How to build a solar generator.

[J.L Hunter]

The idea came from sitting outside one night while the power was out on three streets including ours. I was thinking to myself, 'man, we need a generator, just in case a hurricane were to hit and power was out for weeks like in ivan'. Then i remembered Ivan a bit more vividly, although i had a terrific time, the lines to get gas were horrific. Then i thought, well, what did we have in abundance of during those three and a half weeks. SUN! Well, i came up with a solution, create a solar powered generator. Although, i know, people have probably already done this, but i would like to build my own.

So, instead of posting a how-to-do list of how to build a solar powered generator, i will be steadily collecting information on how to do just that, i also ask for the other members of this site to offer their own ideas along with the source of where they found the information to collect their post with. I will do the same as well, within the next day, i'll be surfing the internet to obtain a sufficient ammount of information.

First of all, the most obvious start would be to obtain a generator, they sell used generators at numerous pawn shops and hardware stores. If you had to, you could get one at walmart that would be inexpensive and sufficient for your needs. Then you would need to fish out all of the components, understanding how the generator works: which i'll describe later once i've researched more. That would lead you to be able to take those initial components and replacing them with the solar powered plug ins. The transfer of power that was once used by gas combustion engine, can now be transfered through stored energy from the attached solar panels. I'm sure you can buy solar panels, as far as how much they are, i dont know. The power output of this machine would be minimal depending on the type of solar panel you used.

[theunleet]

Basically, just buy a crap generator(Not gas powered) and modify it with the Solar Sun Panels. I believe you need Cells to store the energy... I might be wrong though.

[Mike]

Photovoltaic array on roof + Batteries in attic + wiring to house from batteries and array and/or to mainline grid = solar generator.

This generator you speak of from hardware store is not required. Usually "generators" in hardware stores are gas turbines used to make electricity from internal combustion. Not necessary in photovoltaic setup, as sunlight is directly converted to electricity by cells.

Last time I checked, several years ago, (technology and mass production of cells has most likely allowed for cheaper prices) photovoltaic cells run upper hundreds. And most Homeowner's Associations won't allow them on your house.

[Vicious88]

Everything typed in this post is typed in the hypothetical, using the best mental figuring I can offer. Actual construction or implementation of such a device would require either precise measurements or an EXTREMELY dangerous series of trial and error. Proposed for practical application theory -- NOT as a suggestion.

Liquid Salt "Green Steam" Generator:

Step One: Build your Solar HotHouse.

Your HotHouse is an eliptical enclosure designed to amplify and focus sunlight into powerful, constant heat. Your hot house should be shaped a bit like the cliche UFO, or the body of George Jetson's car.

The inside structure will be coated with mirrors, with a small opening at the bottom for two pipes to come in, and a large opening at the top for a large elliptical lens. The lens should be partially silvered (one way mirror) on the underside (inside-facing half) of the lens.

On the outside of structure, alongside the lens should be a circle of 12 volt circle cells. They should total no less than 72 volts and be angled approximately 45 degrees based off the ground (but not high enough to obscure light from reaching the lens). Ideally, your solar cells will form an octagon around the lens. Wire every other cell to a splice, and repeat with the remaining cells and a second splice. From each splice, wire on a 12 Volt regulator, and from there a 12V to 110V Inverter. Loop Each Inverter into a 12V Lithium cell which can last at least 14 Hours under a 8W pull.

Step 2: Build your steam generator.

Build or Acquire a large tank capable of holding at least 250 Gallons of Water. Ensure that the tank is insulated with fire resistant insulation and have two holes in the lower sidewall of the tank. Through those holes run thick walled metal pipes and lead them into coiled piping radiator system - IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT that the pipes not thin down to less than 3" in diameter, but the walls thin down to no more than 1/4" thickness. Suspend the pipes using Porcelain props at least 2" above the bottom of the tank.

Funnel off the top of the tank with thick angled walls leading down to a small opening. The size of this opening cannot be too large or else proper pressure will not be built.

Step 3: Mount your turbine.

A simple high wattage AC turbine generator is all you need to ensure that you can successfully power your home or business. This will provide more reliable, higher wattage power than a solar array can, and enable you to completely power your building as if you had your own hydroelectric dam.

