Homestead mailing list

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

At 7/12/2006, you wrote:
> I'm still a bit confused....just for clarity....
> So the first step is deciding on how much AC voltage something uses and
> then you backtrack to determine the size of the inverter needed?

It is power consumption you are concerned with.  Look at the data plate of 
what you want to power.  It should show either Watts or Amps.  If Amps 
multiply by 120 to get the Watts.  Then get an inverter with a 25% 
headroom.  Be careful as many inverters list a maximum power but have a 
lower continuos power.

Another problem is the power available from the battery bank.  The current 
from the battery will be 10 times that to the load plus a half an Amp or 
more overhead.  A battery bank is not happy delivering more than C10 or 10% 
its rated capacity.  For my 220 Ah battery that would be 22 Amps.

I clipped out a bunch of stuff.  If you are not sure of the loads, a meter 
can give you an idea.  I also use a Watt's UP and a Watt Budy to get a 
handle on the loads.  The Watt's up tells me the Wattage needed for an AC 
device and the other one is for DC.

> On more homestead related topics, what uses around the farm would
> something like this homemade power box be good for?  I like things that
> can be used by more than one application.

With modern battery operated tools, the uses for remote power are 
reduced.  I have used the inverter off the pickup battery to recharge tool 
batteries.



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 don.bowen AT earthlink.net  Wed Jul 12 21:11:03 2006
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At 7/12/2006, you wrote:
> Ron's specialty is electrical systems, and my son inherited that
> interest, but it is just lost on me, for whatever reason.  They explain
> things over and over again to me as I just don't retain knowledge that I
> don't use daily.

I have always been interested in this stuff.  I studied it when everyone 
around me thought I was weird.  For a basic education I had good luck in 
the Navy then in college I studied electrical engineering.  After college I 
went into embedded software development instead.

A few months ago I decided that I wanted to get an Amateur radio license so 
I picked up a book on Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon passed an 
online test.  I took and passed the technician test later that week.  Then 
a couple of weeks later I passed the General test.  Now I am trying to pass 
the Element 1 code test but with my hearing it is difficult.



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 erthnsky AT bellsouth.net  Wed Jul 12 21:43:28 2006
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Don Bowen wrote:

> I have always been interested in this stuff.  I studied it when everyone 
> around me thought I was weird.  For a basic education I had good luck in 
> the Navy then in college I studied electrical engineering. 


What did you do in the Navy, Don?

B
--
erthnsky AT bellsouth.net  BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm      NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W