Short on space and more on the waist, that's what the 60's have brought me.
I need to downsize, and will, with time.
In this picture, I'd like to point out the heater, as shown circled.
Elon Musk with the help of metaphysical entities from Uranus designed this to use reverse energy to heat a space.
When I turn this on, it not only heats the entire shop in less than 60 seconds on the coldest day, it reverses the flow of electricity causing revenue generation!
I would let this one go for $99.99 but wait, there is more -
So much more........
(BS, that is)
That thing is huge. Probably get a tan just working in there.
Seems to me the real issue here is that 71' Triple is interrupting the circulation of the heat flow. 2-strokes will do that.... If you'd like, I can swing by and toss that smokey old H1 in my truck and get it outta there for ya? After that I bet its toasty... Also, counts as "downsizing".
:hi:
Quote from: axiom-r on March 24, 2025, 04:53:59 PMSeems to me the real issue here is that 71' Triple is interrupting the circulation of the heat flow. 2-strokes will do that.... If you'd like, I can swing by and toss that smokey old H1 in my truck and get it outta there for ya? After that I bet its toasty... Also, counts as "downsizing".
:hi:
That's what I thought it was. I just couldn't see it clearly.
Quote from: FJ1200W on March 24, 2025, 08:18:50 AMShort on space and more on the waist, that's what the 60's have brought me. I need to downsize, and will, with time.
In this picture, I'd like to point out the heater, as shown circled.
FJ1200W,
A few decades ago, I saw a solar collector that worked very well. Any patents are long since expired, by now.
It was a flat box with a glass top and sheet-metal "floor." It was filled with a neat layout of upright empty aluminum cans, set in a honeycomb pattern. (A can opener can remove the tops of the cans.) The sides were common "C-section" metal studs, maybe an inch or two taller than the cans. The collector was angled toward the sun, but no sun-tracking was needed; the cans caught sunlight very well from any angle.
Ordinary ductwork brought cold air from the floor of the workshop to the bottom of the collector. Similar ductwork took hot air from the top of the collector into the shop at waist height. Because hot air rises, no fans were needed, but you may want a fan pushing air into the collector. All metal surfaces had foil/fiberglass insulation on the outside. Side View, ASCII art:
========================= <--glass top.
] cans cans cans cans cans cans cans [ <--"C-channel" metal studs form the side walls.
------------------------------------------ <-- metal floor plate.
Empty cans VVV in honeycomb arrangement
Here's a picture of my radiant tube heater. It's the big U-shaped tube hanging from the ceiling. Uses natural gass. I'd also like to put myself in the running for the messiest shop. In other news, I actually worked on my FJ last weekend and may have it going again soon.
(https://fjowners.com/gallery/12/6694-250325132427.jpeg)
Wish I could figure out how to post pictures. Haven't been able to since the new version of the forum. But I know I have the messiest shop. And the best heating system. I have 3 zones of infloor heat in my shop. One section is all storage. The main shop era. And the other section for my bikes. Heated by geothermal. Powered by solar...
And as soon as I get the rest of the solar panels up and hooked up. A solar electric hot water heated driveway. I built and installed it all myself.
Check out I have a dream 2. Here on the forum.
I can figure out how to build my house/shop. But I'm too dumb to post pictures. Lol.
Resizepixel.com ! That's what I use :hi: Drag, drop and use the 2mb compress option
Quote from: giantkiller on March 25, 2025, 02:14:00 PMWish I could figure out how to post pictures. Haven't been able to since the new version of the forum.
Giantkiller,
Make a copy of your pix and put them on the Desktop, for easy access. Make your browser screen a bit smaller than full screen, so you can see your pix on the Desktop. Type up a reply to any message. Click and drag your pix from the Desktop, into the box below your typed message. Post your reply as per normal. Easey-Peasey.
You can go back and EDIT your post, if you want, for some time after you post it (just click the EDIT button, then the SAVE button when done there).
Yah all I have is my android phone. That's all I've ever had.
I posted all that stuff on. I have a dream 2. From my android phone. Last time I posted a picture there was february 2023. I now have a Samsung s24 ultra? I think. Only get a new phone when I have to.
Quote from: giantkiller on March 25, 2025, 09:50:02 PMI posted all that stuff on. I have a dream 2. From my android phone. Last time I posted a picture there was february 2023. I now have a Samsung s24 ultra? I think. Only get a new phone when I have to.
