Recap of last weeks posts 10/11/14

The water filtration project is still front row and center.  It also garnered the most hits, although there were a couple others that gave it a run for the money

• A couple news items about the blog
• The things you hear

Sorry to relate this, but I've forgotten about some "Best of " posts that I found.  It seems that there could be many here that make the cut, but I don't have time to go through all my posts in order to find them.  When I do, I need to make a note of them for this weekly post, but I tend to forget.

I may have given the impression of money troubles, but I'm not there at this time.  Things are becoming worrisome though, as I am burning through money like nobody's business.  Mostly, it is for stuff that I didn't figure on having to deal with, or something along those lines.  Murphy's Law, ya'll.  Murphy's Law.

Giving my drill a workout

I drilled a few holes today with the drill.  Yep, even though I've had this drill for 20 years, I've hardly ever used it.  I'm a real greenhorn with this, so I need some practice.  I drilled a hole in wood.  I drilled a hole in the dried up soil that I was used in the filtration experiments.  It was caked up real hard, almost like a brick.  I'm thinking:  "maybe this is what that hard pan will be like".  It seemed like some good practice.

Besides that, I went back a researched some drill bits for this thing.  The one I have for it won't exactly be long for my purposes.  I want to go a couple feet deep.  I went through several pages of drill bits ( extensions and adapters mainly, but other interesting things popped up) before I quit on that for now.  Just for reference, just in case I forget, I'd like to refer to the link above and this one to find that one again that is like what I've got, plus some extensions if I can find them.

Activated charcoal arrived today

Since it has, I've been working on making a filter out of it.  Not much luck!  This stuff is messy.

After trying a couple of tea bags ( removed tea from bags, and used the filter paper ), and running some greywater through it, I've become disappointed again.

There's got to be a problem with how I am doing all this, but I can't put my finger on it.

If I were to take this water that has been filtered with activated charcoal, I don't think my results would be any different from what I've been getting.

One thing I could try is to go through the activated carbon filter first, then through the sand.  Both tea bag/activated carbon filters were at the bottom of the device after having passed through the sand first.  If the procedure were reversed, maybe the results would be different?

Perhaps it's a good time to review this from the beginning, huh?  The video at the link has now been made private.  Why do you suppose that is?  Now, there's this video, which is quite similar and is still there.

After watching that video, I can see where I may be going wrong.

Update:

I'm feeling a bit tired at the moment, and a bit frustrated.  Perhaps it is better to leave this for another day.  If I've learned anything from this latest work, it's that I'm going to have rebuild my filter.  That's not what I'm in the mood for right now, so that can wait.

Reality bites ( corrected )

When it comes to keeping it real, nothing like an unexpected event that will remind you of what's real and what ain't.  Life is like Murphy's Law: if it can go wrong, it will, and at the most inopportune time.

I didn't expect to spend quite so much, so now I realize that many things that I'd like to do, I simply can't.

Maybe I can win the lottery, or something.

Update:

I noticed an error and corrected it.  Please excuse the sloppy proofreading.

Water filtration reminder

This is a reminder to myself, and to anyone who is interested, that I am continuing to work the filtration problem.

If I have the time, which is always in short supply, I am going to conduct another condensation experiment this weekend.  This will be a "full test", with filtered greywater this time.

If the results seem to be good, then what?  How do I know the quality of the water?  That is the subject of this post, something I don't want to forget, hence the reminder.

That is to say, I want to be able to test my results.  There are obvious tests

• is it clear, or is it cloudy?  Duh.  It has to at least look clean, even if it isn't
• does it have a smell?  Yeah, duh again.  If it smells bad, who wants to drink it or wash in it?
• if those two pass, it may not be safe even then.  You need a couple more tests 1) for infectious stuff and 2) for chemicals

Now, I just thought of how to test for chemicals.  Use an evaporation test.  Look for water stains after an evaporation has taken place.  If the treated water is leaving a stain, it has chemicals in it.  The treatment hasn't removed those.

