Otherpower - Make Your Electricity From Scratch!

Welcome to Otherpower!

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:15:22 +0000

Welcome to Otherpower! admin Thu, 05/17/2012 - 11:15

We are a group of alternative energy enthusiasts who want to spread the message that it's FUN and EASY to make your own electricity FROM SCRATCH. Otherpower headquarters is located in a remote part of the Northern Colorado mountains, 11 miles past the nearest power pole or phone line. All of our houses and shops run on only solar, wind, water and generator power...not because we are trying to make some sort of political or environmental statement, but because these are the only options available. And we refuse to move to town.

We could never have made it to our current level of electrification up here without the help of friends, neighbors--and folks we've never met, thanks to the internet. Our goal is to share our information about experimental successes and failures alike, free of charge, with anyone who is interested. We also offer a wide selection of books and hard-to-find alternative energy parts and components on our Online Store. We hope you find our pages informative, useful and enjoyable!

Homebrew Wind Power workshop - hands-on, North Carolina March 2019

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:44:13 +0000

Homebrew Wind Power workshop - hands-on, North Carolina March 2019 admin Mon, 02/11/2019 - 11:44

Homebrew Wind Power Workshop - Hands-On, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 16:00:49 +0000

Homebrew Wind Power Workshop - Hands-On, Stevens Point, Wisconsin admin Sun, 06/03/2018 - 11:00

How to fix a bad solar battery cell

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 13:54:36 +0000

How to fix a bad solar battery cell admin Sun, 04/01/2018 - 08:54

Battery bank cell failures are an expensive annoyance, but there's an easy way to fix them! All you need are a reciprocating saw, hammer, and pry bar. Simply cut open the battery, and use a butter knife to pry the shorted plates apart, then superglue the case back together. Good as new!

APRIL FOOLS and DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

There is no way to repair a shorted battery cell.

In these photos, my students found a ruined battery by performing specific gravity tests, and we decided to turn it into a "cutaway" battery for classroom visualization purposes. The procedure was to drain the electrolyte into a bucket, then slowly adding this to half a bucket of water while slowly stirring in baking soda to neutralize the acid. Then flush the battery interior with lots of water before cutting into it.

Homebrew Wind Power workshop - HANDS-ON - North Carolina, March 2018

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 16:37:35 +0000

Homebrew Wind Power workshop - HANDS-ON - North Carolina, March 2018 admin Sun, 01/21/2018 - 10:37

This is a test

admin — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 13:39:35 +0000

This is a test admin Fri, 11/17/2017 - 07:39

Used Solar Clearinghouse

admin — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 16:57:31 +0000

Used Solar Clearinghouse admin Mon, 09/11/2017 - 11:57

We get many requests for information on where to find used solar power equipment. Here's what we've learned over the years:

Small residential solar: Your options for small-scale purchases are unfortunately; mostly local - Craigslist, classified ads, newsletters, etc. That's because PV modules can't ship via UPS, it's truck only. Plan on at least $300 whether you are shipping one solar panel or a whole pallet. That said, you can sometimes score a good deal...but remember that brand new PV modules (with a 25 year warranty!) are well below $1 per watt, so don't pay too much.
Utility-scale solar: Here's where you can score some amazing deals! We've seen entire installations go for pennies on the dollar, including racking, wiring, disconnects and inverters...in one case, free. The catches?
- The facility owner or demolition company will want to sell everything in one lot, no piecing out of equipment, unless you are lucky enough to deal with someone who has already removed it and warehoused it. These are few and far between.
- You'll likely have a tight deadline for complete removal of everything except concrete and the posts embedded in it.
- You'll likely be looking at 1000 or more PV modules to remove, with a possible DC system voltage of 400 - 1000 volts, and grid-side 480vac 3-phase. This is not a job for you and your buddies with a couple of pickup trucks. In fact, state or local regulations may require a licensed electrical contractor to disconnect the system from the grid.
- All that said, if you are a solar business owner these kinds of opportunities can be very lucrative, provided you have storage space available and are able to safely handle the removal operation without zorching yourself or equipment.
One company we know of who is in the business of buying, removing and reselling large-scale PV systems in large or small systems is Sun Electronics in Miami, Florida. (844) 786-3532.
Another wonderful option is to donate the equipment to a non-profit aid organization. Locally, you might find church organizations (often groups of multiple churches) interested in PV for disaster relief, and these organizations often have to facilities to mobilize and store PV equipment.
We have worked with two NGOs in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation for rural electrification, job training, and local jobs, a cause we find close to our hearts.
- Tyospaye Winyan Maka is building an off-grid sustainability education and community domestic crisis relief center near Wounded Knee, SD, and is interested in donations of solar and wind equipment, including batteries, along with installation tools and supplies. Our company is helping, as is Engineers Without Borders, Colorado State University chapter. We highly recommend this non-profit organization.
- Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation focuses on education in development in sustainable housing, renewable energy, food production, workforce training and local enterprise development. We highly recommend this non-profit organization.

