[Energy] Energy Team/Plan
Nathan S Lachenmyer
scottnla at MIT.EDU
Fri Nov 4 00:51:21 EDT 2011
Responding point by point:
> - - Need to fix the flywheel gen. I'm not sure what's wrong with it.
Ask Amos/Max/whoever built it, I'm not entirely sure what the deal with it
is.
> - - Need to fix the dual pedal gen. Also not sure what's wrong with it.
I donated the dual system to Direct Action so it is being watched and
trained several people on how to use it. They've been using it to charge
batteries and personal devices for use around the camp, is my
understanding.
> - - 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.
I'd really like to move beyond charging batteries. I think instantaneous
rewards is more motivating and easier to implement. e.g., you get
light/pwoer/heat when you pedal; when you stop pedaling, you get nothing.
> - - 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)
See above.
> - - Solar panel needs proper circuitry
The solar panel that is there has proper circuitry, it just needs someone
to watch it and swap out batteries when they're done charging. This is a
training issue.
> - - 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.
Agreed.
> - - 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.
Food tent has lights [made by Dana; they're super awesome and low-power
consumption] which are being powered by batteries that Direct Action is
charging. Same with medical. The only thing preventing us from getting
more generators around is space.
> - - 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.
Just need space for the panels.
> - - 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.
Just need space. And demand for them -- I went by camp on Wednesday and
every working group gave me a generic 'sure we'd take them' when I offered
generators, but none asked for anything in particular, which tells me that
they don't really have any concrete needs.
> - - 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.
Bingo! Space is a problem.
> - - train everyone we possibly can on how to use them.
This will come when we have more energy generation (and therefore more
publicity) in camp.
> - - publicize the energy mailing list so when there is an issue, we are
> notified and someone can go fix it.
Do it.
So, what I see here is:
-Need space for generators
-Need space for generators
-Need space for generators
Oh, did I mention that we need space? If there's no space, this
discussion is sort of moot. Then again, I suppose people will make space
if we have stuff.
Once we have space, the questions to ask are:
-What are our energy needs?
and
-How do we best fulfill those needs? [solar power, pedal power, etc.?]
Once we produce the energy generation and have it up and running, we can
train people to operate what's available. This would probably work on a
group-by-group basis [teach the kitchen how to operate what power
generation they have, etc.]
In the meantime, the two things I'm working on are:
-pedal powered light
-pedal powered heating [for food]
I think that pedal powered space heating is pretty unfeasible, because
space heaters take a TON of power [quick google search suggests hundreds
or thousands of watts] and a bike can only generate 100ish watts.
Nathan
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