complete trip is only about 8-10% (90% left on tap)…

I get a lotta thumbs-up on this project as well as a lot of criticism – with
all points well taken – but I gotta say George, this thing is a blast and at
least if I’m going down – I’ll be going down swingin’ with a set of 59 Cadillac
taillights strapped to my backside!!!

Dang, I always loved those Caddy tail lights 🙂

This might possibly be my greatest caper ever:

http://diesel-bike.com/Aurora/aurora.html

Jerry, I know this is a little late, but do you mind if I post your email and your link in my blog?? Please Jerry! I hope it won’t be just me asking the questions here, are you planning to share the build and your parts sources? was the shell a kit? Has anyone crashed their bike turning their head to watch you go by? Construction CD offering in the future?

Has you Mom asked to drive it yet? Please come back and see if there’s questions to answer Jerry!

All the best Jerry!

george B.

Posted in Things I like | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Discovering Reality, With A Little Help From my Friends and Readers.

Posted on June 5, 2011 by George B.

Keep it simple

Zach likes KISS and he likes his stuff organized, he takes his shoes to the closet, puts trash in the trash, and he knows the difference between trash and recycle. His Grandma claims that Zach has already passed up George B  in these disciplines, and some others too.

It was just the other day I was posting about the use of  wireless connectivity via a popular standard and using a PDA, smart phone, or similar to collect data, monitor, and tweak an off grid system. Several readers responded with the fact that the parts are on the shelf to accomplish this, and I’m just not keeping up with the times.  In the case of the OBD2 code reader, I decided to order the blue tooth interface and give it a try, thanks to the reader who gave me the tip!  I think a recap of what happened to me might open the door for at least one other person, and help them question what they’re spending their money on too. Products are evolving so fast that many will be tossed on the junk pile a few months after the purchase.  Should you eBay some of your toys now, or wait till they have zero value?

I think my ‘high end’ OBD2 code reader and monitor I had in my pickup is an example, someone found my truck door unlocked in my drive way on just the right day.  We had just returned from a trip to our off grid place and my cameras, engine monitor, GPS and other expensive gadgets were in the console. I found the drivers door wide open in the AM, and of course many of the neighbors have an idea who it was, but what to do about it?

Since I use the cell phone, I did remove it as soon as we arrived home, and that’s one of the few toys I had left.

My new phone is an Android, and of course there are other very capable phones like the Iphone to choose from.  Some will note the high price of these phones, but that will change overnight, and I predict that Apple might have to change their policy of  ‘sealing’  their products to keep pace. Micro SD cards, and the ability to replace the battery in the field is a strong selling point, and many will buy the Android over the Iphone for this reason, or so I think.

I ordered a cheap blue tooth OBD2 reader for the truck.. free shipping, no tax..  I then looked for the free version of Torque OBD2 scanner and loaded it on the Android phone. I went to the truck and removed the ScanGauge I had purchased that would not read the codes in my 2006 GMC Duramax.  No matter what I tried, it would clear the codes an put out the ‘service’ light, but not read the codes, and it would report no codes were stored WHEN there was a stored code.

After spending a few minutes to learn how to ‘pair’ the blue tooth device with the phone, I started the ‘torque’ app and saw gauges, and other cool stuff on the generous sized Android Phone.  I started the truck to assure the ECM was alive and torque app could communicate to same. I then asked for the stored code(s). Presto, there it was, but the program also asked if I wanted to look up the fault on the internet? I also had the option of dumping a data file attached to an email address, and the torque app even has provisions to dump a track log! This is addictive compared to the rather limited features of the purpose built OBD2 scanner/monitors.

Now I sit here thinking of all the obsolete toys I own, A GPS that is now asking me if I want to buy a new upgrade for the maps package. The GPS is smart enough to tell me the maps are now too old to rely on.

I also reflect on yesterday, I was spending some time with Grandson Zach who’s two years old now. Two homes caught on fire just 250 feet away from Zach’s house and soon we had seven fire trucks to watch!  Zach said, Woo Woo, Woo Woo, Woo Woo, and his eyes were as big as saucers. Grandpa had a better camera in the truck, but the android phone was on his person, so that’s what I used to take pictures and video of the fire and all the equipment the fire department rolled.

