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Judy of the Woods productivity, creativity, sustainability |
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Wild Food Handbook print your own handy pocket foraging companion and hedgerow herbal, or get the FREE plant list with details on edibility of over 350 plants. 
■ Download a copy now In this Section Last update: 1 February 2005 Critical Mass To develop more projects to share with you and run this website, I need funds. By donating even a small amount, you can get the ball rolling. For more information please visit the ■ Support page TipsWhen installing solar PV panels, opt for a shunt regulator rather than a solar PV regulator, as this gives the option to expand the system with a rotary generator (wind or hydro). You can run solar panels with a shunt regulator (with a dump load), but you cannot run a rotary generator with a PV regulator. PV panels are not damaged by turning the power flow to the batteries off, therefore PV regulators will simply cut off the panels (usually through pulse width modulation) when the batteries are full. If such a regulator was used on a rotary generator, the Voltage and resistance in the windings would rise dramatically, heating up the wire and melting the insulation causing shorting and irreversible damage to the generator.Another advantage of using a shunt regulator for PV panels is that the power produced by the panels is not wasted when the batteries are full, but can be put to good use, typically in the summer, for a coolbox, which usually runs on 12 Volt electricity. |
InfrastructureFind out about my water supply, heating, communication, laundry, access and transportWater There is lots of it, this is Wales! The site has river frontage along one side, and numerous springs which supply gravity fed household water, as well as enough in the winter to run a small hydro turbine . Transport 
Yes, you can live without a car! Probably my biggest load Yamaha 80 Townmate with home-made bicycle trailer 
from the www.wattonearth.com website. Many a true word was spoken in jest, and my message here is rather more serious. Much of the environmental degradation and middle eastern wars are due to the use of oil. Much of that oil is used for transportation, and much of that oil is used to drive fuel guzzling image cars. How many 4x4s are actually needed by those who drive them? Look under the wheel hub, and you get a pretty good idea - you won't see much mud under there. Fast cars? Who can justify them? Unless more people discard that kind of image conscousnes (along with other wasteful habits), the problem will only become worse. If image is your thing, just think how much more cool it is to be exentric. And if you do go for a loo Honda, just remember to put the seat down. |
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Related pages
■ Power
the 12V system, solar and hydro
■ Hydro
details of the hydro generator
■ Tinkering
DIY projects
■ Waste
composting, toilet, rubbish
External links
■ transport2000.org.uk
■ freewheelers.co.uk
for sharing lifts, including long distance, offer or request
■ liftshare.org
■ vegoilmotoring.com
vegoil conversions and recycled oil in west Wales
