Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 7/12/2006, you wrote:
> Ah, Don, you're probably a good person to ask....
> Can you please explain inverters?

An inverter changes DC to AC.  Most often that is from 12 VDC to 120 
VAC.  There are several types of inverters from motor generators to solid 
state.  Modern solid state inverters are small and relatively 
efficient.   They come in two flavors, modified sine wave and pure sine 
wave.  The wave form of a modified sine wave is a step from 0 to around 70 
volts then a step to around 140 then back to 70 then 0 then repeat the 
cycle to negative values.  Pure sine wave is just that, like comes from the 
grid though there may be noise on the line.  Most applications do well with 
MSW but some printers and TVs do not like the noise.  Microwaves and other 
devices that depend on peak power do not work as well on MSW.

I like several small inverters rather than one large one.  There is a 
reduced overhead and I can tailor the loads as needed.  I nave 175, 200, 
and 400 Watt inverters but the 175 is the most often used.  I have recorded 
the wave forms and hope to get an article up one of these days.



Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up        KI6DIU

http://www.braingarage.com

My travel journal
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html

I am omnivagant.  
> From tonitime AT juno.com  Wed Jul 12 11:51:38 2006
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Subject: Re: [Homestead] Alternative inventory: Wood
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Greetings, the List!
    I am thankful to have hung around the list, as it again became more
helpful to many of us!  
BIG Thanks.
    This is a great topic, as our world is demanding we change our ways
of conspicuous consumption.
We heat soley with wood - mostly from the forest on our land.  Solar
clothes drying most of the time.
Learning to be frugal with power and it's goodies is a bottom line thing
for us.  We cannot afford RE Technology at this point - maybe never -
would like to have solar or woodfired hot water before too long.  We
collect rainwater for many uses.  I've 40-some raised berm-beds that have
been built over 5 years with hand tools ( no tiller or tractor here).  My
teen girlies want to build a solar cooker this year.
In winter, we cook on our woodstove as we can - and hope to procure a
stovetop oven to increase that (we are "foodies" fom CA, moved to the
land of less  variety in Appalachia, so must grow and make it all, if'n
we want it!).
  My bro is a writer/editor at Homepower Mag - and has been able to be
off-grid in NorCal for decades- how  i envy that!
 Looking forward to learning and sharing here, as the planting, harvest,
and processing permits.  The pantry will be looking good this year from
our efforts.
Good growing, in all regards,
Toni in E KY