Sorry, I'm very confused about the constraints of this project. If you can consider a 10HP motor, then getting enough power is not a problem. Forget about solar and water (and wind too). There are commercial generators you could consider. So far it sounds like you'd want the smallest one available, and it would run only intermittently as needed. A small generator, a 12V battery and an inverter would provide you a mini-grid with more than enough juice for your modest needs.

I am limited to the use of what I have and what I can either packrat (scrounge up) or things donated because I have very little income and most of it pays for my medication without which I would not be able to function at all.

 

An old garden tractor with an electric starter would have everything it needs to maintain its 12V battery. It's obviously got more engine power than it needs, since it's meant to mow grass and not just recharge its own battery, but it would do the job for you. I see them around cheap or free fairly often, and you wouldn't care about any of the mowing parts, seat, or whatever, so you'd have a wider range of acceptable machines.

But, I also think your time would be best spent on finding occasional access to grid power. If someone is allowing you to be on their property, a small offering to them in exchange for plug-in rights would solve a lot of problems very simply. Maybe their are other, nearby options to explore. Not too many miles from where I live, there's a charging station for electric cars - and it's free! So surely you can find a few watt-hours near you somewhere.

 

I'm sorry, but I still only see this ending badly.....

 

I'm sorry, but I still only see this ending badly.....

Now, now, don't be so judgmental ....

 

Now, now, don't be so judgmental ....

Not judging, just being realistic

 

And for the record, being judgmental is a good thing. Think about choosing a candidate to vote for, a spouse, your friends, or hiring employees. Judgment is a virtue and we do it all the time.

I understand WBahn's sentiment but I wish there was a better word for it. Maybe having humility is the point - there is a very small set of things we can solve with our words from here. Many of the poster's here have problems beyond what we can impact.

 

There is an insidious notion that all problems are solvable given enough knowledge, time, money, or whatever you like to throw at problems. Time and again we see examples that doing these things makes the problems worse instead of better. We all have our own problems to deal with and maybe none of what we know, of do, or say will have the slightest impact on the world at large. We simply must come to grips with our limitations.

 

There is an insidious notion that all problems are solvable given enough knowledge, time, money, or whatever you like to throw at problems. Time and again we see examples that doing these things makes the problems worse instead of better. We all have our own problems to deal with and maybe none of what we know, of do, or say will have the slightest impact on the world at large. We simply must come to grips with our limitations.

Thank you! Finally someone appears to understand where I am coming from...maybe? Without going into huge depth on my life story there are thing way outside of my ability to control which contributed to where I am now. Some of them are consequences of my own actions and some are not.
That said I deal with the issues that my present situation puts in front of me on a daily basis to the best of my ability. Make no mistake. I want out. Unfortunately that just does not seem to be something that is in the proverbial cards for me right now; so, I am doing that which I can to prepare myself for the day that I can walk out of this mess instead of wasting myself away on copious amounts of illegal drugs and alcohol which is so very common among those in my situation.

 

I'm sorry, but I still only see this ending badly.....

Please elaborate. I am interested in your reasoning.

Oh, I passed the radio and electronics portion of the ASVAB exam with flying colors on only a passing knowledge of the topic gleaned from growing up with a small electronics technician and no, I did not study for the exam. I went into it blind. My overal ASVAB score was 82. It would have been over 90 if I had not done so bad on the math. The only reason I am not a soldier today is that I did not pass the physical requirements for service.

 

Please elaborate. I am interested in your reasoning.

I was referring to trying to recharge non-rechargeable batteries with solar panels.

 

I was referring to trying to recharge non-rechargeable batteries with solar panels.

Ok, let's get this straight right now. I have ZERO intention of attempting to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. I want to make the TRANSITION to rechargeable batteries but I have NOWHERE to put them for the eight to ten hours they take to charge completely (the first time) or the four hours it takes to maintain them; anything less cripples the battery's ability to function at its best.

 

Ok, let's get this straight right now. I have ZERO intention of attempting to recharge non-rechargeable batteries.

Good! I was responding to the discussion that was taking place a bit earlier about recharging non-rechargeable batteries.

I suggest you watch your attitude. You're sounding a bit rude and it's entirely unnecessary.

 

Good! I was responding to the discussion that was taking place a bit earlier about recharging non-rechargeable batteries.

