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Tex · 10-30-2009, 03:40 AM

Allen Idaho - Do you do hydro electric? Is your creek strong enough with enough head to do it? If it is capable, it's the most cost effective way to make electricity at home that I know of. Google microhydro.

That's a nice looking piece of property.

allen_idaho · 10-30-2009, 05:39 AM

I have thought about building a small non-obtrusive hydro-electric system in the creek, but haven't done anything yet.

The problem is that the water level rises and lowers dramatically between spring and summer. In spring, winter run-off brings the water level up to around 6 feet deep or higher. It also brings a lot of large debris down from the mountains. This includes smaller trees and large branches.

Around the end of summer, the water level will drop to around 1 foot and the speed of the flow will drop a bit. Other times of the year, the water level stays relatively steady at around 2 feet or higher.

Another problem is that my county does not allow me to build anything that will restrict the flow of the water like a dam structure. Nothing that could potentially damage the aquatic life. A lot of fish spawn up the creek every year.

So, here is what I was thinking. I could pound 2 pylons into the creek bed. Between these pylons would be a floating turbine which will be turned by the water flow and should rise and lower with the water level. The only problem then will be the debris during the spring runoff.

I could probably get away with installing such a device on a single pylon but I figured 2 would be good for keeping the device from spinning if it is hit by debris or a curious cow.

northernontario · 10-30-2009, 12:39 PM

You may not have to 'dam/block' the river... you can potentially use some chunks of pipe to divert part of the water flow through a turbine, and then return that water to the river. I've seen a couple setups online like that.

And you can screen/filter the inlet pipe, so no large debris goes through the turbine.

bunkerbob · 10-30-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allen_idaho

I have thought about building a small non-obtrusive hydro-electric system in the creek, but haven't done anything yet.

The problem is that the water level rises and lowers dramatically between spring and summer. In spring, winter run-off brings the water level up to around 6 feet deep or higher. It also brings a lot of large debris down from the mountains. This includes smaller trees and large branches.

Around the end of summer, the water level will drop to around 1 foot and the speed of the flow will drop a bit. Other times of the year, the water level stays relatively steady at around 2 feet or higher.

Another problem is that my county does not allow me to build anything that will restrict the flow of the water like a dam structure. Nothing that could potentially damage the aquatic life. A lot of fish spawn up the creek every year.

So, here is what I was thinking. I could pound 2 pylons into the creek bed. Between these pylons would be a floating turbine which will be turned by the water flow and should rise and lower with the water level. The only problem then will be the debris during the spring runoff.

I could probably get away with installing such a device on a single pylon but I figured 2 would be good for keeping the device from spinning if it is hit by debris or a curious cow.

Allen try this site for very good info, I've subscribed to Home Power Mag for years and have gotten alot of info.The Electric Side of Hydro Power: Power Transmission & Regulation Considerations I wish here in So. Calif. we had more streams to take advantage of Hydro power.

sailaway · 10-30-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian

Nice land. I wish I had land.

Pry your gold portfolio open,

sell some

and buy some land!!!

It's aboot time you got some!!!

Canadian · 10-30-2009, 03:08 PM

Not quite yet. My gold has to climb another $1,700 and then I'll do it.

northernontario · 10-30-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian

Not quite yet. My gold has to climb another $1,700 and then I'll do it.

Well, since you work from home... you could always move north...

(no, this isn't my place... don't know the seller, yada yada)

Canada tree Farm

Sounds like the house may have some 'prep' features built in...
-"900sq ft storage space under the two car garage, concrete floor, 5ft ceiling"

Trout pond
Tree farm + greenhouses
Barbeque in garage (exhaust hood)

Of course, it's in Cochrane... so it's not close to much else!

*NaeKid* · 10-30-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtompsett

Well, since you work from home... you could always move north...

(no, this isn't my place... don't know the seller, yada yada)

Canada tree Farm

Sounds like the house may have some 'prep' features built in...
-"900sq ft storage space under the two car garage, concrete floor, 5ft ceiling"

Trout pond
Tree farm + greenhouses
Barbeque in garage (exhaust hood)

Of course, it's in Cochrane... so it's not close to much else!

Cochrane is a sweet town!!! I took this picture is when I was there not long ago ..

northernontario · 10-30-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaeKid

Cochrane is a sweet town!!! I took this picture is when I was there not long ago ..

I've got a similar picture from the roadtrip my wife and I did a few years back when we were still dating.

Jason · 10-31-2009, 02:28 AM

Hey UncleJoe, I've been meaning to ask you-how are you harvesting your small grains? Do you just hand cut and thresh them, or does a neighbor have a combine? You can get old pull type combines pretty cheap, but then you have to store the dumb thing, and there's absolutely nothing else you can use it for. And all that depends on whether or not you have a farm tractor. I realize you have fairly small plots of grain-I was just curious.