This is the third part in our project series How To Build a Solar Generator. In this part, we will be mounting all of the components into our case, as well as some of the preliminary wiring.
Continue reading How To Build a Large Solar Generator – Part 3 – Component Mounting
An age old argument against turning the thermostat down overnight or while you are away is that it just causes your furnace or AC to have to work harder to catch back up, and therefore negates any savings. But is this true?
Continue reading Does turning the thermostat down at night really save energy?
This is part two in our series of posts on how to build your own large (2,000 Watt, 4,000W Peak) solar generator.
Before we start mounting all the various electronic components into the Pelican case for our solar Generator, it is a good idea to make sure everything is working correctly. We definitely would not want to discover we have a defective invertor only after mounting it and wiring everything else up around it.
Continue reading How To Build a Large Solar Generator – Part 2 – Component Testing
Understanding basic electricity can be invaluable in both safety, as well as when troubleshooting and repairing an electrical circuit. We will add more posts soon on many topics such as how to build a solar generator, and this post will help build the basics on which those posts will expand.
Continue reading Understanding Basic Electricity & Troubleshooting an Electrical Circuit
Most diesel engines are capable of running on a wide variety of fuels. Several years ago I converted my 2002 Ford F250 with a 7.3L Powerstroke diesel to run on waste vegetable oil. The design was a collaboration of my own ideas combined with those of Jason Crawford’s. Since that time, Jason Crawford has continued to innovate his design, which was later to become the Vegistroke™ available from Biofuel Technologies. This is an overview of my original conversion for those that are considering building their own conversion, or just curious how they work.
Continue reading Converting a Ford Power Stroke 7.3L Diesel Engine to Vegetable Oil
Our technologies have developed at an astounding rate over the last 200 years. Also astounding, is how rapidly we are becoming completely dependent upon them. Electricity was not even widely available in homes until 1910-1920. Now, when the power goes out for more than a day or two, people often leave their homes and stay with family / friends that have power.
After successfully converting my 2002 7.3 F250 to run on Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) several years ago, I recently decided to purchase and upgrade to the Vegistroke V3 kit from Biofuel Technologies . While my own conversion had functioned well for several years, I wanted to upgrade to the design and reliability of the V3. The V3 has lots of added creature comforts such as fully auto-purge and shutdown AFTER I turn the truck off.
Continue reading Vegistroke V3 WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil) Conversion Kit
I recently purchased this solar powered attic fan to increase the energy efficiency of my home in the summer months.
