EcoRenovator http://ecorenovator.org/forum/ This forum is about green home improvements that reduce power use, help the environment, and save money. en Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:58:49 GMT vBulletin 60 http://ecorenovator.org/forum/images/ramadhan/misc/rss.jpg EcoRenovator http://ecorenovator.org/forum/ <![CDATA["Efficient" parenting]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/o4XA-pwukNo/2058-efficient-parenting.html Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:58:20 GMT Is it possible to have a small baby *and* stay eco and efficient? Our son will be born 1-1.5 months from now, but as we prepare our water and... Is it possible to have a small baby and stay eco and efficient? Our son will be born 1-1.5 months from now, but as we prepare our water and electrical usage is already increasing, mainly because the washing machine is being used more often, and at a higher temperature. I wince at the thought of how much more it will increase once there is a newborn in the house.

So, any ideas on how to keep that impact at a minimum?

Here are a few things we are planning to do:
  • Use reuseable cloth diapers to minimize waste. This will increase water and energy usage since they have to be washed very often, so...
  • Replace old washing machine with newer, more efficient model. The new one we're looking for takes a slightly smaller load (4.5kg instead of 5kg), weighs the load to know how much water is needed, and spins at 1200rpm to squeeze out more moisture. The new machine also has an Eco program which saves even more if the load isn't too dirty.
  • Wash the baby in a small tub, then use the water for other things - washing ourselves and/or flushing the toilet.
Any comments/suggestions?

Oh, and I'd like this thread to cover only the 'technical' side of efficient parenting, but if you can recommend any more general ecoparenting forums then please do:) ]]> The Billiards Room Piwoslaw http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2058-efficient-parenting.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2058-efficient-parenting.html great deal on fhp http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/wwIBPZGTBqs/2057-great-deal-fhp.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:52:27 GMT FHP Geothermal Central AC Units Water Source Florida Heat Pump | eBay... FHP Geothermal Central AC Units Water Source Florida Heat Pump | eBay



im buying my 2 ton unit on monday best deal ive seen ]]> Geothermal rhino 660 http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2057-great-deal-fhp.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2057-great-deal-fhp.html Need help with sun simulator design http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/cHll299zeA0/2056-need-help-sun-simulator-design.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:27 GMT Hi,
I've been working on an indoor sun simulator so that I can do solar thermal collector testing indoors and without always having to having to do side by side tests with a baseline collector.

The sun simulator currently uses six 400 watt metal halide lamps to light up a collector that can be up to about 2 by 4 ft.

Its coming along pretty well, but I'm having some trouble getting to a reflector design that gets enough of the lamp light onto the collector. If you have a minute to look at the setup and make suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
All the details here:
A Sun Simulator for Solar Thermal Collector Testing

Its on the long side, but you can skip down to near the bottom and see the
problem.

Gary ]]> Solar Heating GaryGary http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-heating/2056-need-help-sun-simulator-design.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-heating/2056-need-help-sun-simulator-design.html Pressure Test Mini Split with air instead of Nitrogen? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/2ckBR0ZqB7A/2055-pressure-test-mini-split-air-instead-nitrogen.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:48:12 GMT I'm going to be installing two mini split heat pumps for my workshop and wonder if air can be used to pressure test instead of nitrogen?

My reasoning is that the line sets are open to the air during installation and then all of the gas is purged during vacuum pumping anyway, what's the risk of using compressed air pressure instead of Nitrogen for leak testing?

Tom ]]> Geothermal TomWS http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2055-pressure-test-mini-split-air-instead-nitrogen.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2055-pressure-test-mini-split-air-instead-nitrogen.html Should we save the Albino Squirrels?? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/GvQHHm15lbk/2054-should-we-save-albino-squirrels.html Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:42:41 GMT Are they worth 1 million bucks? Might be time to call in a *Death Panel*!! :p Chuck Woolery on Budget Cuts - YouTube (http://youtu.be/KV-RqPtT2PU) Are they worth 1 million bucks? Might be time to call in a Death Panel!! :p

Chuck Woolery on Budget Cuts - YouTube ]]> The Billiards Room Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2054-should-we-save-albino-squirrels.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2054-should-we-save-albino-squirrels.html Dual Compressor ASHP for DHW http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/5fGhumbPU5s/2052-dual-compressor-ashp-dhw.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:01:58 GMT Since my basement gets kinda cold 50-60F during the winter, and up to the low 70s in the summer.. And the outdoor temperature can jump up above the... Since my basement gets kinda cold 50-60F during the winter, and up to the low 70s in the summer..
And the outdoor temperature can jump up above the 50-60 range, even during the heating season..

Does an ASHP hotwater heater need two coils and two compressors?


This might be a good app for the CAI controller board, since I would
need to monitor a bunch of temperatures (5?) and control some individual motors.

