Run Whole House on Wimpy Generator?

[redpoint5]

Well, I raided my dad's battery pile as well as the unused farm equipment and filled the rear hatch area with about 18 or so. Unfortunately all 3 of the large tractor batteries were sitting at ~2v or less. 2 of them had sufficient electrolyte levels though (no exposed plates). Curious if either will take a decent charge.

Half the car batteries were at 11v or more, so some likely have some life to them.

Anyone have a methodology to test capacity that doesn't involve deeply discharging the battery? Perhaps target a 75% voltage as the discharge cutt-off and extrapolate capacity from that?

Know where to get top dollar for the scrap value? I don't see batteries mentioned on the webpage of the local metal scrapyard, but it's also not on the prohibited list.

[wdb]

I'm have a lead/acid battery manufacturing plant just over the hill from me. That's how I recycle them. They re-use darn near every bit. However I never tried taking a pile of them over to see if they'd give me $.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

When my grandmother was still alive, and my parents had just divorced, once in a while I lurked about making a wind power generator using a regular 12V alternator and one of those wind powered roof vents that I used to see while passing in front of a shop in the outskirts of my hometown which had such vents always working, on the way to grandma's house.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

When my grandmother was still alive, and my parents had just divorced, once in a while I lurked about making a wind power generator using a regular 12V alternator and one of those wind powered roof vents that I used to see while passing in front of a shop in the outskirts of my hometown which had such vents always working, on the way to grandma's house.

My dream is to own property along a river that has a small stream sufficient for micro-hydro power generation. 100% electric house, with no dependency or connection to the utility. Saving $200 in gas/electric per month sounds good to me, not to mention the savings of having EV cars and free electricity.

[mort]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Anyone have a methodology to test capacity that doesn't involve deeply discharging the battery? Perhaps target a 75% voltage as the discharge cutt-off and extrapolate capacity from that?

You need one of these:

https://a.co/d/e43GuED

It measures the AC internal impedance of the battery and computes the capacity from that.
Many AutoZone stores have something similar and will test your battery free, I expect you'll need to be extra friendly to test 18, and not buy anything.
-m

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My dream is to own property along a river that has a small stream sufficient for micro-hydro power generation.

My friends that live upriver have exactly that. A Century Farm with a broken down dam and barn with a 60ft ridgeline 30ft in the air athwart the prevailing winds (up and down the valley). It's a huge vortex generator prolly good for 10s of kilowatts itself.

They spend their days in Leftist struggle.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by mort

You need one of these:

https://a.co/d/e43GuED

It measures the AC internal impedance of the battery and computes the capacity from that.

From the description, I don't see any mention of capacity measure. I'm not sure how one would extrapolate capacity from an internal impedance measurement. I could be wrong, but I only know to measure the drain on a battery to determine the remaining capacity.

I do have a smart charger I'm using that provides most of these functions, and I've got a resistive CCA meter.

Originally Posted by freebeard

My friends that live upriver have exactly that. A Century Farm with a broken down dam and barn with a 60ft ridgeline 30ft in the air athwart the prevailing winds (up and down the valley). It's a huge vortex generator prolly good for 10s of kilowatts itself.

They spend their days in Leftist struggle.

Don't we all...

I've got my eye on a handful of properties along the N. Santiam river. Some of them have steep hillsides with a continuous stream of water pouring into the river. Wouldn't mind having a vacation rental or retirement house out that way. Paddled many miles on Packsaddle to Mill City, and drank as many beers.

Starlink really was one of the last "problems" to solve with living out in the hills. If I've got unlimited renewable energy, and a decent internet connection, there's not much else holding me back. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a reverse migration away from cities.

[freebeard]

....there's not much else holding me back.

Would you have a few moments to talk about Geodesic Domes?

You know, passive superinsulated envelope with 'free' air conditioning to throw off heat from occupancy. OG Roman concrete.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Would you have a few moments to talk about Geodesic Domes?

One-track mind...

Always happy to discuss ideas. My follow-through takes ages though.

Also, can I assume this is your favorite commercial of all time?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBX02MGp8pg

[freebeard]

Foundation is five lodgepole pine lashed together at the top, and spread apart to make pilings. Five compound curve hexagonal shells leaned together. Half-hex decks swing up to make shutters over the fenestration. Windmill at the top should be an hyperboloid Ugrinsky turbine.

Start whenever you can.