If you have used solar equipment to sell or are wanting to buy, or If your non-profit organization wants your link posted here, please submit the following form:

We will post your information on this page within 24 to 76 hours. If there is any information you do NOT want us to include (for example, phone number, etc. use the Additional Instructions part of of the form.

If you have photos to include in your listing, please check that item on the form and we will send you an upload address.

You can Contact Us at any time to have your listing removed within 24-76 hours.

Please note that we are providing this page as a free service, and neither Otherpower.com, Buckville Energy Consulting, nor Buckville Publications LLC assumes any liability for any transactions resulting from the use of this website. If you believe you have found a fraudulent listing, please Contact Us immediately with more information, so that we can determine if a listing should be removed.

Homebrew Wind Power hands-on workshop - September 2017, Wisconsin

admin — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 19:44:01 +0000

Homebrew Wind Power hands-on workshop - September 2017, Wisconsin admin Sat, 07/22/2017 - 14:44

Join Dan Bartmann and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association for 6 full days of wind turbine building!

This is an intensive class, so expect to be exhausted after each all-day session.

Registration and more information HERE.

New Steam Book - Young Engineer's Guide

admin — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:37:57 +0000

New Steam Book - Young Engineer's Guide admin Sun, 04/09/2017 - 08:37

PURCHASE YOUNG ENGINEER'S GUIDE HERE

Our sister company Buckville Publications is happy to announce the republication of a classic steam power book from 1899, the Young Engineer's Guide by J.V. Rohan. It's a very fun book if you are interested in steam power, and if you tinker with steam, it could save your life! Written in very simple language, but still very technical, with quizzes at the end of each chapter. Lots of troubleshooting content, and what to do in an emergency. Here's the back cover content:

When you put enough BTUs into water, it flashes to steam, expanding to 1700 times its original volume. That's the raw power of nature. Steam was the start of the Industrial Revolution, and is still the main generator of most of the electricity we use on Earth today. Nuclear power, coal power, natural gas power, concentrated solar power, geothermal power—it all is converted into steam to run generators. And the technology dates back to about 1700. Steam engines also make a marvelous hobby for some folks who enjoy watching and trying to control this awesome force, with machinery from a bygone era. It's dangerous, and needs constant attention to detail and procedure, but the rewards are mechanical, electrical and visceral. This book lays down the line on how to safely operate and maintain a steam engine, how to troubleshoot and react instantly if things go wrong, and also to draw you back to the past where you might have a been a whistle punk, an engineer, or just a youngster trying to make a living at a logging camp, a farm, a ranch or a railroad.

An ENGINEER: • Should be sober. • Should be industrious. • Should be careful. • Should be faithful to his charge. • Should keep his engine and its surroundings neat and clean. • Should keep his engine running smoothly without knocks or pounds. • Should learn to let "well enough" alone, • Should never attempt experiments unless he knows what he is about. • Should have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. • Should show by the quietness in running and appearance of the engine in his charge that it is properly cared for. • Should constantly endeavor to expand his mind as to the management, construction and care of boilers, engines and their appliances. • Should carry this book in his pocket for reference as it contains much valuable information and in a time of need may save much time and expense, or even prevent a catastrophe.

Installing solar and batteries by helicopter - Canada

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 15:57:47 +0000

Installing solar and batteries by helicopter - Canada admin Mon, 12/26/2016 - 09:57

Installing solar 100 miles from the nearest road is a challenge, but we have ways to do it! Installations in the bush are always an adventure.

Solar panels are too big to fit inside a heli, and lead-acid batteries are HAZMAT, no-go from the pilot Sure, stow the batteries in the side basket, but then the ship is unbalanced. So this is how we do it up in Canada at the Damdochax River Lodge, eh? Along with gasoline cans, drums of Jet-A, propane tanks, chainsaws, brush hogs, food, (beer), appliances, sawmills, ATVs, jetboats....

Specializing in remote, off-grid installations has not been particularly profitable. But it sure is fun! Bring it on, we can go anywhere.