| > | | | | natural gas and wood. Unless you do this even just the |
| Some steps to building a home made electrical power | | | | battery power for home that you will require will be |
| system that works for you. So you are considering | | | | VERY expensive. |
| either by necessity or for whatever reason becoming | | | | 4. Decide how you are going to provide the power |
| power self reliant with home made electrical power. | | | | Now you have a good idea on how much power you |
| Let us look at some things you need to do so that you | | | | really need how are you going to give yourself that |
| have a chance of getting something that will work for | | | | power? Are you going to store the power in |
| you. | | | | batteries? I suggest you do. If so how are you going to |
| 1. Perform an energy audit | | | | charge the batteries? The main alternatives would be |
| What is an energy audit? Put in a nutshell it is | | | | evergreen solar power and windmill home power. |
| determining how much power you use and what | | | | Other things you may consider depending on suitability |
| specific items are using it. What you want to determine | | | | is home steam power generation and home hydro |
| is how many watt hours or kilowatt hours per day are | | | | power. Another technology emerging is thermo-electric |
| you using. The power bill if you have one can help. | | | | power (electricity directly from heat). Make sure you |
| Purchasing an energy monitor can help to get some | | | | research any special requirements of each type of diy |
| real data. | | | | power generator and the initial costs as well as any |
| 2. Rationalise your power use | | | | ongoing cost and maintenance. |
| How can you reduce your power usage? I don't mean | | | | 5. Design the system |
| changing habits or lifestyle but looking at the efficiency | | | | This is where you look at the details of sizes of the |
| of the appliances. Power systems that utilise battery | | | | individual components of the power system. The |
| power for home store the power DC. Did you know | | | | individual components can be grouped into three types: |
| that with many items, particularly lighting and | | | | power charge sources, power storage, power users. |
| refrigeration that the DC equivalent items, although | | | | Usually the power user components location and size |
| initially more expensive are much leaner and efficient | | | | is already set (you worked this out in the previous |
| than the normal AC versions. DC powered items also | | | | steps). So working out the size and location of your |
| don't have the extra overhead of the inverter that the | | | | battery system, your number and size of solar panels, |
| AC equivalents. Eliminating dummy loads by turning off | | | | your windmill home power generator and what ever |
| or unplugging the TV, DVD and VCR at the wall | | | | else you are going to give a try. Note I said size AND |
| socket when not in use will also save power. You | | | | location, for windmill home power generators and |
| should also scrutinise items including the washing | | | | home solar generator panels, location is everything. |
| machine as to its efficiency and consider replacing it. | | | | Being power self-reliant with home made electrical |
| Spending money to reduce your power usage may | | | | power is very rewarding. Whether you build your own |
| seen silly but can save you lots when building a home | | | | solar power system, use windmill home power, have |
| made electrical power system, particularly if you build | | | | home steam power generation, install home hydro |
| your own solar power system. | | | | power or a combination of any these, you will be |
| 3. Eliminate heating uses of electricity | | | | satisfied with knowing you are in control of your own |
| Unless your budget is huge it is unlikely you will be able | | | | power destiny and energy footprint. By following the |
| to cook, have hot water and heat your home with a | | | | steps above the process of becoming self-reliant for |
| home made electrical power system. Consider other | | | | power can become a more planned, less painful |
| forms of heating and cooking. Obviously the main | | | | process. |
| alternatives items are those fuelled by bottled gas, | | | | |