Making your power meter turn backwards?

[MrMaxwell]

Anyone ever done it? I mean by generating enough electricity.. Anyone know how to figure out how to compare the cost of gasoline generated power?

I was thinking if I could find a way to generate power I could make some extra money and cut back on my power bills. What about burning? Winter is coming, I can burn all I want... You burn something to create heat which makes steam which drivers a turbine - that is how that works, right? I bet the turbines are damned expensive

[Harmon]

[MrMaxwell]

Well nevermind, I guess in this state they don't have to buy it from you if you produce it. They give you a credit on your bill that dies after 12 months if not used

[MrMaxwell]

Originally Posted by Harmon

[IMG]htp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yleEs15g51w/TlrawTwZSrI/AAAAAAABQY/gnyx4k2pzcQ/s400/tommy-lee-jones-implied-face-palm.png[/IMG]

Who on earth is that moron? I have seen that guy somewhere

[MrMaxwell]

Anyway I would still like to run on gasoline sometimes to give less money to the utility companies because fuck them

I can't figure out just how in all hell to find out of the kwh cost is lower with gasoline though.. I guess I have to spend a lot for the most efficient one, yeah? If it works like most things

Anyone making one that will run on waste oil.. by chance?

[MrMaxwell]

I really need to learn how to compare kwh to btus and everything. Now I am thinking a natural gas driven electricity generator might be a good idea.

[Markul]

I really doubt you can generate electricity cheaper than you can just buy it but good luck

[2MuchMark]

[Phoenix]

Some people make good money with water mills. Also solar.

[TheDA]

We are using wind turbine and solar panels here now and sell electricity back to the power companies.

With government grants of 80% to install them it doesn't make sense not to.

[PornDiscounts-V]

I used to use a device that stopped the meter. Doesn't work anymore though. Was a simple little thing with two wires. I almost got caught with it on the meter once. My GF had to distract the meter reader so I could remove it.

[MrBottomTooth]

They paid me $2000 a year to let them stick a giant solar panel in my field. I am just leasing the land to them basically, they make all the money off whatever hydro it generates. I also had the option of buying the solar panel myself for around $70000, then I'd be able to make the money off the hydro. But $2000 a year for 25 years guaranteed seemed like the safer bet, with no expense or work on my behalf (other than a slight eye sore)

All it would take is for some hillbilly to drive by and shoot it up or if there was ever an issue with the batteries, etc and your profit would be gone. Now I'm still making money but someone else has to worry about maintaining it.

[slapass]

Google is your friend. Solar can do this.

[MrBottomTooth]

I know a guy in the scrap business. He heats his shop by having an old car sitting outside, with the rad plumbed out of the car and into his shop. He just runs the engine off all the old gasoline he syphons out of the scrap vehicles he buys. The heat from the rad heats his entire shop. Probably the most environmentally unfriendly and ghetto setup I have seen, but it probably saves him thousands of dollars every winter.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

Anyone ever done it? I mean by generating enough electricity.. Anyone know how to figure out how to compare the cost of gasoline generated power?

I was thinking if I could find a way to generate power I could make some extra money and cut back on my power bills. What about burning? Winter is coming, I can burn all I want... You burn something to create heat which makes steam which drivers a turbine - that is how that works, right? I bet the turbines are damned expensive

man, you a broke ass mother fucker ain't you?

[pinkz]

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

I know a guy in the scrap business. He heats his shop by having an old car sitting outside, with the rad plumbed out of the car and into his shop. He just runs the engine off all the old gasoline he syphons out of the scrap vehicles he buys. The heat from the rad heats his entire shop. Probably the most environmentally unfriendly and ghetto setup I have seen, but it probably saves him thousands of dollars every winter.

hillbilly heating!

you can also get oil burners that run off old engine oil, not the most environmentally friendly option but an option none the less.

[TheDA]

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

I know a guy in the scrap business. He heats his shop by having an old car sitting outside, with the rad plumbed out of the car and into his shop. He just runs the engine off all the old gasoline he syphons out of the scrap vehicles he buys. The heat from the rad heats his entire shop. Probably the most environmentally unfriendly and ghetto setup I have seen, but it probably saves him thousands of dollars every winter.

