A collection of what I’m studying, things I’m learning about, and thoughts from this week.
Solar & Batteries.
I’m on an enormous solar power and renewable energy generation & storage study kick recently. The last three weeks have been a cascade of articles, videos and late-night Google sessions. I’ve been revising what I knew about panels themselves, learning about the differences in inverters, how to build a DIY domestic system either grid-tied or off grid. Also harvesting information about lithium-ion batteries, specifically 18650 cells. Did you know there is a pretty large movement of DIYers taking these batteries (typically old laptop cells) and repurposing them to Electric Vehicle batteries, home power storage and other new batteries?! Here’s some articles I’ve been reading and videos I’ve been watching to get you going;
Articles Tesla changing the world (Long) Stats on solar Videos DIY “Powerwalls” (plus some electric vehicle goodies) A Canadian mans DIY off-grid huge eco-friendly solar set up
Skating Progress.
Recently I bought a Landyachtz Dinghy (Summit)
It is a smaller “cruiser” sized board. It’s a high quality, high FUN piece of kit. I’m practising few basic tricks, increasing my confidence and board control, pumping better, and ever so slightly sliding. It spits me onto the concrete more than I expected. I love it. Initial review coming soon.
New Home Made Shelves.
I made some shelves from planks of African Sapele wood, threaded steel rod, nuts and washers.
Solar Kit.
Revisiting the solar power branch of thought here. I went to Sheffield with the help of a very good friend. We bought a big stack of solar panels, and some grid-tie inverters suitable for homes. The inverters are a project and curiosity for me to learn more. The panels are very functional. A walk-through is in the works of my own DIY solar charging system.
That’s all for now folks! Till next time. Save the world.
-Frank
If you learned a nugget here today, wouldn’t it be swell to share that with somebody in your life? I would really like that. I’d like it even more if you told me how it went!
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