Electrical Power in the Aftertime

[Howard]

For many, Aftertime preparations are relegated to securing a safe location, gathering vital essentials and do not include provisions for generating electrical power.  While this isn't imperative for survival, it will be required for optimum vegetable cultivation, radio communication, among other quality of life improvements.  Although many are hoping to be deemed worthy of receiving a perpetual power pack, there's no telling when or even IF this can be expected.

 

Some may be able to rely on their ability to generate power from salvaging Aftertime wreckage, but most of us cannot.  This discussion is offered for those intending to generate power in the Aftertime and wanting to learn more.  Anyone currently living off-grid or with expertise generating and storing power is encouraged to share their ideas on reliable alternatives in an Aftertime environment.

 

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

 

There's much to be said regarding human powered generators in the context of an Aftertime scenario.  Most commercially available human-powered generators involve either a stationary bicycle that utilizes legs for pedaling or a hand crank mechanism that utilizes the upper body. Since a human is only capable of producing relatively low RPMs, power output is likewise limited.  And while pedaling a stationary bike for an hour currently may not be overly taxing, when your day is comprised of chopping wood, carrying water, and other physically exhausting activities - and you're borderline malnourished, this may not be a realistic option. Before exploring other alternatives for generating power, it's important to clarify some common misconceptions:

 

Misconception 1:  "I can salvage an alternator from a car or truck and generate power, right?"

 

Not easily. Most vehicle alternators start producing power at RPMs far greater than humans can achieve without substantial mechanical gearing to increase the alternator speed.  While vehicle alternators can be modifed to generate power at lower RPMs, this involves replacing the existing stator windings with windings that have more turns of smaller gauge wire, which is no small feat.

 

Using a vehicle alternator to harness wind power is also problematic. A car alternator is designed to be lightweight and operate at very high RPM. Since it won't produce useable power below 1000 RPM, ordinary wind turbine blades mounted on the shaft will spin relatively slowly and not produce useable power. While you can attempt to compensate for this speed mismatch by introducing gearing, rewinding the stator coils, or even using shorter blades, you'll find these laborious efforts only result in a wind generator that is clumsy, inefficient, and produces little power.

Also, you have to remove and bypass the internal voltage regulator if your battery is not right next to the alternator. So unless you have the battery mounted on top the tower, the voltage at the alternator will be higher than the battery voltage due to resistance in the wiring and the regulator will start to limit the voltage output before the battery begins charging properly. All in all, trying to use a vehicle alternator is a bad idea.

 

Misconception 2:  "I can hook up any Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG) to a stationary bike and generate sufficient power to charge my battery bank, right?"

 

Not necessarily.  Even PMGs advertised as "Low RPM" that reportedly generate voltage and current at any RPM need to be evaluated based on your ability to turn the generator fast enough to charge your batteries.  If you're trying to charge a 12V battery and you can't pedal fast enough to generate more than 12V, your battery will die just slightly ahead of you.

 

Misconception 3:  "I can use car batteries in my battery bank, right?"

 

Bad idea. Most batteries that start engines (starter batteries) are designed to be drained only slightly (2 to 5%) during ignition, after which they're recharged by the vehicle's alternator. This type of battery fails to hold a charge when repeatedly drained and recharged (deep cycled).  A used automotive battery can fail after only a few deep cycles, while a new deep cycle battery can last for over 20 years. While it would be recommended to obtain deep cycle batteries now, deep cycle batteries could be acquired in the Aftertime by salvaging those found in boat wreckage (marine batteries), as well as ones residing in forklifts, golf carts and floor sweepers (traction batteries).

 

Misconception 4:  "I can erect a wind generator anywhere and it will generate power as long there's wind, right?"