If it passes the chemical test, then just add some bleach and that will take care of the rest!

Now, I'd like to be even more sure than that.  I would consider a test in a lab, but that costs money.  I'll have to wait for that after having run several "successful" experiments with passing tests.

Update:

The water filtration experiment is underway as of 7 pm local time.

Early indications is that it's not going to be as efficient this time.  I'm guessing that the reason is that I've plugged up all the escape ways for the vapor, and I've not added enough cooling in the container. It may take a few hours running this thing in order to process most of the water.

It's only 1 pint of greywater that I filtered earlier this week.  The greywater is mostly clear and yellowish in tint.  No doubt the coloring is from the charcoal.   The sudsy quality is reduced, but still present.  This is a lot like the initial test several weeks ago.  Now, the thing to determine is if the yellowish tint is gone in the condensate, and whether or not the chemicals were removed.  That's the big question to answer.

Back with results perhaps tomorrow morning local time.  I don't know how long this thing is going to run, and once it is through, I'm going to "sack out".

Update ( one hour later ):

As I thought, the efficiency is way, way down.  I'm going to run this thing a lot longer in order to capture enough water to determine if it is getting cleaned up any.

Update ( three hours into experiment and halted ):

The halt is happening because it just isn't processing the water.  Only 3 ounces in 3 hours.  Probably less than an ounce was recoverable.  Of the water recovered, it looked good, but there's so little.  Don't know if this is a malfunction, or a setup that was self-defeating in some way.  First indications are that it won't process the water very well in any case.  It is either because the humidifier is malfunctioning or it won't process this type of water.  I'll do a test on distilled or tap water first thing in the morning.  As of now, I've gotta get some rest.

Update ( Sat. 10/11 ( next morning ) ):

I did the water droplet test on the little amount of water collected.  It did leave a slight residue, which suggests that the water is not pure.  Also, in the container, there are water stains all over the saran wrap.  Clearly, the condensation is not producing pure water.

Secondly, I did a test on the humidifier in order to determine what was going on there with the low output.  No question about it, tap water does much better than the filtered greywater.  The efficiency drops noticeably.  It may not account for all of the bad performance, but it does explain a significant part of it.

Of all the experiments I've run so far, the humidifier problem seems to be the show stopper.  This method of purification does not appear to work well enough.

I may do some more tests, but the verdict is starting to look negative for this method.

Update  ( maybe an hour or so later this morning ):

The rate that the humidifier worked with the greywater was measured just now.  It is not precise, unfortunately.  However, I did measure it precisely last night.  Heck, I still can, wait a sec.

Between 11 and 12 ounces was collected, and 13 last night.  That means over an hour, and it has produced less than 2 ounces of mist.  Clearly, this is much, much less than last week.  Didn't I get about 10 ounces?  It was far better than this.  Too lazy to go look it up, but it isn't really necessary.  The greywater doesn't mist as well, no doubt about it.

To top all of that off, it looks like the greywater has to be filtered more than once in order to get it to clear up.  Dirtier water will work even less well with this humidifier.

Final conclusion:  Too early to shut this down, but it isn't looking good at the moment.  I've got some activated charcoal coming and I could try to improve upon the filtration from the sand.  But as it stands right now, this isn't good enough.  Not by a long shot.  The greywater has to be filtered significantly better before it can go through the humidifier.

The ominous math of the Ebola epidemic

wapo


What I get from the article is that people are thinking this is more of a African problem than a problem here.  It is now a problem here.  Although there is only one case and the man has died, it is definitely possible for it to start spreading like wildfire.

People really aren't taking this seriously enough.  This Ebola thing is something that you can't mess around with, but that is what is happening.

On keeping it real

Are people losing touch with reality?

I cannot write about other people, and it may be difficult to even write about myself.  I have written that the truth is a slippery thing.  This is what I mean.  Being truthful is hard, especially when you don't even know what it is.

