DIY Solar power / Heating / Wind power

[wolf_rt]

seems to be some interest in alt energy here, so i thought id post some DIY links.

Making pro quality solar panels for under $1 per Watt
http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/articles/OzSolarPanels.asp

Making a pro quality Hot water heater for under $1000
http://www.builditsolar.com/Experimental/PEXColDHW/Overview.htm
This is the most cost effective sustainable power project i have found anywhere, i will definitely be making some of these collectors.

making a 600W windmill out of old washing machine motors.
http://www.thebackshed.com/windmill/Contents.asp


Both of these sites have masses of super useful information on cheap DIY solar/wind power

Making a parabolic reflector to create steam power is do-able too, but will need sun tracking, and a way to make a parabola

[Ria]

Thanks for the info, sending it on to friends

[Bo Atkinson]

Perhaps very few people will do actual physical labor. Perhaps fewer still will stray outside the the suburban models. Regardless of how much we might "wake up" to our failing societies.

I have always been underemployed, due somewhat to my avoidance of contemporary lifestyle models. Here are some illustrations of my low-cost ($100) hot water heater model.

http://harmoniouspalette.com/SolarWater/SimpleSolarWater.html

I have used variations of this for decades and have heard peoples of the south seas use comparable simplicity, on boats and ships.

[modwiz]

Perhaps very few people will do actual physical labor. Perhaps fewer still will stray outside the the suburban models. Regardless of how much we might "wake up" to our failing societies.

I have always been underemployed, due somewhat to my avoidance of contemporary lifestyle models. Here are some illustrations of my low-cost ($100) hot water heater model.

http://harmoniouspalette.com/SolarWater/SimpleSolarWater.html

I have used variations of this for decades and have heard peoples of the south seas use comparable simplicity, on boats and ships.

Really excellent. Thank you for sharing that with us. :thumb:

[music]

Anyone who lives on a community with a large compost or mulch heap try this. Coil black poly pipe in the compost heat. The temperature of the water produced really is quite amazing.

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Here is one of the simplest and least expensive water heater designs I've seen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qpi2rhdPuw&feature=player_embedded