I need your design help please!

[mountainman61]

Hello everyone!

I have been lurking for quiet some time now, and I gotta say...this is a great forum. I just can't seem to stop reading and go to bed though.

Anyway, If there was ever a place to get good advice, this is it.
So... here goes...I have built a small cabin in the woods and plan on living there full time this summer. I want/ need a small supply of power. I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000 or 5000 w/hrs will work. So 200 - 300 watts per hour generated 24 hrs a day would be great. First we must rule out solar because I don't get enough sun. Wind is out of the question too.

I will tell you my resources and abilities first and then my ideas. With your kind help and knowledge, maybe I can get there.

Resources:
65 acres of mountain land in Ky., 2 ponds side by side one about 15 foot above the other (not enough flow for hydro)
A nice shop with many tools, drill press, lathe, etc.
endless supply of trees, firewood/lumber via my sawmill.
I have very good mechanical skills and a decent understanding of basic electronics. However, I do not have the knowledge to carry out my ideas without costly trial and error because I lack the ability/ skill to calculate the outcome of the ideas first. This is where you guys come in!

My Ideas 1 of the following or a combination of them:
A large earth battery (tractor with loader makes it easy) or use the pond as a huge battery??? I don't begin to think 200 watts is realistic for this one.

Anything powered by a large suspended or rolling weight. I was thinking pendulum?
I also have large hills that I could use for a rolling weight...using a couple pulleys I could easily get a 1000 foot of travel and drive the car back up the hill to rewind or better yet, use my truck to rewind when I go to my shop to work everyday. No / little excess energy spent!
I also could have a few hundred gallons of water per day(15 ft. head) to add to the equation if it was worthwhile?
I  have plenty of fire wood that I heat with (5 months) and cook with(year around) so any means of heat to electricity would be a good consideration too.

I thank you in advance for any help you can offer and all ideas are appreciated!!


Kelly

[Paul-R]

Do you have a stream running through anywhere?

Try this:
http://www.free-energy-info.com/Chapter14.pdf

[neptune]

Don't dismiss solar because you don't get enough sun .A little power is better than nothing . Why is wind out of the question ? Why do you need all that power for a cabin? If it is to operate machine tools for short to medium periods , use a diesel generator or add a modified extra generator to your truck engine . Small steam engine running on wood , with waste heat to heat cabin . Festoon you
woodstove and chimney with Peltier cells for lighting/battery charging?
    Start small , with a few second hand solar panels and arrange for them to track the sun , or move them manually 4 times a day . Small wind plant if feasible  . Then the peltier cells . Walk before trying to run .

[Lakes]

Wood Gasifier running a generator?

Have a look at Tommy Reed`s thread here.

[broli]

Frcition Heater:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROF-CImcDkc