Xref: utzoo misc.rural:1808 sci.electronics:18432 Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!bionet!apple!olivea!oliveb!amdahl!esf00 From: esf00@uts.amdahl.com (Elliott S. Frank) Newsgroups: ba.mountain-folk,misc.rural,sci.electronics Subject: Re: Wanted: info on self-contained power systems for houses Keywords: generator, photovoltaic, battery Message-ID: Date: 14 Mar 91 01:34:50 GMT References: <445@octelb.octel.UUCP> Reply-To: esf00@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Elliott S. Frank) Distribution: na Organization: Time Waits for No Man, Processors Wait for the Disk Lines: 50 In article <445@octelb.octel.UUCP> jfd@octel.UUCP (John F. Detke) writes: > >I am interested in starting a discussion, and getting >any experience with [generator, batteries, propane refrigerator ...] > >My primary concern is my home computer (Sun 3/60 w/ 141 Disk drive) >I was planning on adding a UPS, but am unsure how this constant drain >will affect the system. Well, some time back (could have been last summer) we had a bit of disucssion on that ... I'm not sure if it was here, or in misc.rural. My ridge is a mile and half back from the end of the PG+E lines, and populated with engineers. I'm using 1 kw of solar panels and 1200 AH of batteries. My neighbors (hi, Rob!) use propane or gasoline generators and batteries. I'm running my Mac fairly happily off the inverter (switching power supplies don't care about waveforms). My neighbor up the ridge is running his HP Vecta off his generator, no problems. Skip the UPS -- it's just a battery and an inverter, and you're already buying one of those. Your Sun shouldn't have any problem with the generator power or with inverter power. You probably should replace your laser printer with an inkjet -- a laser printer wants 1000 - 1200 watts of sine wave power to keep the fuser heated. The main rule to remember is that you don't want to run a heater off your batteries -- hair dryers, toaster ovens, and laser printers all qualify. You should look into the new flourescent bulbs -- we've relamped most of the house with screw-in florescents, and no longer worry about draining the battery. My wife has (hiding in her archives) the address for Jeff's Auto Repair in Willetts. If you've decided on supporting the propane habits of ancient propane Servel refrigerators, he's the only guy who can supply replacement parts. We've looked at the 12v Sunfrost, and will probably get one, after we beef up our battery bank. Sunfrost makes a 19 cu ft refrigerator that requires 500w/day, and a 19 cu ft freezer that requires 1500w/day. -- Elliott Frank ...!{uunet,sun}!amdahl!esf00 (408) 746-6384 or ....!esf00@amdahl.com [the above opinions are strictly mine, if anyone's.] [the above signature may or may not be repeated, depending upon some inscrutable property of the mailer-of-the-week.]