Way back in high school, a fellow classmate gave me a book about being "real".  She said that she didn't think I was being "real".  What does that mean?  Perhaps to understand it in the context of this blog, you have to read the book.  She seemed to really believe in this book, but I pretty much blew it all off until I had something of a crisis several years later.  Frankly, I don't know if ever really got that deep into the book---before or after the crisis.  I fiddled around the edges with it, one might say.  The results aren't terribly different than what I had gotten before, but not because I think the book was wrong, but it is hard to implement it.  The truth is a slippery thing.

She also recommended the New Testament.  Naturally, this was something I wasn't going to do at that time, as I went around blabbing about my atheism.  Here's a news flash.  I started reading the New Testament before the crisis, not after.  But not back when she recommended it.  Hmm.  Do you think it might have made a difference?

But that's not being real.  I was being a bit naughty and thinking about seduction.  But being "real" in the context of this post is to reveal what the crisis was and what it was all about.  But I can't do that here---or maybe anywhere with anyone.  It is too personal.  I could do this only with people I know---maybe---, and I don't know anyone at all in which I would want to share that story with.

I've nibbled around the edges, just like I did with that book.  Also when it comes to the New Testament.

For me, it was always about something, but it never got that close to home.  Home is a refuge from the madness of the world outside.  To me, it has always been a place of safety.  Where you go to get your batteries recharged.

I don't allow people into my home.  Frankly, I think it is because people scare the living crap out of me.  Admitting that is hard.  It doesn't conform with the ideal image of strength, which I'd like to think of myself as being.

I'm willing to let you see a little of me, but not all.  That's about as good as it gets around here.  The way of the world, it seems.

A couple news items about the blog

It's filler material time.  It can also serve as a change of pace from the Ebola stuff.

As of September 15, this blog is now five years old.  After one year, I started blogging full time, so that is four years and running.

Yesterday, the total traffic according to blogger's own statistics, showed this blog went over a quarter million views.

That reminds of the Hee-Haw salutes to the backwoods towns.  Yep, a backwoods blog here.

Some precautions already taken

Even this may seem paranoid to some people.  But these measures may be inadequate.  Although it may be inadequate, it is probably more than the average effort.

I washed my hands more frequently than before.  I used a bleach solution.  I am careful about what I touch.  I won't touch anybody.

Those were resolves yesterday morning.  I failed to do it each and every time---mistakes were made.  An example: I shook hands with an old acquaintance.

Even wearing gloves isn't enough.  You could still make a mistake.

The point is that everybody is behind the curve on this.  Even if you are aware and taking precautions, it still may not be enough.

I took my temperature.  It was ok.  Now, the nurse in Spain who got it also took her temperature.  She had only a low grade temperature at first.  This went on for several days, then it got worse.  All that time, she was infectious and could have passed it on to others.

Just saying that people are behind the curve and are taking grave risks.  This isn't scare mongering nor needless panic.  There isn't enough respect for what the risks are.  I'm not being hypocritical.  I am making mistakes too.

Update:

Here's a site that sell protective gear online.  I'm not going to order now.  This is a decision that I may regret later, but like I said, everybody is behind the curve.

Ebola News: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Good article here for news about Ebola and a good analysis.  Naturally, not enough people will read it, and the risk will continue to mount.

A Bad article here, but at least they corrected themselves later.  This is more conservative site than the above.

The Ugly award goes to the riot over the euthanized dog.  The article isn't ugly, but the animal rights people are.  This is no time for politics.

Deputy who had contact with Dallas Ebola patient shows symptoms - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

Deputy who had contact with Dallas Ebola patient shows symptoms - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas



comment:



Story has it that the Deputy went inside the Ebola patient's apartment.  He wasn't wearing protective gear.



Don't they train these people?!?

The things you hear

Want remember what I spoke about today in conversations with people I see everyday. It was one about using surgical gloves and masks for Ebola protection. There was another one about classes at Home Depot. Then there was one about living on the land and retiring on your LAND. Finally there was one about a company that was looking for investors to grow and sell marijuana.

Update:

Of course, I wrote this reminder because if I hadn't, I would have forgotten these conversations.

