Author Topic: New solar system in Paradise (Read 36722 times)

wpowokal · « **Reply #99 on:** December 14, 2011, 05:05:33 AM »

just to keep you amused some locals.

Cane toad

spider

noisy critter that likes to leave deposits on all and sundry

allan

SparWeb · « **Reply #100 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:21:38 PM »

You call it "Paradise" when the spiders get that big?

Quote from: wpowokal on December 14, 2011, 05:05:33 AM

allan

TomW · « **Reply #101 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:04:20 PM »

Quote from: SparWeb on December 16, 2011, 05:21:38 PM

You call it "Paradise" when the spiders get that big?

Quote from: wpowokal on December 14, 2011, 05:05:33 AM

allan

My question is:

Can you dredge them in batter and deep fry them?

Tom

wpowokal · « **Reply #102 on:** December 17, 2011, 03:00:26 AM »

That spider was only about 3" across and Tom I guess you could batter and fry one, no accounting for some peoples tastes.

We had 5Â½" of rain (around 136mm) last night

I am still drawn to hydro from one or both of theses pipes, this was this afternoon after the water had cleared and shows as much as the pipes can carry.

Pipes are just coping

Was still a bit muddy in the early morning,

But subsides quickly

Swollen swimming area

I made my way to the back creek early in the morning had to cross this mini creek that runs at the rear of the house

At the rear creek I just happened to catch site of a log floating down around 1' x 8', this reminded me why a paddle wheel would have trouble, it's a terrible pic blurred as the shutter speed was so slow and the camera operator, well lets just say it was early. The log can just be seen to the right about mid height

Then there was Old Blue, an old blue healer who has poor eye sight and seem quite deaf, he go lost ended up booking into a six star resort where the first thing he did was take a dip in their pool, actually he ambled into it with his poor eyesight. Blondie brought him home from the resort, he did not have enough cash rooms $300/night, so he stayed the night here, he caused me a few grey hairs walking off the crossing into the muddy water, but early this afternoon he headed off north, probably going back to where he was lost.

Allan still having fun in Far North Queensland OZ

bj · « **Reply #103 on:** December 17, 2011, 08:58:27 AM »

Three inch across spider. Actually kind of admire the creatures, but never dealt with one that big.
One thing for sure though, If you batter, and fry one, I'd gladly cough up $100, if I could watch Tom
eat it. In person mind you, no doctored videos.

Thanks once again for the share Allan.

TomW · « **Reply #104 on:** December 17, 2011, 09:19:39 AM »

Quote from: bj on December 17, 2011, 08:58:27 AM

I'd gladly cough up $100, if I could watch Tom
eat it. In person mind you, no doctored videos.
Thanks once again for the share Allan.

Ha! Grew up half hillbilly and I have eaten much worse stuff than a deep fried spider lightly battered. At least its already dead and even cooked!

Tom

wpowokal · « **Reply #105 on:** December 18, 2011, 02:51:03 AM »

A day at the beach, first the warning.

First glimpse..

I thought it looked like this tree was crossing it's legs, OK warped mind

Don't know how many creatures live in here

The diversity of beach trees

Just looking north along the beach to give you an idea of how much rubbish washes out of the jungle..

looking out to sea from one of the creeks

Among the mangroves looking for a croc

Another creek inlet

Battery cap

A little little crab

Mouth of a creek, the whole area inland of the beach become a bigger swamp in the wet season

I recon this is the log that floated past in my back creek, well it looks like it anyway, albeit none of the creeks shown here are the one past my place

Just to show the rubbish that collects on the pristine beach after washing out of the jungle

One of the local Vietnam vets comes down here each day to remember his mates who did not come home

The best thing about this time of year is no tourists on the beach, this is tourist season.

Allan FNQ

wpowokal · « **Reply #106 on:** December 18, 2011, 03:39:13 AM »

And while we are showing pics, my elder son visited a couple of months ago and climbed up a trail to a look out on Mt Sorrow at Cape Tribulation, just up the road from here. This is not an easy climb and not one I intend to undertake, but he was a gentlemen and offered to bring up the rear behind these two German girls, he now recommends short skirts for climbing this trail.

