Excuse me while i crack one off ...

evil.jelly said:
Maybe i missed how you were going to crack one off? :confused: :D
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You didn't see what Dave did to his shin did you...?

SB118 - I think larger containers are rated for 90,000lb if placed correctly (weight transferred down the corners to the bottom rails).

I reckon that steel containers with insulation and board covering both the outside and the inside would be pretty pro. Windows and doors don't detract from the structural intergrity of the design...How about two 40' containers side by side with the adjoining walls removed...and one side given over to large windows...Hows that for a living room?

:D

*n
 
SB118 said:
That's not what you said at the last lodge meeting :eek:
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hmm.
hehe4uq.jpg


;).
 
how do you actually go about plugging an alternator into your house ? Are you going to dig up the wires ? Isnt that dangerous ? Im sorry I have no idea its something have never even thought about. Also when you say it costs nothing there must be maintenance costs and the fuel isnt free? It all seems a bit risky if the thing goes **** up your going to be completely blacked out until you can find another antique engine ?
 
The thread title put me off, until curiosity (and boredom) got the better of me. Now I'm hooked! :)

I understand you're going to run this from used veggie oil. How is that amount of oil accumulated? Have you been collecting or having neighbours collect for you? I understand some people even go to restaurants and take it from their bins. Please explain more.

I hope you really enjoy this project! It's something I've been wanting to do for awhile also, but for a different goal.

:)

JaFFa said:
how do you actually go about plugging an alternator into your house ? Are you going to dig up the wires ? Isnt that dangerous ? Im sorry I have no idea its something have never even thought about. Also when you say it costs nothing there must be maintenance costs and the fuel isnt free? It all seems a bit risky if the thing goes **** up your going to be completely blacked out until you can find another antique engine ?
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Normally, I would see people put a large DPDT switch inline (sometimes even an electronically controlled switch) so the mains can be thrown from alt to grid quickly. Even a battery-subsystem (extremely expensive!) can help to avoid any harsh power fluctuations. The grid will still be available if needed, just as the alt would be available for backup power if the grid went out.
 
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JaFFa said:
how do you actually go about plugging an alternator into your house ? Are you going to dig up the wires ? Isnt that dangerous ? Im sorry I have no idea its something have never even thought about. Also when you say it costs nothing there must be maintenance costs and the fuel isnt free? It all seems a bit risky if the thing goes **** up your going to be completely blacked out until you can find another antique engine ?
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I can either run a complete fresh mains circuit aroud the flat, or just disconnect the grid connection and join up the alternator feed. I'm also considering a battery bank for overnight running (telly, fridge and lighting, nothing else runs in the evenings) The fuel is free (veg oil) and the maintenance on these things is negligable. I've just restored the injector pump using a shifting spanner, mole grips and a flat blade screwdriver! These things were designed to run 24/7 indefinately, and i'm only going to put 10-12 hours a day on it.

Raist said:
I understand you're going to run this from used veggie oil. How is that amount of oil accumulated? Have you been collecting or having neighbours collect for you? I understand some people even go to restaurants and take it from their bins. Please explain more.
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I collect from 3 takeaways and i've got more oil than i can use right now.
 
SB118 said:
I can either run a complete fresh mains circuit aroud the flat, or just disconnect the grid connection and join up the alternator feed. I'm also considering a battery bank for overnight running (telly, fridge and lighting, nothing else runs in the evenings)
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I definitely recommend a switch so you can reconnect grid quickly if necessary (you never know what could happen). Not only will that save you from having to run new mains, it will give you an extra layer of protection if you have it fused properly.

SB118 said:
I collect from 3 takeaways and i've got more oil than i can use right now.
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Obviously you won't be burning the oil straight-up, will you? It will have to be filtered and refined somewhat. If you have the time, can you give us more details?

This is fun! :)
 
Probably wrong but.....

Even though you are obviously recycling used oil is there not some law which means you now have to pay vast amounts of tax as its now being used as a fuel?

I'm sure I've read about folk using old oil in deisel cars and being stung by the Customs and Excise people.

Would be interested to know what you think?


Rgds

D.
 
Raist said:
Obviously you won't be burning the oil straight-up, will you? It will have to be filtered and refined somewhat. If you have the time, can you give us more details?

This is fun! :)
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I filter the oil down to 5 microns before it goes near my fuel tanks :)


Drac01971 said:
Probably wrong but.....

Even though you are obviously recycling used oil is there not some law which means you now have to pay vast amounts of tax as its now being used as a fuel?

I'm sure I've read about folk using old oil in deisel cars and being stung by the Customs and Excise people.

Would be interested to know what you think?


Rgds

D.
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You only need to pay fuel duty if it is used as road fuel, fuel used in stationary engines is duty free, i can run red diesel if i get desparate.

And i'm already a registered fuel producer so Customs are getting plenty of money out of me :(
 
On your original thread last year I thought you were a real man but all these months on and Dave isn't working yet - you don't deserve him.
I expect your excuse is "Well its been a bit cold to work on him".
I don't know how you're going to get out of this unless you've got a picture of yourself with a really big drill.
 
dmpoole said:
On your original thread last year I thought you were a real man but all these months on and Dave isn't working yet - you don't deserve him.
I expect your excuse is "Well its been a bit cold to work on him".
I don't know how you're going to get out of this unless you've got a picture of yourself with a really big drill.
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Lies! Dave has gone to a better place (to run a saw bench actually), i've used the more tried and tested method of buying a bigger one :D

I had planned a shortcut to cleaning things up, but unfortunately the wife read my mind and warned me not to put the head in the dishwasher :(
 
penski said:
You can't really stack them and build them like containers though...From what I've read, a 3 story (basement/garage, living area, bedrooms) container house with plenty of space is doable for around £80-100k...Plus plot, obviously.

Certainly an affordable route into housing. I could deal with a £700 mortgage if I was off the grid...

*n
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You'd be nuts to spend that much on a handful of old shipping containers. You can BUILD a proper house for that kinda money, which would be much better.
 
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