With respect to surgical gloves and masks for Ebola protection:

The Deputy who went to the infected man's home was not wearing protection.  Now, he and his family are under surveillance.  If he had followed procedures carefully, this wouldn't be happening.  Not only has this endangered his own life, and his family's, but many, many more.  This is his job, and these people are falling down on their jobs.  The Deputy should not be blamed fully for this, but it is HIS job.  This is where everybody needs to wake up, because they are depending on people up top to be doing their jobs and they aren't.

With the classes at Home Depot:

I didn't mention this to the guy, but the use of videos on Youtube may be more efficient in terms of time.  I don't have time to take classes.  But it is useful to know that I can.

With one about living off your land:

I wanted to remember this one because it struck me that the guy was getting the same kind of response I'm getting.  Too many people want to take the easy way out.  It may be necessary to be able to live off the land, especially if civilization breaks down.  This is a real possibility because of something like Ebola or a major war.  It's all happened before.  We aren't immune.  Remember 9-11?  I remember coming back into downtown Houston in the rush hour on that day and it was abandoned.  That was the most bizarre thing that I could recall up to that point.  There could be more and more such events.  Why there was those 70 mile traffic jams with respect to the hurricane evacuations.  Never saw anything like that one before.  Those were examples of near term anomalies.  What about longer term ones?  We weren't prepared then, and we aren't prepared now.  Nobody wants to think of these things.  But they do want to think about elections.  Not because they'll actually vote or anything.  Or become educated about issues or anything.  No, it is to be entertained.

The one about growing marijuana:

The guy said might as well because it is legal now.  Unfortunately, yes, this is true.  But is it right?  Nobody seems to want to ask that question.  Too many seem to be only concerned about whether something is legal or not, not whether it is morally and ethically advisable.  But that is the world we live in today.

 

Now that I've turned you off...

I'm going to really top it off and compare the Ebola situation and how it is being handled to what Jesus Christ taught by washing the feet of his disciples.

People these days are so into getting personal advantages.  They seek gains and oftentimes at other peoples' expense.  Now, take this Ebola situation and how it is being handled by our "leaders".  Instead of being of service to the people, they will do one of two possible things:  one: they will try to use it to accuse their opponents of something, or two: they will use it in order to avoid responsibility.

What we end up with is not leadership, but a total lack of it.

Both parties are guilty.  The GOP should be showing people how to lower the risk of an epidemic by following a few basic precautions, and doing it themselves while continually pointing it out as an example.  What they are doing now is just blaming Obama for allowing it to happen.  Doesn't matter that this is true or not.  The point is that they are trying to get an advantage in the upcoming elections.  The Democrats are saying stuff to try to downplay the threat.  Doesn't matter that the GOP is trying to get an advantage here, the point is that they are avoiding responsibility.

Now, if the GOP started to act the way that I indicated and make a big deal out of it, the Democrats can do two things:  one: they can make fun of the GOP for being paranoid and trying to cause a panic, or two: they can do what the GOP is doing and take the issue off the table.  In other words, by taking the lead and doing the right thing, one party could force the other party to act responsibly without expecting an gain for themselves.  This is like what Jesus Christ taught by washing his disciples feet.  He set an example for all of us to follow.  Especially the leaders.

If the leaders don't do this, they will both be to blame.  But if the script holds true, and something bad happens, they'll both try to avoid responsibility by blaming the other.

Politicization of Ebola

It is unfortunate that this has happened.  However, you have to look on the other side of an issue sometimes.  Because if you don't, you may be missing something significant.

What I'm referring to is the fact that people may "tune out" what appears to be about politics.  So, after having been politicized, people may tune out the Ebola threat.  They may be downplaying it, when that is very, very dangerous.