Enclose your turbine wheel in a housing that will allow the steam a topside escape, as well as allow drainage for condensed steam. The turbine should have VERY little room between it and the walls, so that the steam pressure will spin the turbine wheel at it's maximum speed. When building your turbine wheel enclosure, imagine it like a clock face. Your steam will need to enter, through the pressure release hole in the tank, somewhere around the 4 o'clock position on the enclosure, angled upwards making the wheel spin counter clockwise. Your exhaust should be directly opposite the housing (10 o'clock position), and your drain should be at the lowest possible position (6 o'clock). If you need to generate more power, you can attach in series additional turbines by putting the input of the new turbine enclosure against the exhaust of the existing one. Note, however, that each additional generator you attach will lose approximately 40% of it's generating ability.

From your generator(s), you can wire up your house as you would with any other generator (ensuring to obey all safety guides and features and use properly gauged circuit breakers).

Step 4: Piping the system.

Run pipes in a large loop structure from the radiator, to a U-Bend which comes up in the HotHouse. Along the "cold side" (the longer line, running out from the radiator in the tank, to back up to the HotHouse), install a 110V Turbine Pump, and thermal cuton/cutoff sensor, and wire them together, then to one of the two 110V Invertor leads from the HotHouse. Repeat this assembly, (reversing the pump to flow the other direction) on the "Hot side" of the pipes, and wire it to the remaining inverter.

Step 5: Starting the System.

Completely fill the pipe system with Salt. This is best done by using your turbine pumps to steadily pressure salt into the pipe system. Do this until there is very little air left in the line.

Why Salt? Well, because Salt retains heat for a VERY, VERY long time, and becomes liquid when heated. Atop that, it gets hot enough to heat up neighboring salt and turn it into a semi-liquid state. When this liquid runs through the radiator in the water tank, it will boil the water and allow your steam to enter in to the turbine generator while pulling relatively little heat from the salt itself: Allowing it to run all night long, even when the heat from the sun is gone.

The rest of these instructions are best carried out at night, so you can start strong with the next day.

Alright... Once your pipes are filled with salt, make sure your water tank is EMPTY and begin to heat your tanks pipes using butane torches. It will take a long time to liquefy the salt inside, but after about 4 hours it should either either be liquefied or in a semi-liquid state, and it'll be safe for you to turn on your pumps.

With your pumps running, continue to heat the salt inside the pipes for another 4 hours (just for good measure) and then slowly add water to your tank. The water will instantly bead off the hot pipes, but as the tank fills don't be disappointed it if doesn't immediately boil -- it takes a to heat up that much water, which is why you're adding water in SLOWLY (to try and keep the salt from cooling down too much).

Once the water is boiling and the liquid salt is flowing, you're good to go. The heat in the lines should be enough to last you up to 12 hours without direct heat in the HotHouse. With the heat from the sun turning our HotHouse into a solar oven, the ubend pipe should expose the liquid salt to enough heat to keep it flowing smoothyl.

Everything typed in this post is typed in the hypothetical, using the best mental figuring I can offer. Actual construction or implementation of such a device would require either precise measurements or an EXTREMELY dangerous series of trial and error. Proposed for practical application theory -- NOT as a suggestion.

[theunleet]

You both have really good ideas for making hypothetical energy out of common stuff(Ok so Photovoltaic arrays and cells are not really common... lol)

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_array

http://www.photovoltaicarray.net

More info.

[J.L Hunter]

I know its been a while, but I've been going through all the old threads and came across this one I must have completely forgotten about. However, my pursuits of "free" energy have led me across electromagnetic energy from super powered magnets circulating within a giant copper tube or cylinder harnessed into a belt-motor. When the electrically charged "super-magnets" are dropped into the copper tube or are stationed inside the copper cylinder, the magnets are given almost surreal attributes that some might perceive as "Gravity defying".

If one is able to position the magnets in the appropriate places within the copper tubing, they happen to rotate around each other within the cylinder. This can only happen if first, the magnets are strong enough to carry enough force into the motor, and second, if you position the poles correctly, ie as south to south and north to north, or if you like {++}{--} alternately throughout the tubing.

...That is all. If any of you would like, search "Hummingbird and Sundance Generators".