I sit here at the keyboard thinking about all the time I’ve spent managing all my toys and all the times I’ve left home without them. The majority of the times I would have used them, they were home safe in a drawer. I also reflect on the times I grabbed my camera and found I had forgotten the SD card was back home in the SD slot of the desktop computer 🙁

Now this Android I have, it has a built in FM radio too, does that mean I can use it for same when the phone grows obsolete and is no longer connected to the net via a cell service provider?

My Daughter Dana called a few moments ago, she has an Android, and she told me of the App she has loaded that allows her to diagnose any problems with her new washer and dryer!

Yes… none of this is KISS, but there’s no way I’m going  back to a film camera, and at 63 years of age, I think I may have collected enough wisdom (yes I am slow) to question the amount of time and effort I’ve invested in these toys, and what I should do with them now?

I think about the laptop I have, and I’m thankful it has both WIFI and blue-tooth capability.. but I caught myself using the Android to view a YouTube video the other day.. it was quicker and handy.. why take a trip into the house to watch?

But let me add one more thing to the pile of stuff I’m thinking over as I try to grasp where we’re headed in the future.  I reported on these massive wind-farms going in here in Washington State and other places, Billions of dollars being spent, and much of it coming out of our back pockets in the way of subsidies. I see Politicians quick to endorse the plan, because they know it’s popular with voters, especially those who couldn’t add together two improper fractions yet alone tell you the difference between a BTU and an IOU. Their motto? If it’s green it must be good, and those who are big supporters of wind-power seem to have no concern that many of these wind farms have no conduit from the farm to the point of sale of the KWhs they could produce. Maybe in their minds it’s the thought that counts?

On a face book page, I see single parents complaining that our Government doesn’t offer them free childcare like they should, one mentions Sweden, and how it’s all free and better there. Stupid they are.. but they sometimes vote.

I talk to my favorite Solar Dealer, he says the market is dead, solar power sales are mostly made to self reliant people and that group assumes really bad times are coming, and they are not spending a dime!  Two reasons they are convinced of it… Our government is printing money like drunken fools, and a large segment of the voters seem to be encouraging them to print even  more! We have raised a few generations of people who assume that bad times can’t possibly settle on our shores, and all they seem to want to know is what government can do to transfer wealth to them?

It may be time to reduce my toy inventory, and I was just thinking about my wired phone.  I’ve been paying $20 a month for a long distance package, that covers long distance Intra and Interstate. Most of us know that the wired network is dying a slow death in many areas, the Feds and State Governments have Ham Strung some of these companies to assure others could gain market share on them, the Feds even made it illegal for the telephone Companies to allow you to dial time of day! but more to the point of this post, we need to see what the smart phone is becoming, and it’s ability to challenge the wired phone and it’s E911 capabilities. The smart phones have the ability to transmit exactly where you are, and there’s no doubt that any concern about security can be addressed, maybe you set up your phone to deliver location data ONLY after you dial 911?

I think we need to see the possibility that the smart phone (a modern Swiss army knife) will bring an end to the wired phone. The DSL speeds offered by the longer loops out of the central offices are not meeting typical demands for popular things like YouTube video, Skype and more.  Phone Companies that have invested in fiber might sell more bandwidth for transport, but how do they get rid of that outside copper plant and the expense of maintaining it?  what kind of subsidies or revenue sharing do they lose as the wired line count drops? I’m sure a very significant portion of the translation work in the central offices is disconnect work, and when I purchased this Android phone the Salesmen offered me a little box that delivers dial tone to my wired phones with LD for a flat $20 a month.. What’s the old Telecoms to do about all this? If you have a Swiss Army knife in your pocket, what do you need a land line for??

I dunno..

The world is changing so quickly, I have no clue where we’re going. I do however note that all too many think it’s going to be a free ride. Some have even told me “We are too big to fail.” I’m sure the Romans said that too.

Posted in Things I like | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A DIYer/Vendor Veteran Needs your Prayers.

Posted on June 3, 2011 by George B.

No doubt.. no one pleases every Customer, but Joel Koch out of Portland, Oregon has given his best effort in doing so over the years, and he’s found some endeavors less than profitable. Part of the reason for that is his past efforts to make sure customers were happy after the sale, to send spares or replacement parts when he had them.