The trail info

From the look out looking SE

Looking south

Looking directly east to the coral sea

Looking down on Cape Tribulation

Looking further up the mountain

What a gentleman offering to climb behind this young lady in case she slipped.

Allan of FNQ

DamonHD · « **Reply #107 on:** December 18, 2011, 04:47:42 AM »

Ha, I read one of those captions as "beech trees" and was wondering how you had any of those there!

Yes, all looks like paradise from here...

Rgds

Damon

wpowokal · « **Reply #108 on:** December 18, 2011, 04:52:29 AM »

Yes I amended that caption after I previewed it, I try not to fiddle too much with a post or it all goes wrong on me, nut I knew what I meant.

And a correction from my earlier post of solar system figures, we have been here 7Â½ months not 5Â½ apparently, not that that changes any figures.

allan

bj · « **Reply #109 on:** December 18, 2011, 08:44:43 AM »

Allan--you can be very proud of your son, being a gentleman.

Lovely area, and pics.
I had a feeling I couldn't call Tom's bluff, but it was worth a go.

Bruce S · « **Reply #110 on:** December 19, 2011, 12:18:56 PM »

I agree with bj

I also agree with your son, short skirts would lessen to chance of getting a rash from those shorts

I spend enough time on the phone with sites in AU and NZ I could almost talk work into an office there:)
How long would it take to get to Dunedin,NZ

Bruce S
St. Louis, Missouri, USA with winter arriving in two days

wpowokal · « **Reply #111 on:** March 13, 2013, 05:27:54 AM »

Well it has now been 22 months since I mad the move to the wilds of Far North Queensland so I thought I might update some of my systems figures.

Total DC input for preceding 365 days 4081Kwh
Daily DC input average for preceding 365 days 11.14 Kwh
Battery output for Preceding 365 days 3883Kwh total
Battery output for preceding 365 days 8.41Kwh/day
That's an efficiency of 95%

AC load for preceding 365 days 7163 Kwh total
AC load for preceding 365 days 19.61 daily average
AC input from genset for preceding 365 days 733 Kwh total
AC input for preceding 365 days 1.96Kwh daily average.
That is 90% of my requirements come from solar.

Now it is fair to say here that I equalize off the genset because try as I may I am not happy with the solar regulators efforts, also I baby my batteries and sometimes in the wet season run the genset in evening assist mode. With more effort on my part I could severely reduce those generator run hours, but I like my comforts like a bedroom air conditioner that runs 24/7 not just for comfort but to De-humidify.

So all in all it is possible to live off solar even in a rain forrest.

Allan

phil b · « **Reply #112 on:** March 13, 2013, 08:52:39 PM »

It's good to hear from you Alan. Your numbers are impressive. Thanks for the update.
My system goes into high gear next May when I retire.

ghurd · « **Reply #113 on:** March 24, 2013, 10:00:36 AM »

Might be time to go after some of that hydro power?
G-

wpowokal · « **Reply #114 on:** March 31, 2013, 04:57:11 AM »

G unfortunately hydro is still not practical of affordable, not saying it could not be done but.......

That flooded creek caused a bit of trouble last Tuesday, with me and district nurse on my house side and the ambulance waiting on the other side for 1.5-2 hours until it dropped far enough to drive across, that foot bridge just got raised to the top of the task list.

Allan

BruceDownunder · « **Reply #115 on:** March 31, 2013, 06:05:08 PM »

Hi Allan ,, nice to see your post-very interesting ...

I'm still working on the solar tracker ,,have built a retaining wall from the workshop out to the tracker ,,,was too steep and dangerous for me to navigate when I had "the dreader Gout" ..

Have a couple of 24v gate closers which will be ideal for the actuators. Just have to fabricate some metal and some wiring ..

Your post is a fantastic view of showing the world forum members the way you and lots of us Ozzies live over here,,congratulations. OH,, by the way , my bar frig is working off solar now ,so our frequent "black-outs" are now overcome !.

Cheers mate, so nice to catch up with you again ..

Bruce

wpowokal · « **Reply #116 on:** March 31, 2013, 07:52:23 PM »

Beautiful one day perfect the next

Bruce it is good to hear you are still progressing and even better to hear that you are making tracks on that billy goat country of yours.