An easy way to resize your pics on an android phone is to take a screenshot. If you take a picture in landscape mode, then hold your phone in portrait mode and screenshot it. Then use the crop feature to get rid of all the non-picture stuff. Presto, resized picture that you can upload to the forum. That's what I do.
Most of my pictures are 2mb or less. I just can't get them here even down loading to my gallery. Like I said I'm just a computer idiot.
Quote from: giantkiller on March 26, 2025, 04:45:58 PMMost of my pictures are 2mb or less. I just can't get them here even down loading to my gallery. Like I said I'm just a computer idiot.
Possibly your new phone takes too good a photo, too large in size , but you did say they were only 2mB. I had to shrink the bike photo, but just by cropping it and the file size went down.
I thought it was tricky too, but on the phone just below text box there is a preview button, click that and it brings up the click or drag, I just click/touch that
And then the option to pick photos from your photo library pops up.
Pick one and then add, it came up to large a size, so I cropped it.
Oh and then post.
Lean to for heated driveway solar panels
Woohoo finally got a photo to work thank you!
Manifolds I made for driveway. 3 zones.
Some of the insulation and pex
Manifolds and pumps for heated floors that I made and installed. Six pumps for six sones infloor heat. 3 for 3 shop zones 3 for 3 zones living space upstairs. The 3 pumps lower are for chilled water fan coils. For cooling. 2 upstairs 1 down. But as long as I keep the 3 r18 insulated overhead doors closed have never needed the one in the shop.
Picture didn't seem to post for last one
Cool picture of them pouring concrete on the third morning. Took 11 truck loads.
I laid down all the styrofoam. Then rebar mesh (because the staples were on backorder) and ziptied (almost 2000 zipties) 8000FT of pex in place in 2 days. Because that's all the time I had. Between them laying the gravel and putting in the forms. And when they were starting the pour.
Quote from: axiom-r on March 24, 2025, 04:53:59 PMSeems to me the real issue here is that 71' Triple is interrupting the circulation of the heat flow. 2-strokes will do that.... If you'd like, I can swing by and toss that smokey old H1 in my truck and get it outta there for ya? After that I bet its toasty... Also, counts as "downsizing".
:hi:
I'm always open to offers, that old H1 was a basket case. No title, lost decades ago.
The gentleman I bought it from stored it for decades. It looks like someone wrecked it on the right side, and that was the end of it. Oddly enough, I actually have an extra case for the engine. It's cleaning up nicely, the market is pretty soft, I'd let it go.
Our house has a smaller furnace in the garage. I just removed a plate meant for cleaning out the ducts. As long as you keep the garage door closed it stays a reasonable temperature. Cheap, easy, fast and effective!
very cool stuff -
wait, warm!
Quote from: giantkiller on March 27, 2025, 11:27:15 PMCool picture of them pouring concrete on the third morning. Took 11 truck loads.
I laid down all the styrofoam. Then rebar mesh (because the staples were on backorder) and ziptied (almost 2000 zipties) 8000FT of pex in place in 2 days. Because that's all the time I had. Between them laying the gravel and putting in the forms. And when they were starting the pour.
2 days to do all work still very impressive. A lot of manual work....
Quote from: MarioR on October 13, 2025, 08:51:53 AMQuote from: giantkiller on March 27, 2025, 11:27:15 PMCool picture of them pouring concrete on the third morning. Took 11 truck loads.
I laid down all the styrofoam. Then rebar mesh (because the staples were on backorder) and ziptied (almost 2000 zipties) 8000FT of pex in place in 2 days. Because that's all the time I had. Between them laying the gravel and putting in the forms. And when they were starting the pour.
2 days to do all work still very impressive. A lot of manual work....
Yah just about killed me. Was cold kept the pex in the garage on my heated floor. Took it outside and had to lay it out and ziptie it down real quickly. Or it was a bear when it got cold.
Finally got all of the panels on the lean-to. For the heated driveway. 24 390watt panels 6 per string DC direct to the 4 heating elements on the 2 50 gallon electric water heaters to heat the driveway. Just got the 4 solar powered pumps for the system. Sun shines pumps start up feeding the hot water from the water heaters. Will run anytime the sun is shining so will preheat the concrete
I started installing the panels on the lower roof. 24 390watt panels to add to the ones on the upper roof. Along with 85.8kwh of batteries. Hopefully be able to run entire house without any compromising. Then go completely off grid after running grid tied for a couple of years to try it out.