I’ve recently received a number of emails asking how Joel is, and why he hasn’t returned calls or emails.  Fact is Joel is in the Portland VA, and was literally fighting for his life yesterday. Word this AM is his Vitals are better and he’s scheduled for another surgery.

If you are one of those people who have recognized Joel’s efforts over the years to be a square dealer and friend, I ask that you send him your prayers now.

For you Veterans, for those citizens who think it’s important that we take care of Veterans. A friend who is close to Joel Reports that the care Joel is receiving at the Portland Veteran’s Hospital is outstanding, she has been extremely impressed with the care and attention that Joel is receiving, and she once worked in a hospital!

Joel is receiving Daily visits, but has been sedated for several days now and is presently in isolation due to some complications associated with his illness.

If you wish to send Joel a card, he’d love it! Viki Atkinson, a mutual friend who owns and runs North West Metal Products in Hillsborow, Oregon (see website ‘nwmp.com’.) will personally deliver a card or message you mail to her at the following address:

Joel Koch
% Vicki Atkinson
2616 NE Aurora Dr.
Hillsboro, OR 97124

Joel was a Vietnam era Pilot in the Army.. having been in the Navy, I learned first hand from Joel the Army had airplanes 🙂 I thought all they had were tanks 🙂

No doubt Joel will be in the Portland VA for a while, I’m sure he’d love to hear from you..

In closing.. My personal thanks to the Portland VA  Doctors, Nurses, Staff….. there’s no way you received such praise without earning it!  Aren’t we all pleased to hear of their dedication to our Vets.

Keep those prayers coming, Mobile Bob and others, please consider relaying the word to forums and email threads… haunts of AE-DIYers.

George B.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Trusted Vendors, Utterpower's Friends | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More on Gasifiers, What say you?

Posted on June 3, 2011 by George B.

Father’s day is coming! Here’s word of another get together in Berserkly..but first!

For those interested in Gasifiers, I hope you’ll add any suppliers, web addresses or contact numbers for other suppliers who have supplied output data you were impressed with.  Just reply to this post.

I’d love to share a link or information regarding the supplier of a proven gasifier WHERE proof of a given electrical load for a given period of time can be measured  with respected instruments and methods.

If I were attempting to sell a gasifier, to our DIYer group, I know how important it would be to tell them how much load they could place on same, and whether they’d need to keep one or two hands on the equipment in order to keep it running.

I remember the first small steam power plant I saw demonstrated at a county fair. It was built somewhere around 1890, and was sold to a lot of small dairy farms to run a milking machine, and perform other duties in the parlor. If memory serves me right, it was  around one horsepower in output or less.

The demonstrator knew this plant well, and when I asked about the plant’s ability to run unattended, the operator closed a valve, grabbed a wrench and removed a little device and placed it in my hand. It was a simple part, and it might as well had the word KISS engraved on it. It was likely machined of bar stock, and on one end was a piston of sorts that shuttled back and forth. The other end worked as a pressure pump to bring in feed-water as needed. Every Steam enthusiast will smile, as they likely know the name of this most common part.. (I don’t remember) and I’ll claim it’s common to forget the details after 50 years.

The point you ask? Dairy Farmers were likely a hard sell, most needed some proof that their purchase would provide a return on investment, and most every Dairy Farmer of the day was a ‘hands on guy.’ He understood you couldn’t be doing all the chores necessary in the parlor with one or more hands on the steam engine, and he was looking for proof of what the power plant would do for him before he spent his first dime.

As a producer of gasifiers, I think there’s two markets to target.  You could target the Greenies who are often more interested in looking Green than anything else. You’ll need no proof of output, and in some cases, all you’ll need do is paint it green and put a slogan like help save the planet on it. One of the down sides of marketing to this crowd is a large percentage of them are unemployed, and many live in a corner of their parent’s basement.

If you Target DIYers, you have your work cut out. Many of them have the money because they are frugal, and know the value of having a dollar saved. They  often change their own oil NOT because they save a lot of money doing so, but because they don’t want some Moron at ‘Monkey lube’ stripping the threads on the oil plug, leaving  it loose, leaving the filter loose, or a dozen other things that have left people stranded along side the road.

It’s harder to BS a DIYer, and normally you need provide more evidence that your product will provide him a service before he buys.

