Hydroelectric or Solar power for a cabin

[Rob-D]

Skip the hydro or solar. Go buy a Honda 2000 watt generator. It's very quiet, reasonably priced at about $1,000 and very reliable.

I went through the same thing about 7 years ago when I built my hunting cabin. Save yourself the time and money. I'm 1,800 feet from utilities and the cost to bring in power was over $11,000.

I have one of those little Honda 2000 W gen sets. They are sweet! I just did some work on a remote fence today with mine.

 

[Buckeye_Jim]

Skip the hydro or solar. Go buy a Honda 2000 watt generator. It's very quiet, reasonably priced at about $1,000 and very reliable....

BTW the best price I know is Mayberrys (800-696-1745). They advertise in QST magazine for $879 including shipping. It is amazing how quiet and economical this generator is.

Jim

 

[sodamo]

If you go the Honda route (I have an EU3000 for backup) you might consider still adding a small inverter and battery. This would allow use without starting the generator. BTW, the 3000 is electric start and can be started remotely with an after market remote.

David

 

[scesnick]

Rob-d,

I know I have a very good MH site. The only problem is that I live on a very cold mountain and I would most likely have to bury my penstock. About 600ft worth of it. that doesn't sound too bad but the creek, while only being about 300 feet from my house, is in a VERY rugged area of terrain. It would be a good fight just to get my backhoe near the creek to start digging.
Also, I can not seem to find a turbine that will allow me to maximize the power output of my stream. I seem to fall in the middle between a small turbine and a large one..
However, This thread as once again got me researching this possibility and I did find a turbine manufacturer that will custom make a turbine for me.
APM HYDRO_Home of the User Friendly Hydro
But I have yet to research this company further...
I was going to lease some of my property to the commercial wind turbine company that is putting 26 of the VERY large commercial units right outside of my property. That would have given me all the electricity I could use free of charge. BUT,,,, they wanted 50 acres per turbine !!! 30 year lease and the annual lease would only pat $8,000. I decided not to tie up all that property.

This is a highly interesting thread and I look forward to other peoples experiences in Alt power...

 

[schmism]

BTW the best price I know is Mayberrys (800-696-1745). They advertise in QST magazine for $879 including shipping. It is amazing how quiet and economical this generator is.

Jim

jim you a ham? I wish i had more time to read my QST more cover to cover

KC0TXH

oh and ill be putting up a 10' version of otherpowers. Welcome to OTHERPOWER.COM if that works out well ill likely step up to a 15' within a couple of years. there design has been built and tested for years now. Seems to be the best way to go about wind power as the comerical versions (on the cheep) have poor results at best (as you indicated)

 

[escavader]

MY remote camp is powered by a 2500 watt generator,only ran an hour in the mornin,and one hour before bed,just to charge 6 of those walmart deep cycle batterys all hooked together.After the gen is off,i flip on an inverter convert it to ac and my fans ,radios and refrigerator runs 10 to 12 hours most of the time.Next year we are gonna get a gas refrigerator to go with the gas lights we have only to decrease electric use even more..I also use lanterns,and kerosene lamps for nightlights,just be sure you let in some fresh air.
Camps and cabins are not about tvs,computers,microwaves etc etc.I go there to escape the hectic world.Instead i cook on a gas grill or fire pit,or gas stove.Read books OR MAGAZINES,go for a paddle or a trout,ride bikes,or walk,this is what remote camps are about.OK OK i DO RACE MY SNOWMOBILE,OR ATV BACK AND FORTH TOO.
alan

 

[Paddy]

My wife and I built a small shack when we were 21 years old, 13'x15', with one truck load of lumber. SO it's been a few years. But we had no power for 3 years. We used a few car bateries stuffed in the back of the pickup bed. Jumpered from the main battery. By the time we made it home, we had all the power we needed for the day/night. A break light builb makes a lot of light We used an old car radio for the entertainment system and a Colman cook stove off mini propain tanks. Wood stove for heat. As stated, we did this for 3 years, in cold Indiana winters. A Hoot of a time! What you want in the end has to be the main point. We could have made due with a meat drippings candle and read books most of the time! Maybe that's why I had 3 childrend by 24 years old

 

[Rob-D]

Scesnick,

I understand what you're saying, believe me I've thought long and hard how to get power from my stream.

I don't know if this helps but I'm running 4" drainage tubes about 100' before my turbine and 100' after it as draw. I'm designing my own turbine. What I do is use old motors for the steel and wind my own coils then I build an armature from my magnets. I go to motor rebuilding shops and they give me all the old motors I want. This gives me different sizes for the field. The larger the field the slower the alternator spins for the same power.

In your case, since you have more stream power than I do I would not worry about maximizing it just get what you can.

I’m working on the impeller and housing first so I can get an idea of what kind of power and rpms I have to work with. I’ll build the alternator once I’ve established those parameters.

 

[L3650]

Camps and cabins are not about tvs,computers,microwaves etc etc.

True, true. But this time of year the sun sets about 4:30 in the afternoon at this latitude. That make for a long evening with kids. It's nice to be able to watch a movie or read a book.

My son and I do alot of bow hunting. Having a little electronic entertainment beats staring at each other over a candle.

 

[Slamfire]

My wife and I built a small shack when we were 21 years old, 13'x15', with one truck load of lumber. SO it's been a few years. But we had no power for 3 years. We used a few car bateries stuffed in the back of the pickup bed. Jumpered from the main battery. By the time we made it home, we had all the power we needed for the day/night. A break light builb makes a lot of light We used an old car radio for the entertainment system and a Colman cook stove off mini propain tanks. Wood stove for heat. As stated, we did this for 3 years, in cold Indiana winters. A Hoot of a time! What you want in the end has to be the main point. We could have made due with a meat drippings candle and read books most of the time! Maybe that's why I had 3 childrend by 24 years old

Sounds like you weren't doin' a whole lot of readin' hmmm?