My local Chinese take-away runs the hot cooling water used for his cooking burners to power a couple of radiators in the front of shop waiting area. He's been there for 27 years and he is angry that he has only just thought of it now

[signupdamnit]

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

Anyway I would still like to run on gasoline sometimes to give less money to the utility companies because fuck them

I can't figure out just how in all hell to find out of the kwh cost is lower with gasoline though.. I guess I have to spend a lot for the most efficient one, yeah? If it works like most things

Anyone making one that will run on waste oil.. by chance?

Don't you live in Florida? Your heat needs shouldn't be too much. It rarely gets below 32 so there is very little danger of pipes freezing. I would just focus on turning down (or off) your furnace to some minimal temperature and try heating only your bedroom(s) with an electric heater with the door closed. That and sleep with clothes and coats on along with blankets.

Running on gasoline is almost certainly going to be more expensive than what your local power companies charge - even those in Florida. If you have a free source of wood then wood burning might be a way to go but if you're in Florida I wouldn't go too crazy investing for this. Solar is a better idea if you own the home.

[L-Pink]

Just run an extension cord from a neighbors outside outlet.

[Jman]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Some people make good money with water mills. Also solar.

Gerbils man... God damn fucking Gerbil Power

[dyna mo]

sounds like a plan!

[SuckOnThis]

Grow weed and use the grow lights to heat your house.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by SuckOnThis

Grow weed and use the grow lights to heat your house.

I have one of the only two story homes in town, which lets me look down on other folks' roofs in the morning. Half or more of the homes have hot spots where the frost on the roof is melted (or never happened in that spot). They're not fooling anyone

As for the OP, talk to your electric company. Here, folks get subsidized solar panels and the power company buys anything you don't use.

[wehateporn]

[johnnyloadproductions]

Here in Iowa you can, in fact the city will install anything you need for the provisions. Cities like citizens who use solar cells (wind turbines haven't been made legal in city yet here).

Unlikely but if you consume less than you feed back into the grid, the power company will send you a check. But if you do it enough and it's substantial enough, they may cut you off.

[SplatterMaster]

Use Batteries. Convert DC to AC with an inverter. Run a rectifier in the circuit to convert AC back to DC to keep the batteries charged

[Magnetron]

Just hook up a car alternator to the back wheel of a ten speed bicycle and power your home while you are exercising.

The electricity will stopped when you stop, so keep peddling even if it means having to stay away from the Internets.

[Fat Panda]

did u make it past the 8th grade?

[arock10]

make a website, post your awesome ideas like this on it, put up some ads and then post your awesome ideas around the internet with links back to your site

it shouldn't be too long until a gem like this one goes viral

[brassmonkey]

contact your local power company. when selling power the solar panels must be certified. i build my panels using Monocrystalline Solar Cells. you can buy systems already made if you have around 20 grand.

[Tom_PM]

I still haven't lit the pilot on my furnace yet this year and it was in the twenties all night and morning. Warm socks, warm pants, sweatshirt, hat. My bill last month for electric and gas was $88.

[Tom_PM]

There are people who use compost piles to generate heat for homes. Look into that too.

[arock10]

Originally Posted by Tom_PM

I still haven't lit the pilot on my furnace yet this year and it was in the twenties all night and morning. Warm socks, warm pants, sweatshirt, hat. My bill last month for electric and gas was $88.

Saving money is great and all but I'd rather just pay the few dollars a day to be a bit more comfortable

[Coup]

Originally Posted by arock10

make a website, post your awesome ideas like this on it, put up some ads and then post your awesome ideas around the internet with links back to your site

it shouldn't be too long until a gem like this one goes viral

one weird tip that drives power companies nuts! >>>click here!!!!!1

[L-Pink]

[DAMNMAN]

Originally Posted by MrMaxwell

Anyway I would still like to run on gasoline sometimes to give less money to the utility companies because fuck them

I can't figure out just how in all hell to find out of the kwh cost is lower with gasoline though.. I guess I have to spend a lot for the most efficient one, yeah? If it works like most things

Anyone making one that will run on waste oil.. by chance?

I lived off of a generator for 3 weeks after a hurricane.
5 gallons of gas lasted 12 hours with the generator I had. It wasn't a huge generator either. 5800 I think.

