Batteries and Primitive Survival E-Book
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Batteries and Primitive Survival (An e-Book that is word searchable and printable) (3 Nov 2008) Table of Contents Introduction: Knowledge from many sources including my own research and development have been brought together to show how to intelligently use battery storage technology in a long term primitive survival situation. Lead-Acid batteries for use as primary source storage and smaller rechargeable/non-rechargeables for portability will be viewed in many different ways for practicality during primitive survival. The way to read this book is to read chapter one then jump to areas of interest, realizing that the proper storage of the correct chosen batteries and the making of efficient chargers are ideally needed before the emergency times start. This book is designed to be a reference work and is dedicated to those who wish to survive the coming pole shift. (by Mikel) Chapter 1: Basic Battery Survival 101 (7 pages) This chapter gives an overview summery of the basics knowledge needed to start one into primitive survival using storage cells and batteries. The remaining chapters detail and answer the questions needed to help survive in a primitive environment for an extended time. Chapter 2: Long Term Battery Storage and Self Discharge Rates (12 pages) This chapter details how to prepare batteries for long term storage. What are the choices of batteries and how to store them for the long term. The manufactures recommendations are detailed. A description of what to do as you take them out of storage for the first time is also detailed. Chapter 3: Efficient Battery Chargers for Survival (20 pages) Most of the currently efficient commercial battery chargers that I have tested have a maximum efficiency of about 20-38% of source energy delivered to the destination battery. This means you could easily waste 3 to 5 times more energy than you end up with by charging a small recharged cell. As a result I recommend making your own twice as efficient charger for use in a primitive environment. This Chapter shows how to easily construct it. Chapter 4: Measuring State of Charge and over all Capacity (12 pages) Easy to construct circuits are described to measure over all capacity and to determine how much charge a battery has based on its open circuit resting voltage and/or the voltage across a given load resistor. A Digital Volt meter will be one of your most valuable tools. Page 1 of 2 Chapter 5: Making Soldered Battery Packs (2 pages) Shows how to take NiMH and NiCD cells and use them to make a soldered battery pack. When wet conditions cause connection problems due to corrosion, use this technique to keep things going. Chapter 6: Types of Batteries with notes when to use them (13 pages) This gives an understanding of the basic characteristic of each type of Cell and when to use each type. It will help one chouse the correct battery for each need along with what to expect from each. Chapter 7: New Low Self-discharge NiMh cells (5 pages) The most recommend (cost effective) rechargeable battery type for practical portable power use in a survival situation is looked at in more detail. Chapter 8: Battery Sizes Types and History (11 pages) This background information is included for a deeper understanding of each of the battery types and their history of when they were invented. Chapter 9: Battery Basic Formulas and Chemistry (6 pages) This chapter can be used to review or to learn about the basic formulas when dealing with battery power and some of the chemistry involved. Chapter 10: Home Made Batteries (81 pages) This is a review of what can be used to make home made batteries. For those that are caught without any batteries this information should help. Rebuilding existing lead-acid batteries has a higher probability of success. However, as a last resort this chapter should bring one up to speed quickly as to what works and what doesn’t work. One can start where others have left off. Chapter 11: Lead-Acid Batteries (102 pages) For the base camp or primary source of electrical storage the lead-Acid battery needs to be understood completely. Key voltages, sulfation, and how to rebuild and make repairs are explained. Appendices (14 pages) Battery Glossary of Terms (46 pages) Page 2 of 2 1-Basic Battery Survival 101 (11/3/2008) Being in a long term primitive survival mode has lessons to learn to properly use what power sources and batteries you have available. Energy and battery conservation techniques will need to be practiced. This report outlines what one needs to know about batteries. The intention is to remove the confusions of what to do, and indicate common practices that need to change. Ultimately you and your group’s survival will depend on evaluating what is important to know and what to do to prepare. Background: In a 2003 report roughly 30 million dollars (8 billion kwh) is reported as lost per year nationally to inefficient battery chargers. “AA Battery Systems” have an active efficiencies from 6% - 40% (Eff= DCbatt energy/ACcharge energy). See http://www.efficientproducts.org/reports/bchargers/NRDC- Ecos_Battery_Charger_Efficiency.pdf Thus we have something to learn about being energy efficient. In general plan to use the power as you make it. Don’t store it. Storing it results in lost energy. Storing into a leaky self-discharging system would be worse yet. Yet this is now and will be in the future the most common situation. Best practice is to use neodymium permanent magnets and make or purchase permanent magnet generators or alternators and use the power as you generate it. Water or Hydro power is most practical source. Wind is random thus depends on storage medium. Storage needs are much less for water power than wind power. In general make batteries only to teach the young about electricity – don’t plan to depend on them for power storage. For that will be a futile effort. Practicality speaking, all home made batteries are low in capacity, inefficient, and have a high internal self discharge rate. For the common survivor it is far better and more practical to properly use and conserve what you already have than to try to make new ones. This is the main reason why these series of write ups on batteries were done. If one is using a 12, 24, or 48 volt DC storage as a primarily source of stored power the first rule is to use it for as many things as possible. Minimize your use of rechargeable smaller cells to powering portable items. The reason for this is every time you transfer energy from one storage media to another you have significant wasted energy. Base Camp Survival Planning The best batteries (most economical in the long run) to purchase for primary storage before a primitive survival situation are listed in order of preference: • 2 VOLT Sealed or valve regulated GEL cells (rated to last 20 years) • 6 VOLT golf cart batteries (use two in series for 12 V) • 12 volt marine service with open terminals for each cell • 12 volt car batteries (these have thin plates and don’t last any where near as long as above) Page 1-1 of 1-7 1-Basic Battery Survival 101 (11/3/2008) Avoid purchasing used batteries. Reason, the internal leakage or self-discharge rate is already too high for the amount of recharging power one is likely to have in a survival situation. Used batteries are not cost effective going into a survival situation. One simple way to protect your batteries during the Pole shift is to put it in a water proof plastic bag and burry it about a foot or so deep in the ground with a colored floatable rope that is about 3-5 ft long above ground. If you leave it in the car it is likely to blow away with the car or burn up when the meteorite showers hit. What to Use for Portability For portable needs, the most useful and cost effective size is AA. AAA to be used occasionally when lighter weight is needed. Try to use AA for as many things as possible when portability is needed. The finding of low self-discharge rate storage is the most important attribute for rechargeable batteries in a primitive survival environment. Bottom line is the battery will stay charged much longer. There is a growing list of manufactures making the new type “low self discharge” NiMH batteries. Look for these (eneloop, Hybrio, etc) in preference to the currently common high self discharge NiMH batteries. They are worth the extra price. Use 1.5 V Lithium, Alkaline, Rechargeable Alkaline, or Carbon-Zink for clocks and very low drain items where holding a charge over a long time is needed. Use high self-discharge rate older types of rechargeables for portability, short term use, and long term low cost. The size of the rechargeable would be matched to the power needed such that the storage capacity would be used up in less than two to three weeks. Any longer and the typical internal high self-discharge rate for normal NiCD and NiMH becomes wasteful. There are a number of companies who make shells to convert AAA into AA and AA into D and C cells. Green Batteries is one. This allows one to standardize on AA batteries and charger size, yet still be able to power D and C cell devices. This works just fine as long as one understands they are lighter weight and don’t store the same amount of charge as the original size.