I'm not getting on a high horse and preaching here.  It has come to my attention that this is truly dangerous.  Of course, most people realize that Ebola is dangerous, but they also believe that it can't happen here.  America isn't a third world country, it is believed.  America cannot fall victim to this, it is believed.  But that's precisely how America could fall victim to it.  Overconfidence may well be our undoing.  We cannot underestimate the risk here.  But that is what could be happening because of the politics of it, and so forth.  People may just blow it all off until it is too late to prevent an outbreak.  Once that happens, all bets are off.

The politics is justified too.  That's how we get accountability from our public officials.  It's one of the rights that we still have and it should be exercised.  Yet, it is all too human to look at it as only politics and can be safely ignored because it should not be believed.  Would you wish to bet your life on that?

Those who argue precautionary principle with respect to climate change are the same ones who are denying that there is a threat here.  See what I mean?

Activated Charcoal Powder For Water Filtration Experiment

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL POWDER - NORIT A SUPRA



Perhaps this can be used for my water filter device.

I'm going to try this.  I ordered some.

On another note, I checked my math on the concrete needed for the carport. It was way too much.  I may get by with just a couple of 80 lb sacks of concrete.  In addition to that, I think that I will keep the pouring of it as simple as possible.  Instead of trying to pour down a skinny drilled hole, I won't pour anything at all down there.  It is possible that I will try pouring it into something that I will take out there, but I haven't decided upon that yet.  In other words, some of the work could be done here, which can help my productivity out there.

This will go into the off-the-grid series.

Update:

The shipment is on its way.  Probably won't get it before the weekend, though.

Update:

Spinning this one off for sub project and therefore a sub series for the water filtration sub system.  These posts will be linked together, so the next one is linked below, the next in the main series is here.


Previous    Next ( new series starts )

Ebola spells T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Number one off the bat with this Ebola business---  I haven't taken it seriously, but I am now.  It is said to be infectious after the onset of symptoms.

The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days. Humans are not infectious until they develop symptoms. First symptoms are the sudden onset of fever fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding (e.g. oozing from the gums, blood in the stools). Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.[emphases added]

The onset of symptoms are the trouble spot, it seems to me.  If you are in contact with people after the first symptoms, you can potentially spread the disease far and wide before you are finally diagnosed and quarantined.

Downplaying this risk is gravely irresponsible.  What makes America different from Africa is the higher mobility in this society.  If an infected person with the first symptoms makes contacts and spreads the disease, any number of people could then become infected and will become infectious themselves before being diagnosed.  Because of this mobility factor, and the easily confused symptoms, it creates a situation favorable to an epidemic.  For example, fever, headache and sore throat can be confused with a cold or flu.  Not everybody stays home in such cases, you know.

People should be warned to beware of getting sick with any of these symptoms even it if only appears to be a cold.  Extreme care should be taken to keep clean and to avoid contact with other people if they are showing any kind of symptoms at all.  This is, of course, a problem.  People don't like to be treated like lepers, but what else can you do?

Besides watching yourself, and others, it may be a good idea to keep as clean as possible.  This may not help much, but if you can destroy the virus early on, maybe this thing can blow over.

Finally, the border should be closed.  Africa should be quarantined.  Movement needs to be minimized.

Short comment on poll

On Protein Wisdom,  Jeff G mentioned a poll in which it was claimed that 50% approval for Obama's handling of ISIS.

Are you shitting me?!?

Maybe Barnhardt is right.  This country is GONE.

ISIS shouldn't even exist.  It is because of Obama that it does.  Whatever he does in response to it is not even adequate and isn't ever going to be adequate.   EVER.

Good God.

RIP Paul Revere [Darleen Click]

Protein Wisdom



Yeah, and that video, he looks so young.  It doesn't take long.  Life is short.  Bummer.

Post hole issues

A lot of thought is going into this issue as well.

My trouble may be in overengineering these things.  Need to keep in mind that the thing doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal.

It looks like it may take about 6 80 lb sacks of concrete to do this job.  That seems like a lot.  If I fiddle around with this long enough, that number could get smaller.  Maybe it ought to be smaller in terms of concrete bags needed.

The carport may end up being more like a big tent.  I'm thinking it needs to be enclosed because the wind may get into it and turn it into a gigantic kite.

