Well this weekend was very interesting and informal to say the least. There were many local booths, with anything you can imagine about RE(except DIY stuff). The first thing I noticed while walking past all the different booths was this beauty:
Located at the Back Home magazine booth. This is a machine that Dan built and shipped to them for exibit. VERY nice machine and it drew alot of interest. It was one of the only homebrewed devices there, since everyone else just sold used/new equipment. I've never seen one up close so that was nice, and it's amazing how smooth this thing spins, and how nice it looks.
I along with most others on this board should reconize these cells. ;-)
This guy's booth also had the GE electric lawnmower for sale, alog with some desulphators and other used toys.
The classes were very well setup and very informative. The 1 hour classes where great for beginers and such, but when you spend most of your time on the boards you dont learn much from them. The solar cooker class was pretty decent though.
Some of the different cookers, comparing manufactured and homemade cheapos. The DIY cookers did better than the manufactured ones. Of coures, the didnt have a dish cooker so I volenteered mine(far right). Of course, with any thing solar, we had zero sun that day(good wind though).
Second day I decided to spend in 2 4 hours classes on solar hot water heating, and wind power. Lots of good information in both of these classes and got to meet some great contacts for the future information and possably job opportunities.
This is the small Japanese(I think) windmill we put up that day.
Of course with anything RE, we had no sun the first day with solar cookers and plenty of wind. Second day with windmill, no wind but plenty of sun...
Attempting to take apart the windmill. We got as far as getting the blades off before we gave up. :-) Chris in the middle(dr.dongle).
Overall it was a great time and I learned quite a bit. Also helps to find some new locals to get to know and businesses to talk with. It's good to have real people to ask questions to as well. If you get a chance next year, take it, and go learn. Heck, there was even a blemished panel for $4 a watt so you never know what you'll find. ;-)
PS. Seemed everyone there was major anit-battery people, pro-grid tie. I'm opposite, though NC does have some good benifits for grid tie.
