Tools and Appropriate Technology

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Tools and Appropriate Technology:

The first thing I want to call your attention to here is Engineers_Without_Borders_USA, Engineers_Without_Borders_International. Like the other 'without borders' organizations they may be a standard in their field and, in this case, helpful in establishing appropriate technology, tools and other needed engineering equipment and needs. Also, I found a college department in the US that specialized in developing world engineering: The_Mortenson_Center_in_Engineering_for_Developing_Communities They are at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and their website may be useful.

Tools for the farm and daily use can be made from junkyard materials and materials found close by. Basic Blacksmithing: An Introduction to Toolmaking With Locally Available Materials by David Harries and Bernhard Heer is a book I found at JourneyToForever that looked incredibly useful. The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander G. Weygers was recommended by an American blacksmith and is said to be very useful. For websites on blacksmithing, see Anvilfire.com. Also, Build Your Own Metalworking Shop from Scrap: Series Set by David Gingery looks to be a very useful book for your own home factory production of wind generators and bicycles listed here in this website. For building a machine shop for making bicycles and wind generators search amazon.com for books that would help, and contact a local machinist if possible. You can make some real money this way and help your community in an environmentally friendly way. A book that looked useful was Reuses: 2,133 Ways to Recycle and Reuse the Things You Ordinarily Throw Away by Carolyn Jabs. And of course, it is always wise to buy used tools locally that you need.

For a review of native American crafts go to amazon.com and search under the books section 'native American crafts'. You will find tons of books on crafts that began as dreams not so long ago. If you live in a small village or town these examples may appeal to your tastes and give you some ideas about crafts you can make yourself and sell on the market or Internet, crafts from your own culture. See also African and Asian crafts.

Also, a book that is very, very useful for understanding basic engineering is The New Way Things Work by David Macauley. If you are learning how to fix a truck this book will help you to understand engineering basics in a way that few books do (highly recommended for mechanical engineering beginners).

When you work with tools you may find that you need to work with knots. I found a website that may be ideal for you: Roper's_Knot_Pages I would also like to introduce you to a craft called macrame that uses knots to make jewelery and other saleable items. Please see The New Macrame by Katie DuMont. Other crafting books that may be useful are Machine Quilting Made Easy by Maurine Noble and Getting Started in Woodworking by Aime Ontario Fraser.

Caution: Many items needed at home and in the village/neighborhood can be obtained for free at the local junkyard. The wind generator made from a used car alternator is an example. Because junk is free or low cost, this is a heightened advantage. Sometimes toxic waste is poured into a junkyard and you have to watch out for things like battery acid. This can kill you! and those you are trying to help. Be sure to check with the owner of the junkyard and make sure that any junk parts you use are safe and non-toxic. This takes a certain discernment of the character of the junkyard owner! Use your own discretion and err on the side of caution.

Caution: Also, while working with electrical equipment make sure that all wires are properly bound, not exposed. Electricity can shock and kill you if wires are exposed, and electricity can cause an electrical fire in the house if wires are exposed or wired improperly. When working with electricity it is best to always work with a certified electrician.

'Alternative energy', 'renewable energy', 'sustainable energy' or 'appropriate technology' are all names for electrical systems that generally are efficient, inexpensive in the long run and harmonious to the environment. These systems are sustainable meaning that they are not harmful to the environment (far preferred to use of fossil or nuclear fuels). For more information on renewable energy see U.S._Department_of_Energy_Office_of_Energy_Efficiency_and_Renewable_Energy

A good primary source for appropriate technology is the Appropriate Technology Sourcebook by Ken Darrow. This book utilizes worldwide low tech systems and appropriate technology basics; I highly recommend it.

Google and universities are loaded with information on these systems and it is a good idea to read as much as possible about the advantages and disadvantages of different systems. For example, solar energy is a great energy system, but it is useless in areas that have lots of cloud cover (there is no sunshine to activate the chemical process in the photovoltaic cell). This selection can be difficult, but use common sense; if there is lots of water in your area, micro hydro power is a good bet for your area. Lots of sunshine, go with solar. Lots of wind, go with wind generators. Remember that with photovoltaic and passive solar systems you have to face the arc of the sun in order for it to work. This means that north of the Equator you face south; south of the Equator you face north.

Renewable_Energy_World is a website and journal that has information that can help you decide what the best bet is for renewable energy for your area. The best thing to do is to find someone you know or trust that has experience with a variety of energy systems and compare their knowledge with what you find on Google or in the university. People in your area you can ask such questions may be electricians or university faculty. And when you feel comfortable with a system or approach, try some things like buying a small solar panel or making a single wind generator. See how it works, and if you find success spend more time, energy and money building that system so that it works for your community. Go slow in the beginning until you are sure of yourself, and then make wise decisions with your community about larger projects.

There is an argument in the renewable energy industry that says that it is better to make your own products than buy manufactured products. The primary reason for this is that products that you make yourself are cheaper, can generate an income if you sell them, and parts are easy to replace and repair since you made them. Evaluate your own interest in the project and your skills at manufacturing. If you like to fix things like bicycles or cars you might want to make your own equipment. Follow your heart and do what feels best. And always try to buy with a good warranty so that your money is wisely spent.

Many electrical systems that use alternative or appropriate technologies require a battery system to store energy while the energy source is available. 'Deep cycle batteries' are made for this purpose and discharge slowly over a long period of time (unlike car batteries which discharge a lot of electricity over a short period of time). One manufacturer of deep cycle batteries that came recommended was Trojan deep cycle batteries, at Trojan_Battery, and you will also need an inverter to change from DC to AC current. You may find a local dealer in your area that can supply a deep cycle battery for your electrical system. I don't know very much about DC and AC current, so you may need to read up on how to convert appropriate technology systems such as solar or wind to the needs of your house. This will take some investigation on your part. Here is a book that might help, Generators and Inverters: Building Small Combined Heat and Power Systems For Remote Locations and Emergency Situations by Stephen D. Chastain.

