Solar Power.

[HOTFR8]

Now this will interest a few of you.

I got sick of the power going off here and not because I forget to pay my bills but just due to power failures.

When I built this place some 8 years ago I got my electrician to wire in a closed circuit that has 5 power points. They are wired to a standard caravan / RV / motor home power inlet. With a short extension lead I then plug this into a power invertor that is connected to two six volt long life batteries. If this fails I just diconnect the lead and plug it into another mains power point.

These Batteries charge during the day from two Solar Panels on the works roof and at night from the mains via a Deltrans Battery tender on a time switch.

At the moment the computer and accesories run on this as well as my fax and phone etc. I can plug most items in if need be.

If the mains power goes off during the day nothing can stop me from working on and if at night I usualy decide to stop after I finish what I am working on.

Went to post photos but have them in the wrong format.

 

[benjacobs]

Sounds like you've got a nice solution for power failures. Do the batteries give you enough power for tools and such?

 

[HOTFR8]

Can run most things I need as I simply plug into one of the power points on the system.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Sounds like you're out in the bush, Bruce. Sounds like a great set up. Saving money to buy more toys

 

[hrm2k]

I spent 6 weeks in Brisbane and up and down the northeast coast in 2002. Oz has it together on alternative engeries and housewhole appliances....." life is good". Us Americans have yet to understand a cellphone actuated soda machine or a cell phone billed taxi stand.
You got it right...mate !

 

[HOTFR8]

Sounds like you're out in the bush, Bruce. Sounds like a great set up. Saving money to buy more toys

Actualy I am in the City of Castlmaine ( Central Victoria ) I live a mile ( as the Crow Flies ) from the City Centre. The power saving is not bad.

Sorry Who is Bruce ?

Australia has it together with Alternative Energy but as far as Solar and Wind Energy many more people here do not realise just how much better it is than Coal Fired generated power. We could do a lot more here just our Government will not get fully behind it. We do get rebates for our Solar Panels but not much and now we get a rebate to fit petrol ( Gas ) cars with LPG ( Propane ). Even Diesel if we fit LPG can get the rebate as LPG will make Diesel burn cleaner. Bio Diesel is still a new term / name here.

I am yet to see one of those cell phone drink machines.

 

[slammer]

They are in most train stations in Sydney, just send a text message to the Coke machine, out comes a Coke and it's billed to your phone account!
Cheers Angelo

PS I am only half an hour down the road in Bendigo.

 

[hrm2k]

yeah, it is too cool....and the taxi stations have a box you call and put in your address, the bill goes to your cell phone, you get a paper reciept, the taxi comes, you give him the receipt, no other money exchanged..........I couldn't believe how cool the whole thing was.......and you could get BUndy and cola, jack and cola, beam and cola.....out of the coke machine....I wish I had stayed !!!!

 

[hrm2k]

and I had to mention that I now have a vegimite habit and my source in BRisbane sends it to me, along with a bottle of Bunderburg Rum. Now that is the ticket

 

[Down Under Bloke]

Can't hide any ware, former Northern Victoria boy myself.

 

[HOTFR8]

What a small world we live in with this internet thingy