Search found 144 matches

by AccordGuy
Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:09 pm
Forum: Housebuses & Housetrucks
Topic: MrSharkey.com
Replies: 30
Views: 133280

Re: MrSharkey.com

Hi Dennis, Glad to see you active still. Good to hear Sharkey's well and just doin' his thing off line. It's been so long since I posted that I completely forgot where this site was! I only found it again by googling my own nickname and sharkey. Must be getting old and senile. I'll have to copy my o...
by AccordGuy
Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:31 am
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Re: Just getting started

A 400Ah 3.2V cell is 13.7kg. You need 4 cells for a 12V nominal battery and that weighs 54.8kg.

My 180Ah 6V gel lead acid batteries were about 31kg each, so 62kg for 12V at 180Ah. Scaled up to 400Ah, that's about 137kg.
by AccordGuy
Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:16 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Re: Just getting started

Thanks, Yes, they are Winston Battery Company cells that have been used in a lot of EV conversions although the cells I'm using are much bigger than the typical 100-200Ah cells used in cars. They come in various (mostly brick shaped) sizes and can be used upright or on their sides as they are sealed...
by AccordGuy
Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:27 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Re: Just getting started

Getting the Lead Out After a long time of running my solar system on cheap caravan batteries and then second hand industrial gel and AGM batteries, I embarked upon a new and exciting adventure this year. The problem has been that even good gel lead acid solar batteries, like the Deka ones, only las...
by AccordGuy
Sat May 22, 2010 10:05 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

I've just started a "proper" blog site for my diary entitled "Solar Power - A Bodger's Guide" . You can check it out at: http://solarbodge.blogspot.com/ Meanwhile, back in February I'd got lucky with some cheap BP solar panels. They spent some time in the patio door windows while...
by AccordGuy
Tue May 11, 2010 10:04 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: washing machines
Replies: 7
Views: 9711

The main problem with washing machines is the heater. In UK machines that work on 230V the heater can be a 3kW element. If you can heat the water with something else (gas?) and use the hot water feed on the machine instead of the built-in heater, then the rest of the machine has a much lower power r...
by AccordGuy
Tue May 11, 2010 9:56 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Is this the best panel deal?
Replies: 4
Views: 6943

As an aside, some makes of panels in the UK are being sold off cheap right now as the new feed in tariff system came in in April but the government stipulated that the PV panels must be on an approved equipment list (MCS). Any stock that suppliers had that was older non-MCS panels are now not eligib...
by AccordGuy
Tue May 11, 2010 9:34 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Been away for a while but there's been no shortage of tinkering and upgrades here. Shortly after I got those 80W panels, I discovered that the new Morningstar MPPT controllers had hit the UK (finally) and so it was time for a major upgrade... I went the whole 9 yards and ordered the Tristar MPPT-60 ...
by AccordGuy
Tue May 11, 2010 9:06 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: PV in Germany - Photo gallery
Replies: 0
Views: 4701

PV in Germany - Photo gallery

I knew that solar was more popular in Germany than the UK but this set of pictures gives you some idea just how far ahead they are compared to us in the UK... I wasn't intending to go on holiday in Germany but fate (or rather volcanic ash) interceded and we had our flights to Japan cancelled. So, no...
by AccordGuy
Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:29 pm
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Haha... Just scored some more cheap 80W panels - a pair of BP 380U panels in a stainless steel mounting frame. He was selling four but I managed to bag two of them for £253 - just £126.50 each! That even beats the deal I got on the no-name Chinese 80W ones that were £150 each. I'm definitely gonn...
by AccordGuy
Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:03 am
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

I've got a bunch of half dead wet lead-acid batteries sitting around. If I get bored, I might try the alum / Epsom salts replacement and see what happens. How to dispose of the old acid though... The local council have a lead-acid battery recycling bin but might frown on a few 2L Coke bottles full o...
by AccordGuy
Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:41 am
Forum: Alternative Power
Topic: Just getting started
Replies: 82
Views: 128872

Happy New Year! We've had a load of snow here (more than in the last 30 years)... At first I managed to keep the panels all clear of snow as they are only on the ground / garden wall / garage roof. But in the end the snow was falling thick every day and so much piled up on the garage roof that I cou...
by AccordGuy
Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:18 am
Forum: Stuff Forum
Topic: How Much Shit Has To Hit The Fan....
Replies: 49
Views: 28758

Right now, I'm just trying to hang on for another 3½ years when I can begin collecting Social Security, as little as that might be. Of course, I've always believed that SS will be bankrupt by the time I reach 62, so that's a bright spot in the picture... :roll: 62??? I have to wait until 65 and th...
by AccordGuy
Thu Nov 12, 2009 4:11 am
Forum: Alternative Propulsion Vehicles
Topic: Taming Lester
Replies: 26
Views: 28621

Dunno about flooded batts but having just changed my solar bank to be gel types, I read that Deka and Yuasa (makers of VRLA gel and AGM packs) both recommend that there be no AC ripple to the charge current or else it will shorten the battery life. The two old 24V chargers I have both are SCR types ...
by AccordGuy
Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:17 am
Forum: Stuff Forum
Topic: How Much Shit Has To Hit The Fan....
Replies: 49
Views: 28758

At least here the tax office is obliged to pay retrospective interest on the overpaid tax they hold. So the longer it takes them to refund it, the more interest they become liable for.