Rescuing epoxy

[PAR]

Yep, we're getting way of topic. I have been in a similar discussion on another forum about this same unit.

I plan on using a stripped down 8' dish for the next generation assembly. The stellar tracker receives a slight adjustment once a week, though a more encompassing unit could be had for more money. I've worked out the cost amortization for PV panels and they do eventually do pay for themselves and it's a good thing they last so long, because they need it to justify their purchase.

Hasn't it been the solar and battery technology folks saying "it's the break through that's right around the corner, that'll make it viable . . ." for 30 years now. I'm tied of holding my breath. This system works, particularly if the sun has a high orbit and the climate permits lots of it.

[Dale Niemann]

To me this whole discussion of power generation is very interesting.  Maybe Frank could move it to its own subject so we could continue it.

Paul, you are in Florida, right?  Who is your power company?  Was it difficult to get them to accept your power?

Just a few of my many questions.

Thanks,

Dale

[Apteryx]

Yes, please don't kill this off, this is really cool!

At the X-10 graphite reactor in Oak Ridge this little 'toy' steam engine is on display.

According to the display, when the reactor first started boiling water some of the physicists tapped some steam, drove this engine, and lit a light bulb with the belt driven generator.  That marked the first electricity created by nuclear power.  I assume the physics types knew nuclear power would have civilian applications and decided to grab a little history.

[PAR]

I'm on a co-op for electricity, being out in the "woods". Laws passed in the early 90's force the utility companies to purchase excess electricity produced from home based systems. These systems vary wildly, from wind, PV's, hydro, etc. Most aren't attached to the "grid", but just provide power to directly connected devices, like garden lights.

If you're producing enough power to actually supplement your household use, then you have to attach to the electrical grid. This means you're supplying power to other users on the same line.

My electric company has several stages of "metering", based on how much you produce in KW per month. At the moment, I'm a small fry, but with the bigger setup, I'll jump two levels and literally become a small utility company.

The electricity company comes out and attaches a "Net Metering" device to your usage meter. This tells them how much you've produced. My system currently knocks about 10% of my monthly bill, so I'm little more then an annoyance to them.

You will need to have a real electrician come out and install the wiring for your generator to the grid, but it not very hard. I did it myself and had a licensed buddy inspect it and sign off. Basically you need a way to disconnect from the grid at times and a way to switch from your power to grid only.

There's a lot of information about this on the net. Try your local power company's site for their requirements. It's intimidating at first, but once you sort through it, it's not so bad.

[Tom Lathrop]

I assume you have to synchronize your system to the grid waveform in order to feed power out.  What kind of device do you use for that?

[PAR]

That's part of the new electronic control I've gotten (metering and conditioner), the original metering box provided this for a monthly fee, but I've since upgraded with my own unit, that also offers a number of features I didn't have previously or had to go outside and look at their meter. This unit will pay for itself in monthly rental fees in about a year.

[Guest LeeH]

PAR, that little steam engine is fascinating stuff. So, under your deal with the REA, you can still buy their power when you want to? If so, that's like using the grid as a giant battery and getting a check too!

[PAR]

No, you don't save anything KW's wise. What ever you produce goes into the grid. If you under produce what you use, then you owe them, but if you can produce more then you use, the KW's are totaled each month and carried over to the next as credit. If at the end of the year, you have produced more then you used, then you get a check.

I should add the more you produce the more regulation you must dance through. Each power company will have different policy regarding this. Some are very friendly towards it, others fairly pissy. In areas where the grid is often over taxed, like where I'm at, they welcome any relief they can get. We have lots of things that can knock down portions of the grid, especially in summer time.

You have to stay attached to the grid, or over production is wasted. You also need them during the times you, for whatever reason aren't producing. My system is solar dependent, so clearly I'm at a disadvantage. I wish I could drill a hole deep enough to use geothermal and drive a turbine or displacement (Sterling) engine. Then I could really drive some fields.

[Joel B]

Par

I'm picking this up a couple weeks late so I don't know if the forum is still going.  Is this your own design or did you pick it up somewhere? is there somewhere on the net I could get the design.  I am a professor of environmental science and this would make a great research project for students.

By the way on the original topic.  I am an old composite toolbuilder and we used to heat epoxy in the microwave all the time.  When I worked with carbon fiber and got some on the container it would spark.

Joel

[PAR]

Hi Joel, contact me by email and we can discuss what I've done and the next generation of generator I'm working, which will eliminate my electricity bill all together.

[Joel B]

Par

thanks

I just sent the e-mail

Joel

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

Getting back to the original thread...

I buy epoxy in 5 gallon buckets.  I went to a second hand store and got a big pot that the 5 gallon bucket sits inside of with a little extra space for water.  Then put it on my crab cooker and heat it up.  Dont even need to move the resin into a smaller container.  I dont use the pot for anything else!!!  Yes, I had a crab pot already.  I didnt like the idea of epoxy in my crab boil.