I'm considering this scheme because I happen to own a couple of small
window AC units that aren't going to be very busy this summer.. :p

Comments please: ]]> Geothermal Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2052-dual-compressor-ashp-dhw.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2052-dual-compressor-ashp-dhw.html A better heat pump http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/CFk8KCGeQE8/2051-better-heat-pump.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:36:55 GMT I consider a traditional heat pump setup to be a split system with the compressor outdoors, a heat exchanger indoors, and refrigerant running between... I consider a traditional heat pump setup to be a split system with the compressor outdoors, a heat exchanger indoors, and refrigerant running between the two. I wonder if a reverse-cycle chiller isn't a better system?

First, it maintains a factory seal of the refrigerant in the outdoor unit. Faulty installations only result in leaked water, not refrigerant. Better for environment, check. Safer install failures, check. Cheaper leak detection and correction, check. This would also make old, discarded units more useful to impoverished areas.

Second, the system can easily be adapted to radiant floor heating, which permits higher efficiencies due to the lower temps involved.

Third, it can be easily adapted to heat thermal storage mass for emergencies, off-peak electric advantages, or possibly excess heat for an off-grid pv-powered system.

So why are these systems so uncommon? It seems the big expense might just be the additional heat exchanger in the outdoor unit, but the pros seem to outweigh that small cost. ]]> Geothermal mrd http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2051-better-heat-pump.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/geothermal/2051-better-heat-pump.html Homemade u-tube manometer http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/Uylw3ZZYFkA/2050-homemade-u-tube-manometer.html Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:10:16 GMT I have recently found that a water tube manometer is actually a very simple instrument. Basically, a measured amount of water is suspended in a... I have recently found that a water tube manometer is actually a very simple instrument. Basically, a measured amount of water is suspended in a u-shaped tube. One of ends of the tube is used for pressure measurements, the other can be left open to the atmosphere to measure static pressure, or can be attached to the low end of a pressure system to measure differential pressure. There is a scale behind the tubes for making measurements.

There are two basic types of water tube manometers, vertical and inclined. Since I plan to measure the external static pressure of my duct system and air handler, I chose to start with an inclined manometer because they can read much more precisely in a small range (0 - 1" H2O in this case).

I built this one from a length of clear 5/16" vinyl tubing, which cost me $2.90 for 10 feet at the hardware store. The base plate is just a piece of 1/4" plywood that I had laying around, cut to 8" x 12". The tubing is held to the base plate with zip ties. I measured at 1" intervals up from the bottom and made lines across for the scale.

Here is the semi-finished manometer held against my cold air return.



It's not nearly professional-looking, but it should serve its purpose. I have yet to get some food coloring for the water and fill it to the proper level. Once I do that I'll tape it to the return and run the scaled end of the tubing into the return, and the other end to the supply just above furnace. ]]> Tools abogart http://ecorenovator.org/forum/tools/2050-homemade-u-tube-manometer.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/tools/2050-homemade-u-tube-manometer.html automated gong? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/UNQifG3sQuU/2049-automated-gong.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:54:14 GMT So I just tore a wall in my house in half and it just so happens that the doorbell chime was on the part that got trashed. I was looking at the... So I just tore a wall in my house in half and it just so happens that the doorbell chime was on the part that got trashed. I was looking at the options for doorbell chimes and am unimpressed so I got the great idea to build my own. I started by looking for chimes that I could hang when I ran across gongs. That's right folks. I'm thinking about having my doorbell sound a gong. I found some nice ones on Amazon and I figure I can just hang it on the wall. The only problem now is how to hammer it? I know not so much about electronics but I imagine that there is a motor of some kind that can get enough force to swing a gong hammer. I would hang the gong about 4" away from the wall so the hammer wouldn't have too far to travel. It could be powered by 120v and I could use a relay from the 16v that my doorbell system uses. Or.... I don't know what else.
I'm thinking about this gong.

There are a bunch of creative folks here so I thought I'd toss this out and see what bites.

Any ideas? ]]> The Billiards Room S-F http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2049-automated-gong.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2049-automated-gong.html Doomsday Preppers? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/3ZcjY-NmOn8/2048-doomsday-preppers.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:36:37 GMT New prepper TV Show: “Doomsday Prepper” | ModernSurvivalOnline.com (http://modernsurvivalonline.com/new-prepper-tv-show-doomsday-prepper/) Is it... New prepper TV Show: “Doomsday Prepper” | ModernSurvivalOnline.com


Is it my imagination? Or does it seem like there's a lot more interest
in Doomsday Prepping during the last 2 or 3 years??
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]]> The Billiards Room Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2048-doomsday-preppers.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/billiards-room/2048-doomsday-preppers.html <![CDATA[I'm watching an LG LA245HV mini-split on Ebay.]]> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/BnHnG-KSpaI/2047-im-watching-lg-la245hv-mini-split-ebay.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:37:20 GMT It's pretty rare (for me anyways) to see a complete un-used brand-name mini split on Ebay,
that's not selling as brand-new stock..

LG LA245HV Wall Mount Single Zone Heat Pump Mini Split - 24,000 | eBay


It looks like a pretty good unit. The bidding this morning is at $330.00
Plus $122 shipping to my zip code, comes to $452.. But there are 3 days to go..