As per the get together below…  Will anyone measure the load and report on how long the gasifier can run unattended? A dairy Farmer back in 1890 would want know.

Who will attend this event? Kelpie Wilson?, Berserkly Art Students? I’d love to see a few Farm Boys show up, and maybe even an EE who has a power analyzer and makes the effort to use it. Following is an advertisement I received, and I’m sure others in our DIYer group did as well..

GB…

Father’s Day Gasification and Biochar Workshop: June 17-19, 2011

Opening Intro & Lecture: Friday, June 17, 7:30 – 9:30PM
Weekend Build, Run and Test: Saturday and Sunday, June 17-19, 11am – 7pm

 

Location: ALL Power Labs, 1010 Murray Street, Berkeley CA 94710
Cost: Free if you are a GEK or BEK owner, either through self build or purchase.  Otherwise, $100 for weekend.
RSVP to the forum here. Buy your spot here.

 

 

 

Our summer workshop is fast approaching-  June 17th – 19th.  Many of you have already RSVP’ed and are flying in from the 4 corners, but there is still room for more.  So come join us for a quality Father’s Day weekend of wrenching, rotating machinery, and guided tour down the rabbit hole of biomass thermal conversion.

 

The workshop begins with a Friday evening talk on the science of gasification and pyrolysis, and the new engineering solutions embodied in the GEK gasifier and BEK biochar maker.  Saturday and Sunday are full days of building, running and testing the physical particulars. Come prepared to get your hands dirty building and running machinery.  We learn through both talking and working.

 

We’ll have 4 projects going in parallel for this round of the workshop.  You can participate in all of them, and wander between them as desired.

 

1.  50 Hour Endurance run of the 10kw Power Pallet:
Long proving runs of the Power Pallet continue on this end.  This round we’ll do a total of 50 hours over several days.  We have it on good authority that it will not rain this time, and we’ll be sure to have plenty of reasonable fuel on hand before we start.  We look forward to more refined data on fuel consumption, gas composition, and feedback on general usability from you kicking the tires over the weekend.  Runs will start on Saturday and continue into the early part of the following week.  If you can’t be here, we’ll have a webcam on the proceedings as usual.

 

This test will use one of the current generation stainless steel Power Pallets pictured here: http://www.gekgasifier.com/wpgallery/

 

2. Demonstration runs of the 20kw Power Pallet:
Those of you interested in the larger 20kw Power Pallet will can finally see one in action over the weekend.   There will also be 8 of the 20kw Power Pallets under assembly in the APL factory, so you can see how we make them.  Things will look something like this, only bigger: http://wiki.gekgasifier.com/w/file/40416596/batch2onthefloor.JPG.  The engineers and builders of these units will be on hand to answer questions and explain the details.

 

3.  GEK Gasifier Building:
Want to build you own gasifier?  Here’s your chance to do it, using our tools and with plenty of instruction from the local crew.

 This round of the workshop we’re having a special GEK Level III building clinic.  We have tables and welders for 4 people who want to weld together a kit over the weekend.  Given clear inhouse instruction, you should be able to get through the building process by the end of Sunday.  Finished gasifiers can Russian doll back into the hopper and filter for checking as oversize baggage on the plane.  Yes this does work.  We do this regularly.

 Anyone who wants to do this will need to reserve a spot by purchasing a Level III weld together GEK kit.  There is no additional cost for instruction, using our tools, and burning our welding wire.  The workshop is also free if you get a kit.   We’re trying to make this easy and accessible.

 Again, there are ONLY 4 slots for gasifier building.  Welders are limited.  Please reserve ahead of time if you want to build a kit.


4.  BEK Biochar maker running:

 We continue to have the BEK on hold while we focus on ramping up the Power Pallet production.  This has made quite a few people unhappy, as there is so few small scale biochar making machines available at the moment.  We’re trying to get back to making these as soon as possible, but in the meantime we wanted to give the interested a chance to run our in house machine.

 We’ll have the BEK on fire both Saturday and Sunday of the workshop.  You are welcome to bring your feedstock of interest and run it through.  Or, you can experiment with our variety of feedstocks on location.  If you have some you want to bring, please do write us beforehand so we can coordinate the details.