 

A wind generator needs to be positioned in a carefully chosen location that satisifies stringent criteria:

a.  Dependable Wind.  Any location will have periods when there's no wind, but you want to choose a site where there is some wind most of the time.

b.  Sufficient Wind.  Even though the blades may be turning, most wind generators won't charge batteries in winds less than 7 mph.  Power output increases almost linearly in winds between 10 mph and 20 mph, after which power output levels off and actually decreases in wind speeds over 35 mph as overspeed controls come into play. 

c.  Excessive Wind. While not enough wind is a problem, too much of it is a bad thing, too.  In wind speeds greater than 35 mph, most wind generators have built-in overspeed controls that slow blade rotation to prevent damage.  This reduces power output and increases wear and tear.  While some wind generators cannot survive wind speeds above 50 mph, others can endure wind speeds up to 120 mph.

d.  Good Wind.  For optimum performance, a wind generator should be located far away and well above the nearest obstacle that could affect the quality of wind by introducing turbulence.  Some say a wind generator should be located at least 300 feet away and 30 feet above the nearest obstacle, while others suggest a horizontal distance of 200 feet and vertical height of 20 feet is satisfactory.  It all depends on the location.  An 80-foot tower is not unheard of.

 

WHERE TO BEGIN

 

So what's the best means of generating power in the Aftertime?  This depends on many factors including your geographic location, how much power you envision your group requiring, what your group's capabilities are and what your available resources are for obtaining energy system components. 

 

If you wish to have electrical power in the Aftertime, its essential that your survival group contain at least one person with sufficient knowledge to be capable of either salvaging the necessary parts in the Aftertime or building the group's renewable energy system from commercially available components right now.  Personally, I believe this also includes the ability to build a generator from raw materials since there's no assurance power generating devices, despite how carefully protected, will survive the Pole Shift.

 

For those interested in learning how to build wind generators from raw materials, I highly recommend Hugh Piggott's, A Wind Turbine Recipe Book. This book is also available for download. I endorse this book because I was successful building a wind generator using it's instructions. The book includes plans for building 4', 6', 8', 10', 12' and 14' rotor diameter wind generators and is available in English or metric units.

 

So if your intention is to generate power in the Aftertime, how do you intend to accomplish it? 

We need to start talking about this now.  After the 7 of 10 hits, it might be too late.

[Stanislav]

Miracle motorbike that goes 500km… on a liter of water! 25 July, 2015

A Brazilian man, Ricardo Azevedo from Sao Paulo, has shown off his wonder bike to the world. The magic machine can travel up to 500 kilometers on a liter of water.

The so-called “T Power H20” vehicle is powered by water and an external car battery to produce electricity and split the hydrogen from the water molecules.

As a result, combustion is created giving the motorbike the impetus to move.

In the video, Azevedo first drinks from the bottle, proving that it’s indeed water and not some kind of other fuel. Then he fills the canister and rides off.

Azevedo also demonstrates how the bike works. The inventor shows that even polluted waters from the Tiete River can be used to fuel the vehicle.

The Brazilian is promoting his creation as an environment-friendly machine.

“The advantage of this motorcycle, which works with the hydrogen that comes from the water, is that the result that comes out of the exhaust is water vapor. This is different from gasoline, which [produces] carbon monoxide," he told RT. Source: rt.com

[Juan F Martinez]

[Nancy Lieder]

Via email, some suggestions: 

Many people, around the world, have been working and experimenting with different ideas as well as improving on past successful and relied upon methods used. 
Like the FEMA Gasifier, which was used during the Second World War, both here and abroad when fuel was rationed. 

https://www.build-a-gasifier.com/fema-gasifier-plans/ 

 

People have expanded and greatly improved on this method, even the Japanese greatly 
improved on the method by utilizing charcoal instead of wood and that has been improved on. 

https://permies.com/t/19954/Charcoal-Gasification 

 

Expanding on this is a method utilized for running A generator On Water; 

http://www.free-energy-info.com/Generator.pdf  

 

A source of much more information and ideas are available at; 
Practical Guide to Free-Energy Devices 

http://www.free-energy-info.com/indexOct2018.html 

 

Heating; Rocket Stove heaters 

https://www.rocketheater.com/

[M. Difato]

One of the most useful and overlooked items in most homes "The Ceiling Fan". More commonly used years ago but still very much in common use today. I can't even go to the local dump without seeing these ceiling fans just tossed away. Ceiling fan have an almost perfect array of copper coils for the production of free energy with the use of the more modern and much stronger Neodymium Magnets for turning these AC motors into AC generators. Ceiling fans along with many other AC motors can be salvaged and with a little insight and Tutelage from this Youtube channel  https://www.youtube.com/user/muddymuddymuddmann  these videos will give insight into topics such as learning how to convert AC to DC is rather simple with the use of a Full Wave Rectifier cheap and easily salvaged or made with 4 simple diodes for use with a battery bank. And even more advanced projects. In my opinion he helps give the common man a better self-assurance now and in the future when salvaging and producing energy, and make even the novice a pro. When it comes to Energy in the Aftertime it's magnets, magnets, magnets.Easy to purchase now but with the worsening broken link may be tougher to find in box stores.