Excellent Dan!
On your grid tied utility rates, how much $ do you get back for your excess feed in electricity?
Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 14, 2025, 12:27:41 PMExcellent Dan!
On your grid tied utility rates, how much $ do you get back for your excess feed in electricity?
I don't remember it's way less than 1 to 1. I used to produce more than I used so I had zero bills with 10,080 watts of panels. They don't pay out excess. But put it towards your night time usage. They will payout excess when you get off the grid. They have been trying to eliminate net metering for years. There is a renewable energy group that fights them every year. In Wisconsin. And has so far kept them from eliminating it. BUT..
I've always paid a line maintenance fee. Originally $15 a month. But they continually add "fees" on. I didn't know it but it eventually eliminated my credit. And then stacked up. I never knew. Until this spring.
My power was off when I came home from work. I thought wow there's been no bad weather?
Called and automation told me I was disconnected due to delinquent bill of $1600. They let it build up for quite a long time. I never once received a bill. They left it for probably a couple of years. And they can't turn it off until spring. Then boom. I way overpaid my bill. So I have a credit from that. It's only taking that credit down less than $50 a month. So that's how long they let it build up.
So I'm adding 24 more panels and 85.8kw of battery backup. To make it so I don't have to worry about not running some appliances when others are running. Going to run it a couple of years grid tied backup. To make sure. Possibly add wind or some other supplemental source if needed.
And then give the finger to the power company. And cut the cord.
Then they can no longer make money on my over production. By buying it from me for pennies and selling it to my neighbors for dollars.
Then you have all of those people who say solar generation from residential solar. Actually costs the utilities money. Because it's only produced during the day when they don't need it.... Then answer me this! Why are all of them making all of the massive solar farms.
Sorry. I'm done ranting.
My solar journey is not about going green and not about how much it costs to install. Now. While I'm working. So I can afford it.
But not having to worry about any bills. So I may be able to retire.
Dan, We are also finding that out here in Arizona. We call it front loading. You can reduce your electrical consumption to zero yet still get a $60 a month bill. We have investor owned utilities (different from public utilities) and these 'for profit' corporations must return at least a 6% dividend to their stockholders. Anything below that the stockholders will dump the stock and the death spiral begins. Fearing that, the Arizona Corporation Commission which is an elected board made up of pro business Republicans, who gives free rein to these 'too big too fail' utilities for yearly rate increases. Obviously, if they could, they would outlaw residential PV solar systems.....instead they front load all the electrical bills with "claimed" overhead grid maintenance costs.
The only way around these bogus charges is to go off grid.
Good news here in Arizona, we have plenty of sunshine and in my region I don't have the high a/c cooling load like down in Phoenix, nor the high winter heating load they have in Flagstaff. I'm in the Goldilocks zone, not too hot, not too cold. My new home is extremely energy efficient (R30 walls; R60 ceilings, U.09 glazing; 22 SEER mini splits, hydronic radiant heat floor, etc) and my monthly APS bill is only $80-100 per month ($60 being bullshit overhead admin.fees) Still, when I get that bill it pisses me off.
I calculate I would need a 12kw PV system with a 25kWh battery to get me through the cloudy days and a 4kw propane generator backup....all in all about $32k investment.
Alas....Pay off would be too long for me as I'm 72....so I just bite my tongue and pay my front loaded APS bill.
Remembering to look at the big picture. This is a luxury problem for sure...don't be distracted by life's bullshit minutia... I'm very grateful for where I live and all my blessings.
Yah I'm still 62. But I may not make it to 72. Like I said I'm not worried about pay off or even cost. (Although it's way cheaper. Since I'm installing it myself) But I want to have absolutely no bills. So I can retire as soon as I payoff my build loan in 2 years. I only took out $214,000 6years ago.
But I've done almost all of the work myself. Other than putting up the exterior walls. And I paid a lot out of pocket as I built it. I figured well over $400,000 total. Even with doing all the work myself. Doesn't seem like I got that much house for all that money. :scratch_one-s_head:
Quote from: giantkiller on October 14, 2025, 01:31:59 PMI don't remember it's way less than 1 to 1. I used to produce more than I used so I had zero bills with 10,080 watts of panels. They don't pay out excess. But put it towards your night time usage. They will payout excess when you get off the grid. They have been trying to eliminate net metering for years. There is a renewable energy group that fights them every year. In Wisconsin. And has so far kept them from eliminating it. BUT..
