Alternative Power ?

[Mike6]

Hi Rich and donna

Caught your comments on the eye on spain forum , regarding bank of batts and inverter !!

You seem to know a few technical details ? Can you tell me how this magic works ?

For example , what amper hour batts , would you need to supply 230v output , for lighting , t/v . and other low wattage equipment ? How long can power be drawn on a full charge , which could be done with a genny , and perhaps a little solar help .

I need to get my place up and running for July in Golco , and start using gas for cooking , gas fridge etc .

Think the Golco site is now dead in the water ( Hope ime wrong ) but am determined to use my place , at least once before i meet my maker !!

Any advice off anyone , on other sorts of power would be appreciated !!

[pedro_1]

::)
Hi Mike
sheree here, can you please email me your phone number. Easier to discuss on the phone re leccy etc. and your comments left on forum.
thanks.

[Mike6]

Hi Pedro-1

Welcome to the forum , have sent my nos to you direct .

Must say you have chosen a fine name for this forum !!

Hope you dont get mistaken for THE MAIN MAN ??? Ha Ha !

[Demotivated_Donna]

mAYBE IT IS THE MAIN MAN IN DISGUISE TO SEE WHAT WE ARE ALL SAYING! RICH IS A SPARKY AS WELL AS CHIPPY AND GAS WLL GET HIM TO SUPPLY DETAILS WHEN HE IS IN FROM WORK.

~DONNA :D

[Demotivated_Donna]

woa mike im a sparkie not tech buff! best place for advice would be maplins.they should be able to provide you with tech,think of golco as a caravan! i.e 12 volt system...your gonna be gettin real technical dude keep me informed!!! as it floats my boat rich

[Mike6]

Hi Again

Now i have done a little research , and may as well put it on here . It may be of use to others ??

I did look at 12v system , but discounted it , for an inverter 230 v ac system as with a normal grid power supply . This means that normal appliances to a certain extent can be used t/v , microwave , lighting, etc . The ammount of usuage , would depend on the wattage output of the inverter used !!

Now to put it as simple as i can make out , is this :::

2x 200ah 6v batteries of a gel type ( Like car batts , but far better ) These would be joined , to give a 12v dc output , this would be connected to a power inverter ( Turns 12v dc as if by magic , into 230v ac , which we all love , as at home .

This would give us normal power supply for some appliances .

Now the problem comes , in as much ,that the batteries have to be charged up before any of this can work.How can this be achieved ?

Well we could use a generator to charge up , in the day , and use the batt supply when we didnt want the genny noise at night , or any time till the batts needed charging again . Just like almost having normal mains supply . Or the charging could be done by Solar panels , this would mean no noisy generator.

All this is ok , but of course , cooking would have to be by gas , and maybe water heating as well , although Solar , could be used to help there ??

Looked at pricing of all this , and not too bad , and of course no standing orders to the elec company .

Pedro , you can stick your transformers up your a-s-

No only joking , we do need proper supply , but i think my method woud do till then , as it may be many , many months till Pedro pays the bill !!

[pedro_1]

Mike :)
thanks for all your homework on the alternative power. I would like to send this over to my brother. I have no idea what your talking about, but it looks impressive!!

I do feel very miffed that we are having to go to all this trouble.
::) cheers Mike, Best Wishes, Sheree

[Demotivated_Donna]

Mike

I amas baffled as Sheree but thank you for the info, I will get rich to read it later as this really interests him!

I am assuming when you sayPedro can stick it where the sun dont shine that you are referring to our unreliable one in spain and not the lovely sheree, AKA Pedro1!! ;D

Donna

[Mike6]

Donna

Yes , of course i was referring to" Bob The Builder Pedro "
Pedro-1 has passed some interesting news on to me re the elec supply !!
Seems unbelievable ? But trying to confirm info before putting on the forum , unless Pedro-1 feels she can tell all ??herself .

[Demotivated_Donna]

hi mike check out power boosters[jump starts for cars] you can charge these up in a car from the lighter socket! some even come with inverters built in.so when you take a run to the coast or out and about you can charge them!........inverters would provide a dedicated socket but voltage drops wouldnt allow you to hard wire them into your circuit,however it would allow you to be a lot better off on a budget price! ....rich

[Mike6]

Thanks Richard , its back to the drawing board then ?

At present , we are using a 2000 watt genny , fed direct into the incoming wiring to the appt . This works fine , is there a difference , if a 2000 watt inverter was fed in the same way ? Know the batt goes flat rather quickly , but , do you think it would power a tv and lights for a couple of hours ,before recharging ? Just sort of trying to get the place like a posh tent !! till power is granted to us by Bob the builder !!

[Demotivated_Donna]

crikey mikey does it trip the rcd?or have you by passed that

[Mike6]

Nothing Trips Rich , just get a warm glow and heated walls !!!

[Hank_24]

I live below Mike6 and have occupation of my casa for about 18 months. It is fully furnished. I use a genny for lighting and a drill. It is supposed to be silent running but it is not. It is a Briggs and Stratton which is the RR of gennies. I have a small 10inch multi national television that I used to use in my caravan. I fitted my French Aerial on my chimney. I get abot 14 Spanish channels but have to have the genny running. In the evenings we use candles and have the wood fire burning away - very romantic. We cook on a two ring camping gas stove and a gas bbq, more than adequate. We use a gas fridge for keeping the food and beer cold and fresh, this was purchased in Cadiar at the gas agents in the main street, you will have to sign a contract! We were used to camping so all the mod cons are really not necessary but I do find the hot water bottles we use in the winter is no real substitute for an electric blanket! We already live in Spain in Malaga province so the problems we are having at Golco is quite normal. When everything is connected there is no guarrantee that they will not be cut off frequently. we will get there in the end. The Pedro who lives on the site is not the developer but his father, so do not blame him for all the problems!

[seagem]

;D ;D Blimey, think I can see windmills on the hills,,, ::) ::)