Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

I do think in a post oil world that sail ships will make a comeback, though probably with more computers than extra crew. It will mean that we will only import what is worth importing, so that will be high value items like spices, and rubber. While bicycles need rubber they need considerably less than a car and also do less damage to the road network. So roads would last longer than they do now.

This is the sort of bike that I think would do well. It can carry more than 100 lbs of items. Great as a bug out vehicle. Narrow and able to carry quite a lot.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/town/urban_utility/transport/

nuatha

mac2008 wrote: »

Hello all

I usually post on the 'green & ethical money saving' board, which is mostly about solar, but I like keeping up with this too. I just wanted to add some info re. solar panels.

Yes, it does seem stupid that most systems will not generate power without a mains connection, but this for safety reasons and called islanding protection - if the grid power is down and someone is trying to fix it, they really don't want a couple of kW's coming down that cable from a solar PV 'island' on someone's roof when they think the cable should be dead!

As has been mentioned, you can get dedicated 'off grid' systems which usually have (very expensive) battery storage. Interestingly, you can claim the government fed-in-tariff for off grid systems, but obviously not the export part.

I suppose in a real SHTF situation resulting in a long-term power outage, someone with the right knowledge could modify a 'grid tie' system. At a very basic level, one could just take the DC output from the panels and attach it to a charge controller and batteries instead of the grid-tie intverter.

If BB is interested in powering small appliances during an outage, then one of these would be an ideal 'plug & play' solution, if not cheap:

http://www.power-on-demand.co.uk/solarpod-and-60w-foldable-panel---bundle-deal-135-p.asp

Mac

Thank you Mac
I fully understand the reasoning why you don't want a live feed back into a dead grid - though I'd have gone for an isolation switch that allowed local use without any feed out and no local use until it was safely isolated.
I wasn't aware that the feed-in tariff could be applied in off grid solutions - though the folk I know who go down this sort of route would regard government paperwork as "on-grid"

Frugalsod

GreyQueen wrote: »

Drives me bat-!!!!! crazy that no one I meet IRL seems to want to think about the implications, and to start to transition towards a lower-energy future.

I am currently looking into the idea of using solar panels to run a laptop from, as well as a solar kettle for boiling water. It might be slow and might need several for a days coffee refills, but combined with a vacuum flask it might work. Initially I suspect that the payback rate will be very long but as electricity prices rocket once we start to run out of oil and gas then its will become very cost effective.

VJsmum

Some may recall that two years ago we went to Pennsylvania and spent some time in Lancaster county - which is where the Amish live.

I don't recall seeing a bicycle, though wasn't looking.

But there are loads of buggies of different kinds, all pulled by horses - the young males had souped up versions complete with darkened windows and a curtained off area at the back :rotfl: The fields were ploughed using horses, the houses kept cool by keeping shutters closed (always green shutters, not sure if that was for practical, religious or traditional reasons). But, make no mistake, the Amish are well switched on when it comes to making money. One of their main cash crops is tobacco.

It did seem to be a lovely gentle way of life though.

mac2008

nuatha wrote: »

Thank you Mac
I fully understand the reasoning why you don't want a live feed back into a dead grid - though I'd have gone for an isolation switch that allowed local use without any feed out and no local use until it was safely isolated.
I wasn't aware that the feed-in tariff could be applied in off grid solutions - though the folk I know who go down this sort of route would regard government paperwork as "on-grid"

You're right - I'm sure there are better ways of doing it, but as well as automatic local isolation you'd need some kind of load control as in fully off-grid setups - you can't just generate power without it being used or stored. As solar output fluctuates so much you'd need batteries and/or some kind of dump load to use it effectively and it'd all get a bit complicated. I'm sure its not beyond the wit of man (or woman) to invent a plug & play solution that could be retrofitted though.

I don't blame your friend's not wishing to involve the government either - I wouldn't be surprised if the government tried to either backtrack on the feed in tariff, or get pressured by the large generators to introduce something stupid like a tax on sunshine - don't laugh, it's happening in Spain! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24272061

Also is BB finds the Solarpod too expensive, I note Maplin currently have a neat little battery/inverter/usb/light thingy for £55:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/portable-power-pack-with-200w-inverter-and-usb-charging-socket-a10hz

Only a 5Ah battery, so couldn't run a fridge, but good for charging mobiles, radios, lighting etc.


Mac.

Frugalsod

VJsmum wrote: »

Some may recall that two years ago we went to Pennsylvania and spent some time in Lancaster county - which is where the Amish live.

I don't recall seeing a bicycle, though wasn't looking.

But there are loads of buggies of different kinds, all pulled by horses - the young males had souped up versions complete with darkened windows and a curtained off area at the back :rotfl: The fields were ploughed using horses, the houses kept cool by keeping shutters closed (always green shutters, not sure if that was for practical, religious or traditional reasons). But, make no mistake, the Amish are well switched on when it comes to making money. One of their main cash crops is tobacco.

It did seem to be a lovely gentle way of life though.

Yes the rest of the economy is going to be looking like Amish one day.

the_cake

I hope not - from an animal welfare standpoint, anyway. The Amish buy up cheap and worn-out horses (Morgans and Saddlebreds in particular, as they are tough, and showy, and often already broken to drive) from the 'kill pens', use them hard for as long as they last, then return them to sell for meat in the kill pens. I wouldn't wish this fate on any horse, and many people who keep horses in areas where the Amish live have them PTS at home rather than have them suffer this fate....

mardatha

I think I'm the only person in the world who really doesn't like the Amish.

the_cake

mardatha wrote: »

I think I'm the only person in the world who really doesn't like the Amish.

No you're not!!

VJsmum

I only saw them over about 2 days. The horses were certainly worked, but not cruelly treated (I.e no beatings - i realise tht isn't necessarily the extent of it). I was a bit shocked at how commercial they were - and a little "holier than thou".