Archive for May, 2009

by Brian Bradley

Are you new to solar power and wanting to go green right now? Consider starting with a portable solar generator, which is easier to build and maintain than a system attached to your home.

You can build your own, fully functional generator for under $200 - and if you do it correctly, it can pay for itself in only a few weeks of use.

Try to make your parts as small as possible, because this is supposed to be a portable generator. You’ll need 1) Solar Panel 2) Charge Controller 3) Battery and 4) Inverter to create your first system.

For the solar panel, even 12 V of capacity should be enough for camping trips if you have only small appliances. The charge controller limits how much power is drawn from your battery and greatly extends its life, saving you money in the long-run.

The energy collected by your solar panel is stored by the battery, and you can then use it whenever you need it. The direct current electricity that you get is converted into alternating current by the inverter.

You need 4 steps to make this device: first, connect the solar panel and charge controller. Then, connect the controller to your battery, and then connect your battery to your inverter. Finally, your appliances should be directly connected to your inverter.

If you want to acquire these parts, you could go to your local hardware store - or just find someone on Craigslist who’s selling them or giving them away.

In terms of extras, you could invest in a “battery box” to keep your batteries safe and protected from weather and other hazards. You could also get a system meter, which tells you how full your battery is and how much power is being drawn at a given moment, which can help you find problems early on.

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by Owen Jones

Much of what we know or have supposed about Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan, in which it is situated has been gleaned from the buildings found there, many of which have been badly neglected for too long. There are also legendary stories, such as that of Joseph of Arimathea, who traded tin in Glastonbury, just across the channel and who was one of the first missionaries to this part of the country.

It is a widely-held traditional belief that the father of Caractacus took him to Rome where they both converted to Christianity. They later returned to the Vale of Glamorgan with the missionary Bran The Blessed. It is also well-known that Christianity had gained much popular belief in the Vale by the early fourth century and that several bishops on the Council of Rome were from the area.

St. Baruchs Church on Barry Island is one of the oldest shrines in the area, but it too is sadly dilapidated. Barry Island itself became one of the most important monastic retreats in south Wales. Steep and Flat Holms, the old Viking island settlements in the Bristol Channel just off Barry, were also significant in this regard. Another most important link in this chain was St. Illtyds Seminary of 2,200 students in Llantwit Major.

There was an ancient Roman fort and accompanying naval dockyard on Porthkerry Point, which had obviously jutted out further into the sea than it does now and later a castle was built on their ruins. There have been found many wolf and deer bones between Sully and Barry - enough to show that they had existed there in great numbers. There have also been a large number of findings of arrowheads, flints, needles and coins, proving that people were there to prey on them too.

Barry Island was first known as Baruchs Island after St. Baruch, who was found drowned, washed up on the beach in 700 AD. He had drowned on his return from Flat Holm, where it was customary for Saints and religious students of the seminaries to spend Lent.

He and Gwelches had been disciples of St. Cadoc at the time. On their return to the island, they realized that they had left their enchiridion (religious manual) behind and St. Cadoc made them go back and get it. They never returned alive. St. Baruchs most famous disciple, St. Illtyd was educated there.

The island at Barry has had several names including “Island of the Saints” and “Insular of Peiros”. St. Peiro was St. Illtyd’s successor as leader of the seminary and St. Samson’s mentor. St. Doeninas was the leader of another abbey on the island at nearby Friars’ Point.

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by Travis Van Slooten

Wood privacy fences are very important for the security of any house in a neighborhood. If you have the right fence, then you can enjoy both a visually pleasing outlook and also feel safe. You can do this without making yourself feel like an unfriendly neighbor, as the fence doesn’t need to surround the perimeter of your house. Sometimes, a small section of fence is enough to prevent people from being nosey.

There are many designs that can be chosen when it comes time to buy your wood fence. Always ensure that you keep the landscape of your garden in mind when making your decision. Wood privacy fences are some of the best privacy fences that you can find as they come in many styles and materials. Vinyl fencing can also be a good choice for those on a budget. Likewise, you might want to consider a natural fence made from shrubs, plants and trees.

Before putting up that first wooden slat or fence post on your perimeter however, it is best to check with your local zoning authorities for any restrictions on fencing. Different cities have different zoning codes wherein certain limits are imposed on fences including the height, material, and even the direction that the fences face. Be sure to check out as well if there are any privacy fencing regulations observed in your residential area or subdivision.

In sorting out city permits and zoning policies, this is where the practicality, and not just the beauty, of using evergreen trees and shrubs come in - with these types, you don’t have to deal with any legalities. In addition, “living wall” privacy fences are not only limited to the evergreens.

This applies to bamboo hedges also. Bamboo is a great source of strength and reliability. Using shrubs can make your garden surroundings look very attractive and it will also change over the seasons. The best shrubs to use for this purpose are the boxwood, privet and yew.

If you want immediate results and don’t want to be bothered with maintaining your fences, then hardscape fences or the traditional privacy fences are clearly the best option for you. The project is easy enough to do and the fence sections are light enough such that the average homeowner can do the job himself. An essential factor to consider when doing the work yourself is if the fence that you put up is strong enough to withstand strong winds. For fences 6 feet tall or less, fence posts should be dug at least 2 feet deep into the soil.

Wood privacy fences not only make for suitable privacy fences, but also the most visually appealing ones as well. The best materials for wood fences that are less likely to warp are cedar, redwood, pine, and cypress. In any case, the wood should be chemically treated for the prevention of rot and insect infestation. To make your wood fences resistant to water damage, you can choose either of two options: treat the materials with synthetic-resin water repellent, or paint it. If you consider painting, do so after the wood slats are cut to the right size but before installation.

Wood fencing in stockade style provides the most solid wood barrier for your property. If you think partial privacy would be enough, lattice fencing doesn’t totally fence out the outside community and allows some breeze and sunshine into your yard. Another popular wood fence is to adopt a combination style - solid wood board fence for about 70% of the fence going down, and lattice design for the top part to make it look more attractive and add a touch of airiness.

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