The idea is to make the thing portable.  I take out the poles and tarp to the location and put it up on each trip.  The poles will go into a concrete hole, and the tarps will fit on the poles.  There needs to be a lot of fittings and such.  The framework will be made of PVC piping and fixtures.

I priced ready made ones and they are too expensive.  Plus they don't have the permanent fixtures installed.

Water issues

I've been keeping close track of the weather in Sierra Blanca.  What caught my eye was that the relative humidity is higher than I thought it would be, especially at night.  However, for the last few days, it has been pretty low.  This may complicate things a bit, as I figured on getting some water from the condensation of relative humidity from the atmosphere.

That could mean redoubled efforts elsewhere to keep from running short on water.

 Recycling the grey water has not been demonstrated, but it may be getting closer.  Cleaning up dirty water with bleach is a trick that I had forgotten about.  Also, it hasn't been established yet that the water can be cleaned up with the humidifier/condenser yet.  That includes getting chemicals out.    You don't want to send dirty water through the humidifier.  Getting the bugs out is a step forward.

I've been thinking of some ideas on how to improve that device.  One is to use a lot of tubing that has frozen water or whatever in it.  This will increase the surface area so as to encourage condensation.  Another is to make the container bigger.  There's a lot of pressure coming off the humidifier.  It makes it hard to keep the leaks from sending a lot of water vapor out into the air.  It may be better to keep as much of the water vapor within the system as is possible.  Lowering the pressure may help that.  Three ideas to try, but no time to try them.

Poppity corn

Political Parties

Yakov Smirnoff once said that "Everyone in America is looking for party.  In Soviet Union, Party looks for YOU."  Yes, but there is thing about American parties he didn't say---  Democrats say GOP is party for rich.  Yes, is true.  GOP wants you to get rich, and party if you pay for it.  Not everybody can do this, but all of you have opportunity to get rich if you want.  But for Democrats, they are for staying rich, and in having party, but they are really not interested in letting YOU get rich, and they'll pay for your party.

Update:

What a country!

Reality bites liberal Texas judge

Behind the Black Blog



All it takes is one idiot to spread the Ebola virus so as to keep it alive in America.  Unfortunately, we have no shortage of idiots, even in high places.

Update:

If you read through Behind the Black's posts on Ebola, you may observe that for anyone to mention Ebola, it has to because of RACISM.

Well, here's an example of that kind of thinking on a liberal blog---Maha has just blamed it on racism.  Un-freaking-believable.

Demand for Physical Gold Remains Strong as Bullion Banks Suppress Prices | Kitco Commentary

Demand for Physical Gold Remains Strong as Bullion Banks Suppress Prices | Kitco Commentary



This coincides very neatly to the gold crisis of 1999.  If history repeats, which if often does, this could be the forerunner of the next leg up for gold.  But it may take some time to develop.  As always, things will happen when they happen.  Trying to predict exactly when is next to impossible.  At least, it always has been for me.

The Price Of Gold And The Art Of War II | Kitco Commentary

The Price Of Gold And The Art Of War II | Kitco Commentary



A nice little history lesson for me, since I wasn't aware of some of the details.



Gold became interesting to me around 2003.  By that time, it has risen to the low 300's.  It was to rise six fold in the next 8 years.  Will it happen again?

Hindenburg Omen

kitco commentary: Dr. Robert McHugh Records a Hindenburg Omen and More



The article doesn't discuss QE.  It should be noted that QE is ending.  If it is QE that is driving the markets higher, then the withdrawal of QE could be the proximate cause of a selloff if that occurs.  So, what happens then?  More QE?  More government programs?



I'm reminded that Van Jones was suggesting that Ebola is the reason why we need more government.  It looks to me like "government is the problem, not the solution."  Leftism doesn't work.

What is Schedule 40 PVC Pipe?

This is a good find because he has videos describing how to make use of PVC, and amongst these uses, is a way to make bows out of them.  Cool.

Short mention of today's water experiment

Yes, I'm doing this again.

