DIY emergency computer power.

[jasonc]

Of course, both I and the OP are talking about battery systems that are indoors with indoor temperatures, not exposed to the extreme heat that I think you are talking about when you say they won't last in Florida. Although they have been exposed to extremes of the Mexican tropic all the way to Alaska.

I wouldn't store a battery inside any area where the acid might leak and ruin things.

 

[jasonc]

What other choice would you have in a boat?

he is talking about his house, not a boat. that's the difference

 

[jasonc]

I know about where he lives and that reminds me not to far from him was a big battery recharging building for the ranges. I need to ask about that building's history. its old. really old

 

[Kenny_ms]

I somehow ended up here and found this interesting and if you go to his first video (2nd one below) he shows how he reconditioned it with nickel juice. This one happens to be a deep cycle and actually started the truck in cold weather...pretty impressive:

the link of extensive testing of the battery:

the link reconditioning the battery (there are several more there that may be better/shorter:

An interesting comment under the video from the first link:

Prochiro When converting to alum, the battery will never reach the previous acid voltage. This, however, does not really matter as a volt or so will still function to start the truck and the amps are there. In reality, the converted battery will work the same as a new battery except the level of voltage will be lower. It will function for as long as the lead holds up. This will work for 80%+ of the treated batteries, I use alum in all solar and wind battery banks with gulf cart batteries. No need to worry about sulfur again.

I also just left a comment there at the first link I posted about a battery blowing up in my face.

Anyway, maybe 15 years isn't the end.

 

[jasonc]

I will ask my coworker, what Kenny plans to do is what my coworker has done since 2004. he has used his car battery to power his home for a few days.

 

[jasonc]

what is your power provider? you have recourse with the psc

 

[Kenny_ms]

Thing is, if it happens here, it'll most likely be after hurricane and I'm 80 miles inland (low odds. Although
I got lucky during that real bad year we had several hurricanes with power out for 24 hrs or less, my friends just a few miles away were out for weeks and if that happens, the generator is coming on, not matter the cost to run it and all this will likely be moot.

If it's a cooler weather outage fine or if gas is hard to get and that's possible it could be handy.

Best bet a single solar panel for extremes and not much more than the setup I have and a diesel generator with fuel that lasts, about 50 gallons of it. At least I hear diesel lasts a long time.

 

[Kenny_ms]

All I can say is... Really? The guy even admits over and over that he doesn't even know how to use the simplest of testing equipment that he has! I don't think I'll consider him any kind of authority on the subject. Ok, well, good luck.

I liked him cuz he was honest like that and after all I saw besides him, I was sold. Still am. You can't seriously be that quick to judge it as harshly as you seem to be???

And at 80% recovery rate of unusable batts and as easy as it is to do, hey...

 

[Kenny_ms]

what is your power provider? you have recourse with the psc

Clay electric co-op. Not sure what you mean PSC?

 

[jasonc]

Thing is, if it happens here, it'll most likely be after hurricane and I'm 80 miles inland (low odds. Although
I got lucky during that real bad year we had several hurricanes with power out for 24 hrs or less, my friends just a few miles away were out for weeks and if that happens, the generator is coming on, not matter the cost to run it and all this will likely be moot.

If it's a cooler weather outage fine or if gas is hard to get and that's possible it could be handy.

Best bet a single solar panel for extremes and not much more than the setup I have and a diesel generator with fuel that lasts, about 50 gallons of it. At least I hear diesel lasts a long time.

diesel does go bad. but don't feel it up until june 1st and empty it November 15th or leave it dry until needed.its not like you cant get diesel a few days before. depending the size.

 

[Kenny_ms]

Obidiah, are diesel generators that much more efficient than gas? a lot more?

 

[Kenny_ms]

I heard it'll last for years, Jason but I need to look into all that again.

 

[jasonc]

Clay electric co-op. Not sure what you mean PSC?

public service commission they regulate all utilities. clay? wow, small world it is powered in part as far as a tampa and powers chobee. glades electric is a partner with Seminole as well.

Obidiah, are diesel generators that much more efficient than gas? a lot more?

yes,

 

[Kenny_ms]

I just smelled some gasoline that I actually had stored in the house for the past 8 or 9 months and it's already going bad. Still usable I'm sure, but that's really fast.

 

[jasonc]

I heard it'll last for years, Jason but I need to look into all that again.

it can but I have spent hours cleaning out and draining tanks that after a few years smelled bad. those weren't small tanks

 

[Kenny_ms]

I'll look into a diesel gen then.

I'll sell my gas one just after the next bad hurricane to get top dollar lol.

 

[jasonc]

Clay electric co-op. Not sure what you mean PSC?

they use smart meters or remote meters. I know what the later are. not many of those left.

 

[Kenny_ms]

some how i can not get Obadiah's standard edit to re-appear reba