So here's the math
gas at $3.25 per gallon will cost you approx $32.50 per day time 30 days (approx month)
= $975.00 per month

I'll stick with FPL.

And noisy as a motherfucker.

I heard either natural gas or propane are better and the fuel doesn't go bad.

Solar and Wind are the best options and can take a chunk out of your bill.

[Tom_PM]

Originally Posted by arock10

Saving money is great and all but I'd rather just pay the few dollars a day to be a bit more comfortable

No comfort issues for me though. I do have a brother who, I kid you not, runs the heater until he can wear shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter. Ridiculous if you ask me, haha.

When it hits really cold temps for more than a day and a half here (forecast is for mid 50's and 60 this weekend.. not cold at all) then I'll probably be paying closer to 300 a month. The air is also so dry with the furnace on that I need to run a humidifier most of the day.

[BFT3K]

http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/feb2/vesprman.htm

[masubuko]

We tested using neodymium magnets on older analog meters and the dial would slow way way down. With stronger magnets the dial might stop spinning. The other method is to remove the meter and put it back in upside down, this way the meter spins backwards. We did this in Mexico a few months back. Obvious warnings due apply.

[Rochard]

I have a few friends who converted over to solar. They get a loan for the equipment and install, but it's a lot less than what they were paying the power company and they even sell some power back to the power company.

This will be the wave of the future. Eventually all houses will be self powered.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

They paid me $2000 a year to let them stick a giant solar panel in my field. I am just leasing the land to them basically, they make all the money off whatever hydro it generates. I also had the option of buying the solar panel myself for around $70000, then I'd be able to make the money off the hydro.

You mean "electricity" the SOLAR panel produces.

"Hydro" is when electricity is generated by water...like at The Hoover Dam.

That solar panel will never produce "Hydro"
just sayin'...

[MrBottomTooth]

Originally Posted by Robbie

You mean "electricity" the SOLAR panel produces.

"Hydro" is when electricity is generated by water...like at The Hoover Dam.

That solar panel will never produce "Hydro"
just sayin'...

i think everyone knew what I meant. The name of our power company here is hydro one networks so most people around here just refer to it as hydro.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

i think everyone knew what I meant. The name of our power company here is hydro one networks so most people around here just refer to it as hydro.

Sounds like you are somewhere near a waterfall or dam that your power company uses for it's main source of generating electricity.

I live here in Vegas. And you'd think with the Hoover Dam down the street, the desert sun to generate solar, AND the crazy winds here that we would have cheap ass power.

Nope.

My electric bill in August was $610...and that's with the air conditioning set on 85!!!

This last month has been very mild and we haven't had to run the air or the heat at all. I use fluorescent bulbs in every room. We turn everything off when we leave a room.

And my power bill was still $165!

I do have a giant house with 2 stories...but goddamn this shit is expensive.

[MrBottomTooth]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Sounds like you are somewhere near a waterfall or dam that your power company uses for it's main source of generating electricity.

I live here in Vegas. And you'd think with the Hoover Dam down the street, the desert sun to generate solar, AND the crazy winds here that we would have cheap ass power.

Nope.

My electric bill in August was $610...and that's with the air conditioning set on 85!!!

This last month has been very mild and we haven't had to run the air or the heat at all. I use fluorescent bulbs in every room. We turn everything off when we leave a room.

And my power bill was still $165!

I do have a giant house with 2 stories...but goddamn this shit is expensive.

It's getting worse and worse here too. Sadly the main reason is the green energy initiatives our government put in place like my solar panel. The government pays people over 80 cents a kilowatt to produce energy through solar panels, yet we have such a surplus they literally have to give it away to the US or sell it to them at ridiculous prices like 10 cents a kW .its like they don't know basic math. Actually I just read at one point we were paying Quebec and the us to take away our surplus electricity. All that expense gets added to our bills in ontario. Awful.

[DVTimes]

in the uk you can get solor panals and extra power you use goes back to the grid and you get paid for it.

[SilentKnight]

Originally Posted by vvvvv

I used to use a device that stopped the meter. Doesn't work anymore though. Was a simple little thing with two wires. I almost got caught with it on the meter once. My GF had to distract the meter reader so I could remove it.

Neat trick.

Luckily your local hydro company will absorb the loss rather than your neighbours paying higher hydro rates.