HOW TO CEILING FAN WIND TURBINE

[Howard Boldt]

Maybe it's already been said (I'm just starting to go through all these posts), but nothing says "Hello! Here we are! Come and get us!" like a wind turbine tower. If we're trying to remain hidden, wind power might not be a good idea. Or, one can make lower wind turbines. But this means going bigger if we want subsantial amounts of power, cuz wind is slower as we diminish height. Also, it might mean wind funneling, as we strive to increase the power available from light, lower winds. However, making a larger wind funnel which can be turned into the wind (or which self-steers) is not a small undertaking. But, suppose we make a funnel which doubles wind speed. That gives us more power. And the ability to operate in much less wind. Overall, I'm mainly looking for a way to frequently obtain 500-1000 watts for powering grow lights for a good number of hours per week. Biogas fuel, for powering a generator, is my current quest, but having an additional wind option would mean saving more biogas. Is anyone going down the biogas road? Also, I'd like to know if some or all grow lights require or benefit from an inverter generator, as opposed to just a regular old generator. If so, which type(s) of grow lights?    

[Carlos Villa]

500 to100 watts
Hello Howard. My cabin uses an average of 500 watts per hour so in order to generate this kind of power on a cloudy day like today, I use 32 solar panels which should produce 6000 watts per hour on a sunny day but on a cloudy day, I'm getting 730 watts and it's 11 am.

[Carlos Villa]

Grow light, ac or dc?
Hello again Howard. I use my grow lights both on a 12v battery and from the 120v power supply. It's more efficient to use 12v directly but you will need thicker wires. 120v is less efficient but you use thinner wires. A hydroponics table 2 feet by 8 feet uses 120 watts of LEDs per hour times 18 hours so 2.1kw per day.

[Howard]

There is often misunderstanding around the need to maintain stealth.  Obviously, you want your safe location situated well off the beaten path in a remote area, but maintaining complete invisibility to marauding gangs is unnecessary. The Zetas explain: Aftertime Raids.

Ideally, your wind generator should be positioned 300 feet from any obstacles. A tower located in a forest clearing doesn't need to be much higher than the tree tops to yield the desired output. Until the atmosphere rebuilds, Earth's surface will be more windy, as the Zetas have also explained: ZetaTalk for June 18, 2011.

Gas generators can be useful in the short term, but should not be relied upon for the long term since the broken link theory clearly applies: Machine Age.

Howard Boldt said:

Maybe it's already been said (I'm just starting to go through all these posts), but nothing says "Hello! Here we are! Come and get us!" like a wind turbine tower. If we're trying to remain hidden, wind power might not be a good idea. Or, one can make lower wind turbines. But this means going bigger if we want subsantial amounts of power, cuz wind is slower as we diminish height. Also, it might mean wind funneling, as we strive to increase the power available from light, lower winds. However, making a larger wind funnel which can be turned into the wind (or which self-steers) is not a small undertaking. But, suppose we make a funnel which doubles wind speed. That gives us more power. And the ability to operate in much less wind. Overall, I'm mainly looking for a way to frequently obtain 500-1000 watts for powering grow lights for a good number of hours per week. Biogas fuel, for powering a generator, is my current quest, but having an additional wind option would mean saving more biogas. Is anyone going down the biogas road? Also, I'd like to know if some or all grow lights require or benefit from an inverter generator, as opposed to just a regular old generator. If so, which type(s) of grow lights?    

[Howard]

Thanks, Carlos.

Carlos Villa said:

Grow light, ac or dc?
Hello again Howard. I use my grow lights both on a 12v battery and from the 120v power supply. It's more efficient to use 12v directly but you will need thicker wires. 120v is less efficient but you use thinner wires. A hydroponics table 2 feet by 8 feet uses 120 watts of LEDs per hour times 18 hours so 2.1kw per day.

