Saturday, May 24, 2014

Nuts and Bolts, Part thrice

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This is something of a catchall post on the going off the grid series.

First of all, to reiterate, I would like to avoid getting into the obligation to build a lot of junk I don't think I really need--- like a septic tank and a well.

To do that, it may be useful to jerry rig a type of RV made from components that could be purchased separately, and then put together.  An RV wouldn't require a septic tank, nor a well.  The trick is to get it classified, should some regulator come knocking and wanting to slap you with a fine or requirement to vacate or some such thing.  If you can prove that your RV can handle wastewater, then you should be okay.  Also, if you can prove that you have adequate water supply, you shouldn't need to drill a well.  Result:  lots of money saved.

Yesterday, I got the idea to use a gooseneck trailer and put the conex on top of it.  Now, you've got a 40 foot RV setup.  ha ha

Then build around the "RV" so that it can look like a place to live in, and not something that doesn't look like a home at all.  Interestingly enough, I think it is possible to do this.  Once you get through with the construction, then thing might even look like a house.  ( This might be pushing things a bit, but it may actually work.)  I was thinking of attaching a facade around the thing that would serve two purposes:  1) to improve appearance, and 2) keep the sun off the darn thing so that it won't be an oven in the summer.

I want to make the thing to be capable of being dismantled in case you want to move.  It may be possible to make the pieces "pre-fab" before fitting them on the "RV" once it gets to the location.

Hopefully, I can get the costs down because this is already looking like the costs can get away from me.  For example, I'd rather buy a used trailer instead of a new one.  Why get a new one?  But these may be hard to find.  New ones aren't, but they'll cost you.

The septic tank issue has been covered, but inadequately at best.  I did some more thinking on the number two problem.  Here's a thought:  Use coffee filter to filter the flushed water so that the particulates are removed.  Then, send the water back to the tank for the next flush.

As for the number two itself, it will collect in a wire basket thingie that you use to separate pasta.  It will fit on top of the tank opening where the flush water comes into.  It will catch the number two and allow the water to go into the bottom of the container.  This partially separates the number two out. The coffee filter will do the rest.  The result will be reusable flushing water that won't be potable, but who needs that?

Update:

Perhaps cheesecloth could be used above the strainer so as to allow simple removal of waste when it's time to do the pyrolysis.  Pull it out and place it in a container that will serve the function of pyrolyzing the waste as mentioned in an earlier post.


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