In any appropriate technology system that you choose you will need to know how to wire that system to your home. Check wiring on the links on the Homepower website.

Solar cells or 'photovoltaic' cells are said to be the best overall form of energy resource, although you may find in your studies that this is not the case. The argument is that in the long run it is cheaper, easier to maintain, gives greater energy output for the dollar and is environmentally cleaner than most other energy resources. The best advice is to buy a manufactured solar panel for your community. Try Shell_Solar. You are also advised to buy from a local solar cell manufacturer if that is possible because Shell will charge you tariff charges internationally (as will all international purchases). If your community goes with Shell Solar, ask about their warranty. For some examples of solar power (power from the sun) See also Solar_Energy_International (the booklist on appropriate technology is great).

The following organizations can help you with developing your solar plans (and other appropriate technology):
UK_Solar_Energy_Society
ISES
Plenty (more hippies; these people are wonderful)
Solar_Energy_International I also found a book on photovoltaics that should be useful: Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar Cells by Richard J. Komp and John Perlin.

At this point I would also like to bring up Wikipedia_Solar_Cells. Solar cells can be made at home, but they are expensive and time consuming to make. I thought you might be interested in the design yourself, though, and this might give you some ideas. Wikipedia is generally a great resource for ALL KINDS of information. It is as informative (if not more so) than simple Googling, and I suggest Wikipedia searches for any number of things that pique your interest; you will get more than you need to know in a short amount of time from this service. Now, I brought up Wikipedia Solar Cells... notice at the bottom of the page there is a listing of 'do it yourself' links. You can make solar cells yourself using these links, and a University chemist or engineer can help you do this if you have time and energy. It can save your village a lot of money, it is interesting to do, and you can pump water or generate a radio with it... and once its done you have it forever! Pretty neat stuff.

Another alternative technology that you will find useful is pedal powered machines. Made from bicycle parts, you can create electricity with a roller bar generator, a battery and an inverter. You can wash clothes, run a fan, a television, a radio, a vacuum cleaner, lights, sump pump etc. It is a workout, but it is an inexpensive way to generate electricity and you don't need to be on a power grid to use it. You can get plans from Pedal_Powered_Generator. To do this you will need extra parts and you will want to work with an electrician. You will have to buy the plans. I think that pedal powered machines and wind generators are the least expensive alternative energies.

All alternative technology (solar, pedal powered machines, wind generators, micro hydro) are called 'off the grid'. What this means is that they are off of the electrical grid of your local area or nation, that is fueled by power plants. That means that you don't have to pay for the electricity of the power plant 'grid'... you have your own independent power supply.

Wind generators are also a valuable resource for electricity. 'wind generator plans' on the Net (and blade design) can be made using a junkyard car alternator (use a car alternator as the turbine for the generator... I can't explain how in this portal but you might ask some of these organizations listed how its done): American_Wind_Energy_Association, Scoraig_Wind_Electric (check out the books at Scoraig... you can make wind generators yourself!), Southwest_Windpower (if you would rather buy a wind generator) and Windpower. I am throwing this one in for grins, not sure if it's useful, but what the heck... Windmill_World. Alternative_Technology_Association may help with developing your wind generator and other alternative technology plans.

Micro hydropower is an energy resource using the force of water to create energy. In most small villages, this is a cost-effective means of generating electricity. I found a college devoted expressly to micro hydropower, Kafue_Gorge. If you email them they may be able to help you with your local concerns and developing a village micro hydropower system yourself, and share book and website information as well as offering enrollment. One book on the subject is Micro-Hydro Design Manual: a Guide to Small-Scale Water Power Schemes by Adam Harvey (recommended). The old-timey watermill is as useful today as ever... Waterwheels_and_Mills

Homepower_links, JourneyToForever (see the links!) and People_In_Action lists some of America's best resources for advanced energy systems. Some American magazines that are of high quality for inexpensive and useful energy and home technologies are: BackHome (see their links!) Homepower, Mother_Earth_News, Chelsea_Green (publisher). Homepower magazine has been a favored magazine for hippies and people who want to get the most out of alternative energy cheaply. I really suggest Homepower magazine.

The following sites are related sites that have to do with appropriate technology. They may be helpful directly, or may give you some good ideas about appropriate technology.

Before you invest in buying online, shop around. You may find that you can get the same item used or at a discount price if you look ... these are some examples. See also 'appropriate technology' at google.com.

Source_for_Renewable_Energy
SDGateway
Buckminster_Fuller_Institute
Center_for_Alternative_Energy
Institute_for_Appropriate_Technology (this site is very informative)
Otherpower (good for ideas)
Real_Goods
Village_Earth
World_Resources_Institute

With appropriate technology it may be wisest to buy collectively for the whole community ... and pay for it collectively. For example, an expensive solar panel can serve as an energy resource for hundreds of people if you make design plans that are effective... and hundreds of people can contribute to making that happen. Work together. Consult with the technology specialist about how to get the most for your money using effective designs.

New technologies are expensive, complicated, break down and are not as sustainable as ancient technologies. Native technologies worldwide are also better than new technologies for the same reasons. In fact, if you have the resources and you can solve your problems with native or ancient technology, I would forget this entire website and use ancient and native technologies to supplement your culture. This is in fact what the Hopi suggest. But that is so far beyond my ability that I leave that with you! I am offering the conventional standard best that hippie America and native America has to offer, as I am aware of it.

I found a website for Civil Engineering, and this should be useful- ICivil_Engineer
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