Allan

ruddycrazy · « **Reply #117 on:** April 01, 2013, 06:54:23 AM »

G'day Allan,
Some good figures there on the RE input mate and with those pic's you keep showing I ain't jealous (just yet anyway) as it looks like the season is close to breaking down here it will be not too hot nor cold.

Now if you call Bruce's place 'billy goat country' down here trying to keep goats in one place is a non goer as the things always preferred the neighbors roses. Got 2 lambs so far and 5 pretty fat ewes so hopefully 5 lambs on the way and finally found a mate for that LowLine Angus 'Missy Moo' so a calf will come into the mix in the future.

Finally got the $$$ to get that 4kw motor down to the motor rewinders so soon it will be up and flying making a tad more power for our place. My attempts of trying to wind 14awg(1.6mm) wire into a motor frame proved to painful for the fingers and too painful to see the woeful effort.

Anyway with the hydro if you want to come up with a design I can easily make it up here and send it up to you.

Cheers Bryan

wpowokal · « **Reply #118 on:** April 02, 2013, 01:59:30 AM »

Hi Bryan you have been fiddling with that 4 Kw motor for ages, good to hear that you are progressing it, and I am sure you know the only way to keep a goat in is with a 7.62.

Unfortunately despite copious quantities of water, hydro is not all that practical due to the lack of fall across my property, the fact that the creek is some 2.5-3m below surface and the huge increase in flow of water and trees (yes whole trees) during the wet. Conserving during limited incoming days would be more cost effective.

Hopefully in a few weeks or months I will be back to my usual grumpy self and back into projects, not that I have been completely slacking off, I have been helping others, it seems my projects were the ones to fall by the wayside over the last 6 months. First project is a foot bridge across my creek then my small 12v system, then er well what ever is next.

I see lunch has arrived so I must be away to light a fire.

Allan

wpowokal · « **Reply #119 on:** April 03, 2013, 12:33:18 AM »

I have to say life is tough in the top end.

Allan

ghurd · « **Reply #120 on:** April 06, 2013, 07:56:20 PM »

I have eaten (or tasted) some strange things, but I'd have to be dang hungry to eat one of those.

Quote from: wpowokal on March 31, 2013, 07:52:23 PM

Beautiful one day perfect the next

That's just mean and spitefull.
Snowed here yesterday.
Furnace is running now.

Maybe if I bring some fresh possum for lunch, I could stay in your spare room for a year or 2?
G-

wpowokal · « **Reply #121 on:** April 06, 2013, 08:12:24 PM »

Hi G unfortunate that mean spiteful pic lost it's tropical brilliance when I down sized it, goana and roo tail soup are quite up there with possum stew, and the room is open. I am not sure if you are ready for the fast pace of life in the tropics? The end of the alphabet dominates!

Allan

wpowokal · « **Reply #122 on:** April 09, 2013, 12:27:44 AM »

This reasonable hydro site

turns into this

sort of makes hydro difficult, and the standard 6 " rain gauge just does not cut the mustard up here

Allan with wet feet

ghurd · « **Reply #123 on:** April 11, 2013, 10:19:39 PM »

Yikes!
That's a major water level fluctuation.

I think I could learn to properly operate a hammock, while napping, with enough practice.
It might take me a LOT of practice to become proficient at doing it correctly.

I formally revise my earlier statement to "3 to 68 years" in the spare room (as long as I don't have to eat dragon tail stew).
G-

wpowokal · « **Reply #124 on:** April 12, 2013, 05:29:43 AM »

Hi G,
Yes quite a fluctuation and that can happen in 10 min, and it is very fast flowing, but on the bright side it goes down quite fast also.

Oh by the way even 3 months is optimistic ATM so don't buy that hammock yet, oh unless you come prepared to buy the place that is. Actually if you can't face goana maybe OZ is not for you.

Hammock instructions usually take as long as a six pack, after that you don't care if you fall out.

How does python appeal to you, we have one at work that scares visitors occasionally, I see tender slices of meat, the boss see a harmless snake, and visitors feel lose bowels, snigger, snigger, now if I just took it out the top gate no one would know the difference.

Allan behave!

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Author Topic: New solar system in Paradise (Read 36722 times)