Wow, A long time again since my last post. Work always gets in the way of posting and this is strictly a business plug.

See UvAirPurifiers.com for UV, Photocatalytic Oxidation, PCO, air purification

technology. The best to eliminate bacteria, viruses, molds, odors, and volatile organic compounds.
No ionic electronic air cleaner or HEPA air purifier on the market can compete in effectiveness.

A lot has happened since my last post almost 3 years ago. I haven't intended to ignore this endeavor... just been to busy!

I am still researching and planning to move to my beloved Terlingua property in roughly 3 years and am still doing research on of grid living and sustainability.

The place I worked for for over a decade closed last year and I was able to keep the air purification sales database and have started my own business and incorporated last year to Peacock Enterprises Inc.
I am managing and running an internet air purification sales business with several web sites;  the main ones being http://www.peakpureair.net; http://www.uv-air-purifiers.com and http://www.uv-air-purifiers.info.
Working for yourself isn't all it is made up to be especially when your boss is an A Hole Hard Azz! :)

I am still working on my Black Peacock BBQ sauce project but need to get it trademarked before I do any more major promoting but do keep making small batches and created a web page; Black Peacock BBQ Sauce.

Special thanks to Anna Oakley of mercury graphics promo for the design work.

I sold my 92 Jeep Cherokee to Ring Huggins who sold it a week later for a profit. I got and fixed up a 99 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 and sold for a profit.  I just bought another 92 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 and am fixin it up to sell. I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 that I am prepin as my Terlingua vehicle.

 

What does all of this have to do with off grid research, nothing, but it gets my businesses linked back to my sites so possibly... possibly... I can make a living and be able to keep my head above water so I can retire to Terlingua someday.

Peace and Love Ya'll! :)

Solar Water Heating / Simple Solar H2O Heater

In researching and studying I decided it was time I tinkered with some simple solar water heating. I wanted it cheap and easy so gathered up some boxes, other materials, bought some containers of water, and a can of flat black paint for plastics. I kinda used the solar oven concept to help try and capture the sun to hold in the heat. Of course one gallon or 2 ½ gallons isn’t a lot of water but enough for some dishes or a quick wash off shower and a lot better than no hot water.

My testing was done July 28th 2012 in central Texas. I put them out full of about 80 degree tap water at 11 am with the ambient temp at 88. I checked them at 1 pm testing the water temp with a digital thermometer. The 1 gallon and the 2 ½ gallon were at 118 with air at 91. At 3 pm the 1 gallon was 137 and the 2 ½ was 122 air temp 99. At 5 pm the 1 gallon was still 137 and the 2 ½ gallon was 134 with air temp at 99. Throughout this time I rotated them to keep them in the peak sun and adjust the tilt a little.

The paint stuck a lot better to the clear stiffer 1 gallon jug than the 2 ½ gallon which is more like a plastic milk jug plastic. Having the containers black allows for the absorption of the heat.

I'll get back to Ya with the true test which would be in the winter with a lot cooler air temps. This is fairly simple with minimal cost. I also plan on  testing the 1 gallon in a collapsible reflector solar oven. If the hot water is put into a small cooler the water will stay warm for many hours.

Great Off Grid Info Web Site

I know there are a ton of web sites with off grid info and products. I found one that has a ton of useful information and would like to pass it on anyone interested. See http://www.off-grid.net/
From their site “Off-Grid reports on the people, technologies, events and influences throughout the global off-grid community.”
They have an Off-Grid 101 section, a forum, along with other helpful links.

Cactus Juice in your eye

Here goes another unrelated off grid story but wanted to pass it on.

I have several Euphorbia Grandicornis, Big Horn cactus, that I have grown from buying cuttings years ago. They grow like crazy in the summer, I am talkin about a few inches a week. So yesterday I decided it was time to take a new cutting. I had a hard time with my old pruners but got through it. I have been told several times any cactus that has a white sap make sure and wash it off and never get it in your eyes. Well of course I had the sticky white sap on my hands and the pruners. I went over to the faucet and did a quick rinse on both. I then quickly patted dry the pruners and worked on them a bit to reshape the pulled apart blades. I went on about my morning and all of sudden my left eye was burning. I put in eye drops and it just burned more. The pain got intense so the first thing I did was wash my hands with soap and water like I should have done earlier. I then flushed it with more eye drops and washed around my eye. The pain got worse and worse. I have had jalapeño juice, cajun spices, gasoline, hot slag, and all kind of other crap in my eye but nothing that burned like this. Sandy ended up flushing the eye with 2 shot glasses of purified water and it did not help. It was the most excruciating pain ever. I got the shakes and erratic breathing thinking I was going to pass out. I was all but going into shock. After about an hour the pain was down to tolerable and another thirty minutes later I could actually open the eye and use it. It really felt like a mini cutting torch trying to cut through my eye. Today is feels swollen and sore and is really red.

So; If working with cactus and any sap gets on you wash it off thoroughly with soap and water and don't stick you finger in your eye. Lesson Learned!

Solar Cooking Weekend

With tons o Texas sun I decided to do all cooking over the weekend with solar. I got off early Friday and did my first solar meatloaf which was as good as my energy using house heating oven would have done. Saturday I did solar turkey thighs. I decided to try a potatoe dish. So into the black painted jar and late afternoon I drained them, put them in a small loaf pan with bacon, ranch dip, and cheese. I covered it in foil and back into the solar oven. It was served with the turkey thighs and it was Mighty Tasty! Sunday was solar St. Louis style pork ribs. Hmmm.. Ribs..!! With not as much solar heat with it being cloudy I ended up topping them off on my little gas grill for about 10 minutes per side. This added some bark char and after adding some sauce they were good to go.

Of course each morning forecast was for full day of sun but every day some clouds rolled in by mid afternoon. I have added a few more floor tiles painted black which seemed to hold in the heat as clouds rolled by.

Picture is of a previous cooking. The oven know has tiles bottom, sides, back, and front with a lot thicker polycarbonate window. It hasn't melted yet with some temps up to 260.

I am proud of and enjoy my solar endeavors. I know Sandy is pretty happy about it cause she gets to eat all the good food. At least in her eyes I am her Master Chef / BBQ Pit Master!

Wind Turbine Generator

I purchased a cheap wind turbine generator on Ebay that is supposed to produce 250 watts max. The blades are 15” aluminum on an aluminum frame. Specs say the best wind speed is 7.6 to 15 mph for best running conditions. Maximum wind speed approximately 30 to 40 mph survival conditions. This is probably when it gets its max 250 watts is right when it is coming apart! So it sure wouldn’t stand up very long in Terlingua or high gusty wind areas.

I have given it to my friend Mark MacDonald of Home Concentrated Solar Power, Home CSP; http://homecsp.com, to do some playing around testing with it. Mark has a lot of knowledge and gadgets for getting some test information. One problem is Mark’s house doesn’t have decent wind so he is looking to mounting it higher off his roof. Hopefully he will have some test numbers soon. With so much varied and inaccurate data on wind turbine output out there I am waiting on some test results before I leave buyer feedback. I imagine it will end up being a $149 learning experience but will post testing results as they come in.

On another topic I sold my Cadillac SRX. I didn't get what I wanted to for it but got what I expected to. Finally I am down to the Tahoe, Motorcycle, and side x side 4x4 buggy.