Off adventuring!

If there is a foul wind a blowin' then drop by for a chat - about coconuts of anything else off topic.
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Bugtownboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#41

Post by Bugtownboy »

What’s your luggage allowance like Joe ;)

Must admit, we did a few projects this year, and every time we went to the local builders merchant, prices had gone up, seemingly, by 5-10% (we went in ‘blocks’ from Feb-August).

I did get the sense, though, that there’s a degree of taking advantage of the consumer, as are other retailers.

My gut feeling, from our experience, is that wood (for building/fencing/sheds etc) has seen the biggest increase.

Unfortunately, can’t see prices going down very much once things settle down.
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#42

Post by Joeboy »

Bugtownboy wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 9:52 am What’s your luggage allowance like Joe ;)

Must admit, we did a few projects this year, and every time we went to the local builders merchant, prices had gone up, seemingly, by 5-10% (we went in ‘blocks’ from Feb-August).

I did get the sense, though, that there’s a degree of taking advantage of the consumer, as are other retailers.

My gut feeling, from our experience, is that wood (for building/fencing/sheds etc) has seen the biggest increase.

Unfortunately, can’t see prices going down very much once things settle down.
Sadly hand baggage only. I had given passing thought to buying a second hand chainsaw sawmill and having a crack at that. Likely just remain an idea.
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Bugtownboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#43

Post by Bugtownboy »

Love the Alaskan Mill type arrangement !

We’ve bought a lot of ‘used’ hardwood off a guy on Exmoor (https://www.howardgibbons.com/) - mostly Greenheart reclaimed from docks/piers, but also some Ekki reclaimed from a cooling tower.

Howard uses a mill he imported from Brazil - big circular saw with a four stroke petrol motor. Splits down to carry off into the jungle :shock:

Belting wood - needs a bit of work to make it presentable, but absolutely beautiful and bomb proof - we’ve got half of Portsmouth docks in the garden :lol:
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#44

Post by Joeboy »

Bugtownboy wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 10:08 am Love the Alaskan Mill type arrangement !

We’ve bought a lot of ‘used’ hardwood off a guy on Exmoor (https://www.howardgibbons.com/) - mostly Greenheart reclaimed from docks/piers, but also some Ekki reclaimed from a cooling tower.

Howard uses a mill he imported from Brazil - big circular saw with a four stroke petrol motor. Splits down to carry off into the jungle :shock:

Belting wood - needs a bit of work to make it presentable, but absolutely beautiful and bomb proof - we’ve got half of Portsmouth docks in the garden :lol:
Image
Those oak piling from piers are serious timbers. Got hundreds of year use in them. I'll revisit the thread to see your photos when I'm home. If anyone knows what setting I need to adjust on my phone so I see the photo please let me know. Samsun android, cheers!
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#45

Post by Joeboy »

Early RE shower for sale. Needs work!

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15kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#46

Post by Joeboy »

Absolutely loving the powerbrick. It's only a 2.1Ah discharge. I have no idea if thT is the split across ports but it seems pretty fast through its 4 usb ports so far.

As we are charging multiple phones, lights, hotspots and even secondary smaller powerbanks we could do with a bit of solar action to get us off grid in these small appliances.


Image

I thought maybe a fold out 4 or 6 six panel set with 5v output usb onboard would keep it simple. I've seen a few on Aliexpress but the wattage advertised compared to sqr footage of panel seems to vary wildly. Any of you guys come across any of these self-contained units of a decent reliable size? Cheers!
15kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
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7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
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Mr Gus
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Re: Off adventuring!

#47

Post by Mr Gus »

In the uk at least, fold up hiking solar is both expensive, over rated & mostly badly reviewed.
Reviewers for instance don't obtain proper specs, assess materials, (typically an oxford cloth outer) nor know anything about the connecting cables, flex testing & likely in use lifespan etc.I

Nor is it tested with any great detail for todays shopper mind 😶

By the time you get up to any useful wattage potential you may as well have bought a singular large panel & bolted that somewhere on your palatial turkish roof garden joe.

Small kit or whatever still needs setting up & strapping down, nor are many cheaper ones truly waterproof, validated for uv resistance etc etc, (also affecting lifespan)

You see where im headed 😂
Do what youve done at home, smaller scale, to a cheap ali express solar controller most have twin usb inputs these days right? ..so opportunity to belt & braces without the "scorchio" degradation on oxford cloth, ..mebbee wi 3 year lifespan exposed to turkish weather?

Simple to use a panels shade for a connected outdoor waterproof box to feed a few battery packs into for emergency outages.
Somehow I don't think you'll stop there though joe.

Think you'd need to grab a corner & mount it on adjustable legs (height wise) so it can be used stealthily to avoid shadow sunbathing / protection when away for a few months, ..but you know the weather out there, I don't.
My favourite Eceen unit is still my go to, tiny, support leg built in, wrote around 2300 words on that review only for amazon to remove it.
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#48

Post by Joeboy »

Mr Gus wrote: Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:38 pm Baseus shop (be wary though some similar shops trading with baseus in the title..
But, I recommend the brand for durability, most of our cables have been theirs for a few years now, inc nightly used bedside usb charger, & they have that led if you choose joe ;-)

https://baseus.aliexpress.com/store/234 ... 1802lqKISm

&
https://baseus2.aliexpress.com/store/12 ... 1802lqKISm

Both okin my book!

If you rate the powerbank, i'd love to give one a try if you / no1 are amenable. & have luggage space, ..do they sell 18650 fireproof pouches out there joe (if so, might be a winner carrying larger li-ion through *cough* ..depends how the security are based on your experience.
Going in on Wednesday Gus. Do you want me to pick you one up? If so I'll buy two but they won't be coming home until we are travelling mid March either check in bags. No worries and absolutely if you fancy it?
15kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
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Mr Gus
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Re: Off adventuring!

#49

Post by Mr Gus »

Sign me up, ...usb testing is always an ecxuse for buying another 😍 ..if any good the daughter will claim it walked itself to Plymouth.

March? no prob.
1906 ripplewatts @wind Turb-ine-erry
It's the wifes Tesla 3 (she lets me wash it)
Leaf 24
Celotex type insulation stuffed most places
Skip diver to the gentry
Austroflamm WBS
A finger of solar + shed full more
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Joeboy
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Re: Off adventuring!

#50

Post by Joeboy »

Mr Gus wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 6:22 pm Sign me up, ...usb testing is always an ecxuse for buying another 😍 ..if any good the daughter will claim it walked itself to Plymouth.

March? no prob.
Consider it done, bought on 4th Jan. Do you want white or black?

On the solar folding panel I know its an absolute hamstring compared to the Scottish place but I want to make what I have out here grabbable and transportable. More chance of doing thousands ok K's from this base than Scotland, hence the more 'camping' style. Absolutely appreciate the hard go to find decent wattage pov. Just thought there might be somebody in the collective who found a decent folding unit?
15kW PV SE, VI, HM, EN
42kWh LFPO4 storage
7kW ASHP
200ltr HWT.
73kWh HI5
Deep insulation, air leak ct'd home
WBSx2
Low energy bulbs
Veg patches & fruit trees
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