General Info and Signup

 

The APL workshop series offers education, research reports and hands-on experience to bring more people to successful operation of small scale gasification and pyrolysis units.  The event is open to everyone, not just GEK or BEK users/owners.  Worshops are free if you own a GEK or BEK by either purchase or DIY build. Otherwise the weekend is $100, which helps to cover food, drink and other consumables.

 

If you want to join us, please RSVP to the forum thread here: http://www.gekgasifier.com/forums/showthread.php?t=563

 

If you need to pay the workshop fee, you can do so via credit card here: http://www.gekgasifier.com/about/workshop/sign-up/

 

Information on local accommodation, maps and airports is here: http://www.gekgasifier.com/about/workshop/travel-and-accomodation/

 

 

 

We look forward to seeing you here soon.
jim



 —
 ——————————————————————————
 Jim Mason
 Website: http://www.whatiamupto.com
Current Projects:
 – Gasifier Experimenters Kit (the GEK): http://www.gekgasifier.com
– Escape from Berkeley alt fuels vehicle race: www.escapefromberkeley.com
– ALL Power Labs on Twitter: http://twitter.com/allpowerlabs
– Shipyard Announce list: http://lists.spaceship.com/listinfo.cgi/icp-spaceship.com

 

———————————————————–

OK.. if you read this far, let me add.. I’m hoping I can report that some impressive data came out of this meet.. GB..

 

 

 

 

Posted in Alternative Energy Sources, Announcements, CHP/ Co Gen, Off Grid Power | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Windy Day in May

Posted on May 31, 2011 by George B.
wind-farm-above-throp

wind-farm-above-throp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you remember when Forrest Gump Invested in the Fruit Company (Apple) and made some serious money?

I’ve been thinking about the analogy of investing in a fruit company and having little knowledge of the business, how many investors who buy stock really know much about the business in which they invest?

Let’s say you invest in a Fruit Company that grows delicious apples, and you read in the paper that they had a bumper crop of apples, but the company didn’t have acess to any trucks to haul the apples to market, so they rotted in the bins :-0

This may be a very close analogy to what is happening in the wind farm just above Throp, Washington this spring, and as Forbes Magazine reports, “investors are pissed”.

This weekend my Wife and I made a favorite drive along the old Thorp Hiway on a section that runs from Ellensburg to CleElum.  As we drove, we looked across the valley near the Fruit Stand  at the huge wind turbines with locked turbine blades looking like huge Monoliths guarding the view of the Stuart Range, one of the more magnificent mountain ranges in Washington State.

Why were these Giants not making electricity on this most perfect windy day in May? It reminds me of Maceys deciding to close their Stores for the holidays, the same days that determine profitability in retail sales for the entire year.  A wind farm locked down for the peak energy period of the year? Why?

I think the answer has a lot to do with the promoters and investors. All too often, the technical voices are drowned out by those who are giddy and cocksure that anything Green has to be good! But just like in my analogy,  the investors in this wind farm (and others) assumed there were Trucks and Trailers available to haul the product to market.

Fact is, it’s the BPA who manages the fleet of trucks and trailers in this case, and they have plenty of historical data as to how these trucks have been used in the past and to what capacity.  I know how it works, no doubt in my mind the voices were there in the early stages of this project.. pleading that someone look into grid capacity and assure that the product could be haued to market before the project progressed.

Now the talking heads speak of the exceptional snow pack this year, the high run off, the fact that our very green, renewable, carbon free, hydro energy is in abundance and literally flooding the grid ties to capacity! The BPA decision seems simple to me, it’s all the same color (green) but one is a fraction of the cost.

Exceptional snow pack? Lots of water for hydro this time of year? Use it or lose it? It’s all water over the dam? Isn’t it true that peak Hydro power and peak Wind power arrive in the same time frames every year?

Forrest Gump bought Apple on his own, no government subsidies, No state Governor waded in to overrule the objections people had regarding how viable the project was..

As Forbes reports.. the “investors are pissed”, but others might ask.. aren’t we all investors through massive Government subsidies, how many of us care enough to be pissed?

Didn’t I read that Washington State Governor Gregoire also provided a Five Million Dollar Grant (from State TAX Revenue) for other wind turbines on the west coast? Are these investments profitable, and who is providing the data on their profitability? Aren’t we in the middle of a budget crisis?

