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WATCH BILL XAM LIVE EVERY NIGHT AT 6:30 PM, EST ON THE ANIMAL FEEDER SETUP SHOW!

Disaster planning should be part of every single household across America, strike that, the world. When disaster strikes, people die or lives are changed. In times of plenty, forego the Playstations and buy extra food. You can explain a lack of toys better than a lack of food to your children.

Three years ago, our home caught fire. I spent time in intensive care and almost died, thus I know from whence I speak. 

As we go into our third season of "This Old Shack", disaster planning and survival episodes become more important. After all, that's what alternative energy is - the ability for you to survive without an infrastructure. All of our episodes of This Old Shack and our new show, "CSI:SALINE" will reflect this in 2009. Oh, of course there's going to be laughs and beer drinking - this survival crap is depressing to think about.

So, practice your fire drills with the crumbcrunchers, practice evacuating yourselves, your pets, your neighbors. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. And watch our videos!

WATCH BILL XAM LIVE EVERY NIGHT AT 6:30 PM, EST ON THE ANIMAL FEEDER SETUP SHOW!

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Handy conversion formulas
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Earthquake/vocano activity

But why solar power?

There were several reasons for the switch:

  • Sprinkle of rain = power failure.

  • Giving a little back by not using so much.

  • Independent living.

Benefits:

  • Renewable power.
  • Learning about solar power.
  • Own stock in the solar panel company. :-)
  • I like batteries.
  • I can sit around smoking a cigar because I'm an energy mogul!

Drawbacks:

  • Maintenance.
  • Installation.
  • Bunch of black glass panels sitting around.

sunset_over_ypsi1.jpg (389444 bytes) Northern Michigan Solar Cabin

 

Handy conversion formulas

OHM'S LAW FORMULAS

Seems this guy named Ohm figured out some stuff....

  • Voltage = the Square Root of Power * Resistance
  • Voltage = Power / Current
  • Voltage = Current * Resistance
  • Resistance = Voltage / Current
  • Resistance = Power / Current squared
  • Resistance = Voltage squared / Power
  • Current = Voltage / Resistance
  • Current = the Square Root of Power / Resistance
  • Current = Power / Voltage
  • Power = Voltage * Current
  • Power = the Current squared * Resistance
  • Power = the Voltage squared / Resistance

HANDY CONVERSION FORMULAS

Converting Watts to Amps

The conversion of Watts to Amps is governed by the equation Amps = Watts/Volts

For example 12 watts/12 volts = 1 amp

Converting Amps to Watts

The conversion of Amps to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1 amp * 110 volts = 110 watts

Converting Watts to Volts

The conversion of Watts to Volts is governed by the equation Volts = Watts/Amps

For example 100 watts/10 amps = 10 volts

Converting Volts to Watts

The conversion of Volts to Watts is governed by the equation Watts = Amps x Volts

For example 1.5 amps * 12 volts = 18 watts

Converting Volts to Amps at fixed wattage

The conversion of Volts to Amps is governed by the equations Amps = Watts/Volts

For example 120 watts/110 volts = 1.09 amps

Converting Amps to Volts at fixed wattage

The conversion of Amps to Volts is governed by the equation Volts = Watts/Amps

For Example, 48 watts / 12 Amps = 4 Volts

 


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