Posted: Aug 28, 2011 5:36 pm
Galactor wrote:
There was a show on the BBC a while back: It's Not Easy Being Green. A group of people was filmed moving into a setting up a cottage in the English country to be as green as possible. One of the occupants was Dick Strawbridge, a retired army engineer who, along with another chum, built a water wheel to power a generator; they channeled water to the wheel with a small gradient. See here if interested.
Thanks for the link. I'll surely check it out, but the problem we have is no consistent water flow. I'd have to rely on rainfall which I would have to direct from across several acres into channels and then into a main flume to either a wheel or turbine. I have plenty of gradient as we have more the 300 feet of elevation change on our land. I've given that whole idea a great deal of thought!
Galactor wrote:One other question: what does Mrs. Theropod think of it all and does she get involved with the mechanics?
Heh, she loves helping. Actually she's quite handy and knows exactly what tool I need when I yell down for a 13mm boxed end wrench. She has no issues with winding up extension cords and such, but she is terrified of anything more than a few feet off the ground. Mrs. Theropod has a very smart dad that taught her how to change oil in a car and a bunch of tasks requiring getting dirty. Hell, she's a very strong woman and would help me more if I asked. Most things I can do by myself, even at my advanced age, so she gets to stand by with 911 entered into the phone and a finger hovering over "send".
Mrs. Theropod absolutely loves our isolated location and tight little house, except for the net thing and getting to and from work when it comes a snow or ice storm, and then she just doesn't drive. I've never had a problem with that as I was raised in eastern Washington state where snow is common so I take over all driving in such weather.
RS