[Energy] Energy Team/Plan

leftyfb leftyfb at gmail.com
Fri Nov 4 00:35:35 EDT 2011


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Ok, folks, here it is. We need to get this sorted out like now. I don't
know why this hasn't been decided as a top priority but it certainly
should be.

Some form of alternate energy is our only option to get folks at camp
heat through the winter including cooking or at least keeping food warm.

This is the situation as I know it right now:

- - Solar panel donated by someone at MIT:
Sitting on the hill/stage on a mount built by Devon and myself with
nothing by 2 wires coming out of it. We tried to get this working almost
a month ago using only a power inverter. Since it was putting out 20VDC
instead of the 10-14VDC that the inverter was looking for, the inverter
wasn't happy. I was told at one point that someone smart came in and
wired up a battery of some sort in-line that took up the extra juice put
out by the panel which fixed things. I'm not sure what happened with
that but as of tonight, the panel was just sitting there with nothing
but it's 2 leads. No battery or any circuitry.

- - Dual pedal generator donated/built by Natham from MIT:
Last I heard about this, it was moved out of the charging tent and into
wherever DA is because someone decided some group needed to look after
them as opposed to someone who knew how to run them in a location
everyone can go to for only charging. I don't agree with this at all.
Nobody knows DA is now used for charging(or so I was told). Since I
haven't heard of them still being used or anything, I don't know what
state they are in. I'm trying to find out from someone who's at camp now
what their story is at the moment. (Just heard back from camp that the
above is all true; none working, dual pedal gen in DA)

- - Fly Wheel pedal generator built and donated by "Max" from MIT:
Last I heard about this, something wasn't quite right about it and it's
still sitting in the charging tent which isn't being used to charge or
do anything anymore.


Now, people were VERY excited about these pedal generators when we were
putting them together and setting them up. Everyone wants to pedal and
help out and of course charge their equipment. But the major issue is,
we don't have a stable place for these to be setup, monitored and used,
preferably with features/safeties in place to allow being used
unsupervised since humans are a scarce resource lately. I have heard
that some parts were stolen and some possibly broken due to misuse. I
don't know the details about any of this.


So, I guess the easiest and quickest way for me to get my points across
is to lay out individual items. Sorry for the lack of a proper thought
process:


- - Need to fix the flywheel gen. I'm not sure what's wrong with it.

- - Need to fix the dual pedal gen. Also not sure what's wrong with it.

- - build in failsafes into the pedal gens should people keep pedaling
beyond the point where the batteries get charged. I think we could build
something that just cuts the battery off from the circuit until it's
power gets to a certain level. This would require smart MIT people.

- - Put off switches on everything so nothing uses power when people
aren't pedaling and nothing is being charged.(power strips have LED's
that draw power slowly)

- - Solar panel needs proper circuitry

- - All equipment/circuitry for the pedals and solar need to be in a lock
box of some sort with nothing but wires coming from sources and a power
socket being exposed to the public.

- - The food tent should get 1 or 2 pedals and the solar to cook or heat
food if possible using some tech/appliances unknown to me. If people
want warm food, they will pedal. The solar can slowly keep things warm.

- - Additional solar panels/ We have had at least 3 or 4 offers from
people either on mailing lists or IRC that have offered to bring down
additional solar panels. I have CC'd one of them on this email. Most of
them have been on IRC and getting them in contact with the person or
group at camp has been impossible.. because there isn't anyone.

- - Additional pedal generators. I know Nathan has said he has more he
could donate. I think there's also been people who have said they can
build more.

- - Solidify space for additional pedal generators. I don't think the 1
tent is adequate. We need a larger canopy with clear plastic/tarps all
around to help keep it warmer inside. This should also be closer to
media to help with being monitored.

- - train everyone we possibly can on how to use them.

- - publicize the energy mailing list so when there is an issue, we are
notified and someone can go fix it.


These are my personal thoughts on the situation as I see it but I think
I'm making valid points and mentioning items that should be addressed.
Please chime in with comments and lets try to get some plans in place to
get this all sorted out. Sooner rather than late because it's only going
to get colder out there and less appealing for any of us to want to
spend a whole lot of time fixing things in the cold.

- --

 ,-O  Ubuntu Linux
O   ; http://www.ubuntu.com
 `-O  Linux for Human Beings

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