It's a discontinued unit, that's been sitting around for 1 to 3 years..
Have to wonder about what warranty you would get from LG.?. ]]> For Sale / Trade / Wanted / Web Finds Xringer http://ecorenovator.org/forum/sale-trade-wanted-web-finds/2047-im-watching-lg-la245hv-mini-split-ebay.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/sale-trade-wanted-web-finds/2047-im-watching-lg-la245hv-mini-split-ebay.html tankless water heater questions http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/3D0etIr9RMA/2046-tankless-water-heater-questions.html Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:36:24 GMT does anyone know about rheem water heaters? I am looking at an rtg-64xn outdoor tankless water heater. seems like a good unit. My one question... does anyone know about rheem water heaters? I am looking at an rtg-64xn outdoor tankless water heater. seems like a good unit. My one question that I cant figure out for sure is if it senses incoming water temp and adjusts on its own. would it sense water temp around 90 to 100 in case I do get around to building my solar water heater? ]]> Conservation scottorious http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/2046-tankless-water-heater-questions.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conservation/2046-tankless-water-heater-questions.html Forced air heat buffer? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/J97Dqn1Zyv4/2045-forced-air-heat-buffer.html Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:09:20 GMT I have been wondering if there would be any advantage to adding an air/water HX with an insulated tank and pump to a forced air furnace. One of the... I have been wondering if there would be any advantage to adding an air/water HX with an insulated tank and pump to a forced air furnace. One of the benefits of hot water heat is the ability to add heat storage capacity in the form of accumulator and buffer tanks. Why not do the same with forced air? When the furnace is running, the water is heated by the furnace, storing some of the heat in the water. When the furnace finishes its cycle, the pump and furnace blower remain on, continuing to heat the house with the stored heat. The pump could be set to turn off at a set low temperature, and always on when the furnace is running.

Would there be any benefit to this setup? I can see reduced cycling as a potential gain, increasing furnace efficiency with longer run times. DHW could also be preheated in this manner, as well as adding the capability to grab excess heat from other sources, such as solar, wood, or even a DIY heat pump. ]]> Other Improvements abogart http://ecorenovator.org/forum/other-improvements/2045-forced-air-heat-buffer.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/other-improvements/2045-forced-air-heat-buffer.html Slewing Drive is used in Solar tracker systerm http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/Sz4W6w2uLzA/2044-slewing-drive-used-solar-tracker-systerm.html Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:36:46 GMT A slewing drive is also called slewing gear drive or slewing reducer, etc. It is typically used in aerospace area, solar power systems, wind... A slewing drive is also called slewing gear drive or slewing reducer, etc. It is typically used in aerospace area, solar power systems, wind turbines, satellite broadcasting system, and engineering machinery like truck cranes, and man lifts, etc. Recently years, it has been prosperously used in photovoltaic power generation systems.

Slewing drivesusually come with different applications. For instance, according to the raceway diameter of the slewing ring, a slewing drive can be classified into WD-080, WD-0130, WD-0170, WD-0223, WD-0343, WD-0419, WD-0478, and WD-0625 series, etc. in the international market. In the model, W and D refer to Worm and Drive respectively.
In China, most slewing drive manufacturers divide slewing drive into SE3, SE5, SE7, SE9, SE12, SE14, SE17, SE21, and SE25 series, etc. In the model, S and E refer to slewing and enclose respectively and the number refers to the raceway diameter of the slewing ring in inch.

When a slewing driveis used in solar energy industry, users have to choose an ideal one according to the actual area of solar panels. Broadly speaking, SE3 slewing drive is suitable for solar power system coming with 3- 5 m2 solar panel, SE7 for 10-17 m2 solar panel, SE9 for 18-30 m2, SE12 for 31-45 m2, and SE14 for 46-60 m2. These are provided for your reference. For more specific and detailed information, please contact us directly.

A slewing drive is usually composed of a slewing ring, worm, casting housing, and standard components like bearing and bolts, etc. While used in photovoltaic power generation system, the slewing drive is usually used in combination with DC planetary speed reducer motor and AC speed reducer motor. While used in engineering equipment, it is regularly used in combination with hydraulic motor to function as power driving system. ]]> Solar Power qwn668 http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-power/2044-slewing-drive-used-solar-tracker-systerm.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-power/2044-slewing-drive-used-solar-tracker-systerm.html Vertical mount solar collectors http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ecorenovator/HFTS/~3/FrMHaqKzxNY/2043-vertical-mount-solar-collectors.html Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:49:41 GMT Does anyone have or heard of these? SunMaxx ThermoPower Direct Flow Evacuated Tube Solar Collectors | Solar Thermal Manufacturer & Distributer They are a vertical mountable Evacuated Tube Solar Collector. They make a 20 tube 22.8 thousand BTU or a 30 tube 22.7 thousand BTU model.
Of course they don't have a price on the website, I hate that. I'm interested because of the higher temps available and the cold weather/overcast day production ability. I also have to have the ability for vertical mounting because I want them on the side of my building. ]]> Solar Heating The master plan http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-heating/2043-vertical-mount-solar-collectors.html http://ecorenovator.org/forum/solar-heating/2043-vertical-mount-solar-collectors.html