[Howard Boldt]

Thanks! I'd like more clarification on whether a higher, more visible wind turbine is an "advertisement" about our location. Maybe I'll shoot Nancy a question on that. Good to know that wind speeds will be higher! As for gas generators, good ones can last for years, even if run daily on biogas - if the biogas is scrubbed of its corrosive elements. And there being no gasoline around, I expect there will many free or cheap small home generators to be had. However, maybe there are better ways to power grow lights and other things. If we have multiple ways to produce electricity, so much the better, of course. If one fails or is currently unavailable (eg, windless days), then we have other options.

Howard said:

There is often misunderstanding around the need to maintain stealth.  Obviously, you want your safe location situated well off the beaten path in a remote area, but maintaining complete invisibility to marauding gangs is unnecessary. The Zetas explain: Aftertime Raids.

Ideally, your wind generator should be positioned 300 feet from any obstacles. A tower located in a forest clearing doesn't need to be much higher than the tree tops to yield the desired output. Until the atmosphere rebuilds, Earth's surface will be more windy, as the Zetas have also explained: ZetaTalk for June 18, 2011.

Gas generators can be useful in the short term, but should not be relied upon for the long term since the broken link theory clearly applies: Machine Age.

Howard Boldt said:

Maybe it's already been said (I'm just starting to go through all these posts), but nothing says "Hello! Here we are! Come and get us!" like a wind turbine tower. If we're trying to remain hidden, wind power might not be a good idea. Or, one can make lower wind turbines. But this means going bigger if we want subsantial amounts of power, cuz wind is slower as we diminish height. Also, it might mean wind funneling, as we strive to increase the power available from light, lower winds. However, making a larger wind funnel which can be turned into the wind (or which self-steers) is not a small undertaking. But, suppose we make a funnel which doubles wind speed. That gives us more power. And the ability to operate in much less wind. Overall, I'm mainly looking for a way to frequently obtain 500-1000 watts for powering grow lights for a good number of hours per week. Biogas fuel, for powering a generator, is my current quest, but having an additional wind option would mean saving more biogas. Is anyone going down the biogas road? Also, I'd like to know if some or all grow lights require or benefit from an inverter generator, as opposed to just a regular old generator. If so, which type(s) of grow lights?    

[Howard Boldt]

Thanks. I am just learning about grow lights. I bought some high output T5 flourescents years ago (120v), which will presumably still be useful when there is adequate power for them, but wish now to purchase some LED's because they are more efficient. Which brands of LED's and which types do you recommend? Performance and longevity are of course the most important. Price, too.

Carlos Villa said:

Grow light, ac or dc?
Hello again Howard. I use my grow lights both on a 12v battery and from the 120v power supply. It's more efficient to use 12v directly but you will need thicker wires. 120v is less efficient but you use thinner wires. A hydroponics table 2 feet by 8 feet uses 120 watts of LEDs per hour times 18 hours so 2.1kw per day.

[Howard Boldt]

To catch more wind we of course raise wind turbines up higher, often on towers. However, does a high, very visible wind turbine constitute too much of an advertisement about our location, drawing STS raiders? We will be protected, the Zetas, have said, while also saying that location (eg, an isolated one) is our best protection. Can you offer more clarification on higher wind turbines and other possibly more visible evidence of our locations?

Nancy Lieder said:

Via email, some suggestions: 

Many people, around the world, have been working and experimenting with different ideas as well as improving on past successful and relied upon methods used. 
Like the FEMA Gasifier, which was used during the Second World War, both here and abroad when fuel was rationed. 

https://www.build-a-gasifier.com/fema-gasifier-plans/ 

 

People have expanded and greatly improved on this method, even the Japanese greatly 
improved on the method by utilizing charcoal instead of wood and that has been improved on. 

https://permies.com/t/19954/Charcoal-Gasification 

 

Expanding on this is a method utilized for running A generator On Water; 

http://www.free-energy-info.com/Generator.pdf  

 

A source of much more information and ideas are available at; 
Practical Guide to Free-Energy Devices 

http://www.free-energy-info.com/indexOct2018.html 

 

Heating; Rocket Stove heaters 

https://www.rocketheater.com/