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Author Archives: stephen
PHPP completed!
Efibau has put the final touches to the PHPP so that we comply with the Passivhaus requirements. Finally we can start construction!
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New control unit for Volvox generator
The Volvox generator didn’t arrive with a microprocessor based control unit; instead it had a number of discrete circuits to provide the required functions. Basically, the control unit should: Start the generator from a remote switch Stop the generator if … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power
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Generator exhaust expansion chamber
Hopefully this will attenuate the noise of the vegetable oil generator exhaust even more. The chamber itself will be buried up to the three exhaust holes. The blocks on top are to retain the soil that will cover the roof … Continue reading
Posted in Building, Energy efficiency, Off grid power
Tagged Generator expansion chamber, silencing generator
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SMA Sunny Island AC Coupling
Designing off-grid wind and solar installations differs from grid tied installations in a number of important ways such as: The solar array must be in a certain restricted voltage range The solar and/or wind generator must be kept very close … Continue reading
Posted in Off grid power, Solar power
Tagged AC coupling, off-grid AC, SMA Sunny Island, Sunny Boy Sunny Island
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The Volvox generator arrives
5kW Electric start, diesel generator with vegetable oil conversion kit it’s way. Weighing in at 400 kg, the only way in was to roll it down the ramp on sawn off broomstick handles.
Shed walls and water proofing
The upper 3 rows are narrower than the rest of the wall, so we’ll use boards to form a mold around this gap which will then be filled with concrete and steel reinforcing. This will be done during the same … Continue reading
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Arduino well pump controller
It took about 3 hours to whip up a well pump controller from my brand new Arduino. It consists of 3 liquid level sensors, labelled 0, 1 and 2 which will be placed at 3 different heights in well … Continue reading
Detalles de muro y aislante
El aislante PU es bajo de la losa de la planta baja para aprovechar de masa termica y radiacion solar passiva The “aislante reflexivo” is known as “multifoil” in English.
Shed excavation
The site for the underground generator and battery has been excavated! It’s so exciting to finally see some work done to the land. The house will be about 35m in front of the shed, long enough to not hear the … Continue reading