| Thanks to Stonebrain for pointing out a post I wrote was in a very old subject, and would be better off as a "New Rant"! Also, thanks again to Stonebrain, I now have the opportunity to do some much-needed spell-checking!
There are SO many recyclable parts out there from various "junk" people just throw away it puts me into "RANT" mode! I've started telling friends to drop their "junk" off here (I have the room for it). Whether it's electrical, mechanical, old clothes washers/dryers, alternators or starters for cars, the list goes on and on! My point is: A lot of these things can be made to produce at least low-to-moderate amounts of electricity! Sometimes even way above moderate (400+ watts @ 12vDC). There are so many people in my area that are elderly, disabled, or unable to get any kind of reasonable help from the various "Social Services" available.
Even on the lowest range for example: a cieling fan conversion to help charge a car battery (probably the only battery some can afford or get donated), to provide some lighting would help so many to the point they may discontinue being connected to the grid! I'm serious! Most people can't even afford to run a refridgerator, and use large coolers with ice supplied by friends & neighbors frozen in everything from 3lb. butter tubs, 2-3 liter "coke" bottles, or 1/2 to 1 gallon milk jugs! I know from experience, I had to do this for just over a year until my parents helped me get my H.F. solar panels, a Chicago Electric 1200/3200 inverter, and two 115 amp-hour Walmart marine deep-cycle batteries!
The cost of being connected to our Electric Company here is now $14 per month, plus taxes on that, plus a charge supposedly to cover if the electric company has to buy additional power during "Peak Usage Time". There's a couple other odds & ends charges I'm not bothering to look up, but the bottom line is: $20+ to be hooked up to Lumbee River Electric Co-Op even if you don't use a WATT of electricity!
One of my common selling points to this is: The scrap value you may get from this junk may sound pretty good right now, but what if these same items could be generating power for you for "almost, if not free"...a lot less than what your currently paying the Electric Company robbers, and doing it for a minimum of 1-2 years for the cheapest solution. Or 10-20 years for some of the better generator solutions? Would that be worth the $100-$300 (at most, and only once a year at that!) you get for assistance from these so-called "Social Services"? I also like to comment that although I'm not in this for the money, I will be using predominately elderly or disabled people to help make these things, and most if not all would be willing to help for free (or maybe just a warm meal)! I do have one friend with an electrical engineering degree, and qualified for home electric. Myself, I am a Federally registered Tool & Die Maker with a AAA rating. I have a mechanical Engineering Degree, and worked the last 7+ years before I became disabled as an engineer for a prominent Aerospace company.
Trying to get out of "rant mode", I just hope to spread the message that most "junk" we throw away, thinking we're getting fantastic scrap prices, could be put to better use helping others that are finding it harder and harder to cope with rising electric cost!
Please don't take this as "blowing my own horn", but I have only been able to do 20-30 minutes of "work" at one time, and very seldom twice in one day. Even then, the amount of pain medication needed to accomplish that twice-a-day work shift like this would put most people in "unbelief mode". I'd be glad to go into details for those that really want them, but the point is: with even a few semi-able bodied persons devoted to making this type of thing happen, and with all the free scrap, or what people think is scrap, a HUGE difference & benefit can be realized in just my small community (Hoke County, North Carolina).
I'm certain what "helpers" are already interested, can make and install even the smallest (2-5amp @ 12v) systems for either free, or just a $20-$40 contribution to cover some costs. Most of these "helpers" are active church-going people disgusted with the amount & quality of help the county provides. They may not even WANT that amount of contribution! With these type of good-hearted souls, and some of the better "junk" available, we may be able to kiss good-bye to the insufficient, and money hungry burden of the powers-that-be, give some very needy people some much-needed lighting, and possibly even some light refridgeration capabilities!
Even with some of the "junk" one neighbor was going to BURN, I made a solar water heating unit! You can barely believe the appreciation all of those people I mentioned would have for the possibility of a warm (if not even HOT) bath! Let alone the possibility of using that extra warm-to-hot water, of raising the indoor temperature of their home even 5 or even 20 degrees during the winter!
You can take this as a RANT or a plea to start an almost free business I can accept that, and can't blame you. But I have been in this very same situation. Please don't deny the possibility of at least some "free" or cheaper electric than the Electric Companies charges to those that need it the most!
If you feel you can dump your possibly useable junk somewhere where it might benefit those in need (in other words...HERE), I welcome email at the adress I hope is available under my user name: ruralmcguyver@yahoo.com and please add Otherpower, Forcefield, or something similar to the subject line so it doesn't get sent to the Spam FOLDER.
Thanks all and I apologize again for an almost-rant, but a VERY heartfelt need and the possibility to help with what I've learned here at OtherPower! |
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