David Weaver, Renewable Energy

Serious renewable energy ideas aimed at domestic households and people of all ages.

There are some fundamental guidelines:

1. If you are good with your hands, technically minded and have access to the right tools, make it yourself.
2. If you are a young man or woman use non-ferrous materials – the last thing you want over a lifetime is recurrent maintenance which costs money. c) If you have followed (a) and (b) keep the design practical and straightforward so that you can dismantle it and take it with you if you move house, or, wish to sell it. Two wind turbines (identical) with a maximum power output of approximately 500 Watts each at 12 volts DC are complete. The swept area of the aerofoils is 2.4 metres. Options are available for 24 and 48-volt stators on each machine. The construction of a wind turbine display trolley for educational displays is complete.

Modifications to various DC permanent magnet motors for educational interest and display are complete.

One bicycle fitted with front and rear flashing LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) in anticipation of changes to Hong Kong law for ‘lights on bikes in 2009’ is complete. The battery is solar charged, and one charge can provide enough power to operate the lights for several months. The bicycle is fitted with pannier baskets and completely replaces the car for daily shopping trips.

A solar hot water system has been built and installed for domestic use. This is now complete and operates well. Best performance is in the summer months.

An automatic solar tracking panel for photovoltaic displays is installed and operating satisfactorily.

Work to build panels to accommodate 6-volt photo-voltaic cells is nearly complete with a toughened glass cover being the only outstanding item for each panel.

My bedroom now has a wall plug socket and brings in 12 DC from my battery bank. I already have a 12 volt DC Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) in the form of a bedside table lamp, and I am going to try and live through the summer using 12 DC fans in place of the air conditioner.

Work in hand

Preparation of a booklet about renewable energy covering wind turbines, solar hot water, photovoltaic panels, battery storage systems, DC to DC and DC to AC power converters, dials, gauges and instruments to display power and temperature readings to different rooms in a home.

An example shown below is a somewhat effective but inefficient lighting system with two 170 volt AC Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL’s) being powered by a 12-volt car battery. This is otherwise known as a DC to AC converter. (Note: the CFL’s will ignite in the 170 to 230 AC voltage range, and the transformer is outputting 180 volts AC).A special section for young people concerning renewable energy ideas which need to be kept in mind when ‘buying’ a home anywhere in the world.

Another section will deal with ‘billing’ for electricity, water and gas — how to understand it and the daily cost of running a home. “Learning to live with renewable energy” is also a planned topic especially the change from ‘on grid’ to ‘semi off-grid’. The scope may cover many detailed aspects of daily life at home such as, cooking, eating and diet, cleanliness generally, domestic essentials, cleaning bathrooms, ironing, relaxation covering television and computers, seasonal problems for home heating and cooling, and many other seemingly trivial aspects.

Motivation

Unemployed, no job and bored. I am worried about my daughter’s future.

Vision

Young people need to have a good knowledge of renewable options pretty damn quick because we are running out of time.

The last projects

Construction of a miniature solar hot water system, and, a sun tracking photovoltaic panel system for easy transportation to schools, fairs, and outdoor events. All educational.

Deep cycle batteries

If you are employed by a company in Hong Kong that uses electrically powered vehicles please note that I am keen to get my hands on any unwanted, or about to be replaced, deep cycle batteries for the following reasons:- study, testing, and photographs for a section of a book dealing with the storage of electrical energy.

A Hong Kong wind turbine power competition

I want to find other ‘do it yourself’ builders of wind turbines in Hong Kong and arrange a ‘flying power’ competition. The plan would be to find a suitable venue and a day when there is plenty of wind. At the same time, a BBQ will be held, and power for a music system and drinks cooling could be provided by wind turbine energy. Please contact me if you are interested. The media would also be invited for obvious reasons. If the event is a success perhaps it could become an annual event.

The Future

I want to teach young people (or at least promote awareness in young minds) about the generality of renewable energy options without in-depth technical detail.

The scope would be exclusively ‘domestic’ and cover many of the items mentioned in this narrative.

Some degree of remuneration would be expected, but nothing like that paid to bank executives.

Contact:

• strltd@netvigator.com
• Tel: 9011 8144