The latest involved the use of saran wrap and a longer run time of 2 hours.

Results:

Water beginning: 56 ounces
Water ending:      37 ounces

Water processed 19 ounces

Water collected from condensation

Ozarka:  6 ounces  ( spillage of at least 1 ounce )
              7 ounces

From container: 4 ounces

Total collected:  11 ounces

processed minus collected equals lost:  19-11-8

The lost figure may be an underestimate of the water lost in spillage.  Still, it is an unexpectedly large number.

The number was expected to be a constant number or a number that grew more slowly than the collected number.  This held true, but it also increased at a faster clip than after 1 hour.  8 ounces v. 3 ounces

The collected went from 4 ounces to 11.  Nearly tripled.  In fact, both nearly tripled.  The amount processed more than doubled, which was unexpected as well.

An interesting observation:  the ratio between processed and lost was nearly exactly the same.

19/ 7  v. 8/3 equal approx 2.7

But the amount collected had a higher ratio  11/4 equal approx. 3.7.  The difference between ratios in nearly one.  Is that significant for some reason?

I'm going to try this yet again, but I've got chores to do.  Until later today, signing off.

Update:

One more time.  I was going for a two hour attempt, but the apparatus started falling apart.  I quickly put it back together again without too much damage ( I think ).  The results were a bit surprising.  I used plenty more saran wrap and it really cut down on the losses inside the container.  It may have contributed to overall efficiency of the system, but losses were still too high.  I stopped it after 1 hour.

Results:

Water beginning: 48 ounces
Water ending:      38 ounces

Water processed 10 ounces

Water collected from condensation

Ozarka:  4 ounces

From container: 2 ounces

Total collected:  6 ounces

processed minus collected equals lost:  10-6= 4

processed v lost ratio 10/4=2.5

The addition of the saran wrap helps produce more and collect more.  Losses seem to increase too, oddly enough.

That's it for this weekend.  The next two weekends, I'll probably be doing something else.

Honda EU2000i Generator

Here's a little generator that I can rent.  There's a few videos out there on how to convert it from gasoline to propane. On the following one, he doesn't show it explicitly, but he does show the biz card to those who sell the kits.






The next one shows a step-by-step conversion of this generator to propane.

Oh, goody. Another skill set to learn

Could it be that I'm losing enthusiasm for my project?  Possibly.  You hear so many negative things that the negativity starts to seep in a little.

Yes, another skill set.  There will be undoubtedly many more to come.  I have to remember that there is no rush to do this.  There is time, or at least, I think there's time.

This morning, I noticed fence posts and began thinking more about how to build them on my property.  Of course, I've never done this before, so I'm a novice at this.  I did help my brother-in-law to nail in some fencing on his new house back in the seventies.  But the fence post?  No, those were already done by the time I got there.

Yesterday, I found my drill, which I had misplaced.  I got the idea that I could use this drill to "drill down" in the hard pan out there for my post hole.  This may not be a good idea, but since I don't know any better, I may try it anyway.

My drill has a bit that will make a bore hole 1/2 inch thick.  What I were to use that bit, plus an extension, to drill down a couple feet for a "fence" post.  Unfortunately, it looks like there any metal posts that skinny.  But PVC might be, so I got the idea to use PVC pipe for my posts.  It would be reinforced with rebar, so as to give strength.  It would be anchored in concrete from 2 feet towards the surface.  At the surface, I would widen it out a bit and make it into a platform, into which more concrete will be pored.  At the end of this little project, I would hope that the carport would be strong enough to do what I want it to do--- to provide shade above, and some wind protection to two sides at a time.

But that word boring bit won't work, most likely.  I'll have to buy something that might work, but the drill may not be powerful enough.  I updated the link to the website where I might find something that could work.  That's more money and the risk is that it won't work at all.

Now, for the PVC.  That's an entirely new subject in which I am going to have to learn about.  Yay...

I don't need enthusiasm to work on this project.  I will proceed with grim determination if I have to.