I suggest you watch your attitude. You're sounding a bit rude and it's entirely unnecessary.

You get what you give. Maybe instead of posting a RUDE comment about things ending badly you should have asked about that specific issue.

 

You get what you give. Maybe instead of posting a RUDE comment about things ending badly you should have asked about that specific issue.

There was absolutely nothing rude about my post. If someone were to try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, it WOULD end badly. It was an observation. Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to judge either.

 

An old garden tractor with an electric starter would have everything it needs to maintain its 12V battery. It's obviously got more engine power than it needs, since it's meant to mow grass and not just recharge its own battery, but it would do the job for you. I see them around cheap or free fairly often, and you wouldn't care about any of the mowing parts, seat, or whatever, so you'd have a wider range of acceptable machines.

But, I also think your time would be best spent on finding occasional access to grid power. If someone is allowing you to be on their property, a small offering to them in exchange for plug-in rights would solve a lot of problems very simply. Maybe their are other, nearby options to explore. Not too many miles from where I live, there's a charging station for electric cars - and it's free! So surely you can find a few watt-hours near you somewhere.

My issue is not the ability to find charging spaces it is the amount of time I have to spend sitting around making sure things do not get stolen while getting absolutely nothing else done. When I had a home and electricity and all of that these things did what they needed to do quite safely at night while I was sleeping. Also, as I stated above, this is a beginner level project so that I can become familiar with the concepts and methods of solar before I am working with energy levels high enough to kill and not just maim. That said, the tractor idea is a very good one; especially since I live in a very rural area. I will have to keep my eyes open...though me dragging a tractor down to where I live will be a funny sight indeed...

 

My issue is not the ability to find charging spaces it is the amount of time I have to spend sitting around making sure things do not get stolen while getting absolutely nothing else done. When I had a home and electricity and all of that these things did what they needed to do quite safely at night while I was sleeping. Also, as I stated above, this is a beginner level project so that I can become familiar with the concepts and methods of solar before I am working with energy levels high enough to kill and not just maim.

One thing to note about Solar is that it's usually less than 10% efficient, even with Fresnal lenses. You may want to look at other options as well (to combine with a solar station) such as wind or even a Peltier device.

 

There was absolutely nothing rude about my post. If someone were to try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, it WOULD end badly. It was an observation. Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to judge either.

An observation with a distinct lack of source information.

 

An observation with a distinct lack of source information.

There was no "source information" required for that comment. It was a very straightforward, standalone statement.

Back to the topic at hand, here's an example of a Peltier phone charger (source the parts however you can): https://www.tinkernut.com/2012/05/candle-powered-phone-charger/

 

I sympathize with your situation, and I'm embarrassed by the rudeness you've encountered. I think you're on the right track with solar power and rechargeable batteries, but you'll need to get past the high cost somehow. Using discarded garden lights are a good first step, and the less you have to modify them, the better ie use them directly in your garden. Now, charging batteries requires more than simply hooking up a solar panel to the battery being charged. You'll need a charge controller (called a charger) and that's an additional cost. Harbor Freight Tools sells the panel and charger together, and that will probably be the best deal if you can find a way to pay for it. I don't know how well a car alternator/bicycle would work -- some people have tired it and found it fails. However, some stationary exercise bicycles use a small DC generator and resistive load, and if you were to scrounge the right kind, you could disconnect the resistor and use the output from the generator, again however, you'll need a proper charger. Forget using capacitors, they are terrible for storing power and they can be dangerous.

I seriously can't think of a better way to get what you need. I'll try to provide assistance any way I can.

 

If someone were to try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries, it WOULD end badly.

Can you cite some sources for this information? When I was a child, they used to sell chargers for recharging primary batteries. And I remember seeing Dick Clark advertising something on TV within the past 20 years.

To that end, here is a reference from 1998 that says it is possible.
http://techdoc.kvindesland.no/radio/psu/20061103160627551.pdf
I assume these articles receive some sort of Peer review before being published...

Certainly primary batteries will leak or explode if stressed when recharging, but so will rechargeables. I just had a NiMH AA battery leak in my charger and the fluid was a very effective paint remover.

I have some hand crank LED flashlights that charge a CR2032 battery. This clearly goes against what's in the datasheet, but they do it anyway (and don't have a problem with exploding batteries).