Maybe it is just as I see it.. no one really cares, long as it’s green, and that green might need to be only as thick as one coat of paint. Maybe it’s best that we all invest in Green paint, can you  sell near anything to Seattle as long as you slop some green paint on it?

End of article, but more on the weekend’s activities follows..

The Outback Inverter and equipment at our off grid place in Easton  continues to operate flawlessly, we’ve had Elk including two bulls walk through between the pump house and the power house, there’s also a large male Coyote who makes his morning rounds, he’s a daily visitor, and one morning we got to watch him from the cabin window as we drank our first cup of coffee.  We still need to start the Lister 6/1 to pump up our pressurized water system, all starts have been first compression stoke starts, and this engine is so easy to start, I’ve never considered an electric starter, one short run gives us all the daily water we need including two hot hollywood type showers a day.

We hiked some this weekend, and as we made our way up through a most beautiful narrow ravine filled with tall conifers and a babbling mountain stream, I took note of the near endless numbers of blooming Trilliums under the heavy canopy of tall Conifers.  There were a few late Morrells under the giant cottonwoods at the lower elevations, and other new mushrooms coming up that might be edible, one in particular that was meaty and near jet black in color found in the densely packed connifer forrests with a heavy blanket of composing needles. I did take a picture and I hope to learn more about that variety. We found brilliant red blooms in areas of deciduous growth, so bright, you needed to squint when looking at them.  As we worked up a thousand feet in elevation or more, we saw patches of snow, and then snow fields. The cottonwood leaves were coated with a sticky and wonderful fragerance, and the smell carried me off to thoughts of other times in the Cascade mountains.

As we set high on an rock outcrop looking down the valley, I thought about our media, and I wondered if their goal was ever any different than I see it now? Was there ever a time when they weren’t so keenly focused on their bottom line? Do they take on the views and opinions of the majority of their market audiance in an effort to be popular?   Do they report what their audiance wants to hear?  Personally..  I think that’s the case, and to point out there’s problems with the green ideas that many think will save us all may lose them viewers.

It’s generally about following the money.. “out of your pocket into someone elses.” Or at least that’s my thought at the moment..

GB

 

 

 

 

Posted in Fighting Propaganda, Your Wasted Tax Dollars | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The default I/O device?

Posted on May 28, 2011 by George B.

Among our DIYer  group are a lot of people who hack together a little code and stuff same in microprocessors for all kinds of stuff. The basic Stamp is a great intro to what can
be done and I doubt there’s a better learning tool. Search for ‘Parallax Inc’ for more info.

One of the things that has always bugged me is the cost of
implementing I/O, whether it be a series of buttons and leds, or a key board
and monitor. We often find the cost of buying these pieces and implementing
them far more expensive than a used PC or a PDA with blue tooth, WIFI, a USB
port, etc. Why would we even think of spending more for less?

I’m not current on Outback products, but consider their
wonderful  Inverters. If you buy one, you’re encouraged to buy the ‘powermate’ so you can talk to the inverter, and even do so remotely via a wired Ethernet connection.

f we consider the mind boggling power of the ‘I phones’ and
now the ‘Androids’, doesn’t it make sense to consider a blue tooth or WIFI
connection to gain access to your hacked projects or even the Outback products and others?

A WIFI to Ethernet module or USB to WIFI might allow us to
connect to our custom off grid power controller  and monitor everything from battery voltage to
sent a request to change a ‘dump’ load from the default to a secondary load.

The device I seek may already exist, or it might be cheaply
hacked by using an outdated wireless router with open source software? What I
seek is a wireless connection, a way of talking to our device in the field from
our favorite PDA and being able to save performance data and more.

Your input will be appreciated!

GB

Posted in Off Grid Power | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Want a slow speed Lister Generator Set??

Posted on May 26, 2011 by George B.

This is a good running machine.. it’s located in Redmond, I know that no one has even looked at it yet! I htink the first person who does will buy.. A proven machin is better than new. Owner is a top DIYer with way too many toys.. he needs more room just like myself..

This was one of the few I built and assembled..Geoff added a starter…

Generator 10 HP 5000KW

G

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Slow Speed Engines | 2 Comments