Rindert Wesseling

I've found a way to make a really good emergency candle in an old jar using an old food can as a chimney. The flame is very steady. It does not produce smoke or soot. It makes very little odor. The wind will not blow it out if you take it out doors.
I made a hook out of a nail so I can hang it from a hook in the ceiling. You have to use one of those new type cans that you don't need an opener for. Make 24 wide slits at the top of the chimney 1.4x.08 inches. Make 6 narrow sits .65 inches up from the bottom .7x.03 inches. Bend the flange inside the can, that was left behind when the lid was removed, so that it mimics the cam features that are part of the jar lid. This will allow you to attach the chimney securely to the jar. Save the jar lid. You can remove the chimney and put the jar lid on when you want to put the candle out.

Judgmental = Hypercritical = Condemnation ? Whatever, it all seems like criticism to me. I have often noticed the tendency, in my self and others, that we project shortcomings onto others that we have ourselves. I read this in a book called "Nasty People" by Jay Carter. I have used this in my own life, to curb my own tendency to criticize and deal with underlying problems. I have also used it, with devastating effect, to defend myself. Be careful, every powerful tool is also a nasty weapon.

Hi Marcos,

I like your idea of a gen set / thermal syphon. I might actually do that when I get a system up and running that is reliable enough to really depend on.

But as it is right now I have an old lawn mower engine and an electric motor that I have rigged to act as an alternator. If I know me I'll eventually get something that I can start up in the fall and shut down in the spring, without an interruption in power. But in the meantime I thought I'd keep the flexibility to burn wood directly for heat. Therefore the rocket / mass heater doubling as heat sink for the engine.

I was part of an alt vehicle club in college. The club somehow inhereited a Solectria E-10 with a bad battery pack. We replaced the batteries with some golf car batteries that only filled up about a third of the battery box. We had the Ag Dept technician use it as a service vehicle around campus. This was an ideal use for the truck. In at least one instance the technician's work was made much easier, when he installed a bunch of new computers in the library. He simpley loaded up all the computers and other equipment he needed, and drove the truck through the big fromt doors. There was no exhaust, or fluid drips, or noise or anything else obnoxious or disruptive to the normal functioning of the library.

After several years of experience I have formed the opinion that EVs make excellent utility vehicles, but that they are horrible commuter and travel vehicles.

Rindert

Hello folks,

This is a VERY good and informative site. Thanks to those that manage this effort.

I like the Rocket/Mass Heater, partly because the heat riser/ barrel system naturually prevents convective flow when heat is not being added to the system.

So... Has anyone explored the possibility of running a stationary woodgas engine to produce elecitricty, and then piping the engine exhaust gas through a Mass Heater? And, would it make sence to locate the fuel feed / firebox outside the basement wall of a house? I'm thinking this might keep debris out of the house, and improve overall indoor air quality by preventing 'smoke back' from ever occuring inside.

I may be in the wrong forum here. May the gods of site management err on the side of mercy and forgiveness.

Rindert