That's great that they put it towards night usage, all they do here is give you Sweet FA for excess and charge full rate for anything after dark you use.
We also get an electricity service charge, so if it "passes" your property you get a bill ... even if you don't want it or use it ..
Great job you've been doing.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 14, 2025, 10:47:38 PMI calculate I would need a 12kw PV system with a 25kWh battery to get me through the cloudy days and a 4kw propane generator backup....all in all about $32k investment.
Alas....Pay off would be too long for me as I'm 72....
Pat,
I don't follow PV systems much, but I hear they are improving in output and costs.
Check out the prices for the NEW sodium battery systems by Alsym Energy, and maybe Peak Energy. Sodium (Natrium or NA) is cheap and plentiful (think table salt), and performance is now equal or better than Lithium batteries. Much cheaper, and safer, too.
A smaller generator, running when cloudy and
before it is really needed, may be able to do what you need, especially if you cut your needs using LED lights and similar upgrades.
The lower battery prices may let you use a larger battery pack, eliminating the need for any generator.
I posted earlier in this thread for making a wildly effective solar heating collector. It is mostly tin cans and metal wall-studs, with a sheet metal bottom and glass on top. A few of those, mounted below the elevation of your house, would need no power and give a lot of free heat, reducing the demands (if any) on the standard furnace.
My US$ 0.02 worth . . . :good2:
.
They are making improvements in sodium batteries. But they still are down on cycle life. And charge density. They take up a lot more space. But that doesn't really matter as much for stationary/ home batteries. I was really interested in sodium batteries. When first looking into solar 8 years ago. There was a company that was already selling them back then. They only lasted a few years. Before closing up shop. I think the only thing holding me back on them. Is cycle life. If they can improve alot on that. They could take over stationary batteries. Charge density is never going to get them into EVs. Which is where all the really big research and development money is. Let's just hope I'm wrong. They are way safer and like you said salt is everywhere. And recycling a salt based battery is a no-brainer easy.
I made a couple of different types of solar air based heaters blacked out metal panel. First one was soda cans. Second corrugated steel painted black. They are super easy and cheap to make. But here in wisconsin -20f occasionally for weeks at a time. Didn't really do too much. But by Pat. They might be all you would need.
My house/shop is all led from the get go. Super insulated with thermal break. Cold climate ERV system. Infloor heating all 3400 sqft. Geothermal heating and cooling. Like I said I want to make sure I don't have to compromise. Or have to turn anything off/ down . if I don't want to. And go off grid. So I don't have any bills whatsoever. So I can retire. Only set bills I'll have to worry about going up are sewer and water, taxes, and insurance.
My house/shop is all led from the get go. Super insulated with thermal break. Cold climate ERV system. Infloor heating all 3400 sqft. Geothermal heating and cooling. Like I said I want to make sure I don't have to compromise. Or have to turn anything off if I don't want to. And go off grid. So I don't have any bills whatsoever. So I can retire. Only set bills I'll have to worry about going up are sewer and water, taxes, and insurance.
Don't know why double posted. But if someone can delete this would be great
Thanks.
Quote from: giantkiller on October 15, 2025, 08:44:07 PMThey are making improvements in sodium batteries. But they still are down on cycle life. And charge density. They take up a lot more space. But that doesn't really matter as much for stationary/ home batteries. I was really interested in sodium batteries. When first looking into solar 8 years ago. There was a company that was already selling them back then. They only lasted a few years. Before closing up shop. I think the only thing holding me back on them. Is cycle life. If they can improve alot on that. They could take over stationary batteries.
giantkiller,
I agree, on the OLD sodium batteries, but these ain't them:
New tech sodium batteries (https://www.alsym.com/technology/)
Twenty year/ 10,000 cycle service life.
.
Thank you Red. That would be awesome. I hope they make it.
Their goal is to start mass production in 2027. Which will first be utility scale batteries container sized batteries. They have only made prototypes. Their claimed energy is close to that of lithium iron phosphate. But still bellow. Lithium iron only being used. In EVs in lower range vehicles. The cycle and life of them is still theoretical. Their high charge discharge rate is what was wrong with the first companies sodium batteries. The discharge d too quickly. I would assume that they could control it some how now. Fast charge rate is awesome. Let's hope for the future. That they actually make it. And don't just get destroyed by the Chinese battery companies.