Hi All, from Aus

[Brad_Cunneen]

Hi guys and gals.

I was just being lazy, still in bed because the solar LVD hadn't switched back on to make a coffee and I stumbled across Doug's video on Motherboard.
I live on the other side of the pond in Australia, living off grid and can relate to Doug's lifestyle.
I also like tinkering with technology and finding way to improve improvise or just DIY a solution.

I can't say I've tried to build a fusion reactor but marvel at the idea and was only talking about it the day before to a friend.
I have currently played with the idea of DIY Planté style battery's and have found a simple way to produce these at home and have been getting good capacity. I'm happy to share if anyone is interested.
I am also playing with NiFe battery construction in a different way that seems simple and have done small tests that worked but still need improvement.

Cheers, Brad

[Doug Coulter]

I tried some alt tech batteries, even huge nicads. At the time, most of my solar gear wouldn't easily handle the wider voltage range ni-cads needed.
I think some sort of redox flow battery might work out pretty well for these fixed installations - we don't care what they weigh or how big.
(and the electronics are better too - but I still have an inverter from 1979...)
Most of them are kind of a fuel cell where the battery electrodes take no chemical part in the reaction so that can last "forever". And the newest ones don't need Nafion membranes (expensive stuff). You might want to look at those...

I'm using submarine batteries, old school lead acid. They're already >12 years old and still like new - I don't beat on them really hard.

[johnf]

Welcome Brad
I live on East island from you (NZ)
Have a good read
Fusor.net may also be a good place for you to look around

[Brad_Cunneen]

Hi Doug,
Yeah flow batteries are a great idea. I have looked into these but only a little. I think they will be the future of electrical storage.

Yeah batteries from a sub are an awesome find. They are more than likely solid Led - Led battery like the ones I am playing with.

Hi John
Yeah I'm keen to check it out, thanks

[fusordoug]

Sorry to take so long to approve your posts...we're all learning in this new mode. Do check out fusor, we share people with them if not always the same opinions. A bit different mission and scope, they have (or did have) a lot of really good FAQs they wrote in self-defence to the endless slight rephrasings of the same questions. Definitely worth a read.

[Brad_Cunneen]

Haha that's fine Doug, my bad. You can delete the double that I posted if you like.

[fusordoug]

Actually it's my bad, or phpbb's bad, they defaulted to needed new users approval for every single post and then don't tell me about them unless I ask.
I think I fixed it for this and for playpen, the only places you're allowed to post today. We'll get you promoted fairly soon, as you're obviously alright.
Some others I get...not so sure. Not a hell of a lot of intelligent life on FB I hear - though some are forced on by the others. </old fart rant>