Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

That solar panel kit I've bee watching on Amazon has gone on sale for $59. (Hopefully the link works, I'm on the phone) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RJOP5Y?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

So DH said go ahead and order it. We will just need a battery and some time to get it set up. Hopefully I'll never have to run a cord out there again.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Well yes we managed to get the big cages from cmsdvm. I didn't expect them to break the wheel on my big hand truck. Since Cynthia wasn't home I figured it was like a free shopping spree for any birds I may like. It was so nice of her son to help me catch and load my take.
Thank you to JB and her DH for their help. I woulda had to do some creative riggin had I been alone.

Just got back a few minutes ago from a short meeting with Turtlepower. He is helping me smuggle a piggy into the Portland area. Was nice to meet him and thank Travis for helping.

Glad I was able to help. Funny story, So my shuttle driving co-worker was about 10 miles ahead of me when CR and myself finalized the meeting. I texted the driver and said I was going to pull over and take a "lunch" to meet a chicken friend and transport something for him. He says"you and those crazy chickens". I texted back hahaha. He replies and says I better clean up after them. I told him I am actually hauling a pig. He replies back "A PIG!!!!". I just laughed as I am driving down the road. I texted back and said I would show him when I got to our Lakewood yard. He was laughing because the pig is not a living pig, but I never said it was "live".

It was good to finally put a face to the name CR, look forward to talking again in the future and helping "rustle" or "smuggle" things around.

 

[VelvettFog]

That solar panel kit I've bee watching on Amazon has gone on sale for $59. (Hopefully the link works, I'm on the phone) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RJOP5Y?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

So DH said go ahead and order it. We will just need a battery and some time to get it set up. Hopefully I'll never have to run a cord out there again.

Thanks!!

I just bought one!

 

[Greg Richardson]

Hinotori. What are you using it for?
That page has nice video for set up. Like that part.

 

[Hinotori]

Using it for lights in the coops. Might be overkill on size. May run an electric dog bowl on it, too.

ETA. I use LED bulbs. DH says I should have ordered two panels.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:

Thanks Travis. Now I hope the drop off all works out OK !!! ??

 

[Greg Richardson]

Yes, you'll need Two panels. I was hoping maybe for door opener or something with low watts.

That being said......................
You might try seeing how many watts those rope led lights are?
I'm using them in and around my coops.

You might still be fine with only one panel.
You on right track LEDS are definitly the way to go in your situation.

Solar panel ratings are kind of like generator numbers meaning when generator says 5K watts that is peak usage.
Same deal with panel it can do 15 watts in best condition.
That is why that battery is so important.

Good to see you going solar.
I think in your application you'll get your money back before end of the life of the product which isn't always the case.

After last year when it took months to get back to laying good this year I put up led lights.
The lights really hasn't jump started them. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
So frustrated getting 2 to 3 eggs a day just don't cut it for ten chickens.

My first two years I had excellent egg laying through out the winter but last couple of them been bad.

Those eggs starting to remind me of fish you catch.

You add up the expenses to go fishing, equipment, etc, they better taste real good.

Way I look at the chickens is at least it's a food I can control what I am eating instead of most of the food at our stores full of chemicals etc I hate to even think about it.

My goal is to learn how to garden better.
Store my food better.
Find resources of people I can buy food from that raise their animals right.

No way can I eliminate food from the stores but my goal is to cut down as much as I can.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

For those going SOLAR I hope you know that Solar power is made to work with BATTERIES. The lights you plug into your house WILL NOT normally interchange without an inverter to change the to change the DC (battery) power to AC (house) power. And the inverter uses battery power to make it works so you loose some capacity there. Now IF you can go with DC LED lights with a deep cycle RV battery and solar charger / maintainer you would be OK the other option is go all battery and just recharge the battery as needed.

 

[KMHunter]

Using it for lights in the coops. Might be overkill on size. May run an electric dog bowl on it, too.

ETA. I use LED bulbs. DH says I should have ordered two panels.

What do you use for the outlet? Or a connection so you can use the power? I am interested in this, but I am not very good at picturing this stuff.

 

[CarolynF]

Good Morning All!

CR -- glad you got your cages and the pig relayed
Hinotori & VF -- cool about the solar panels, I'll be interested in see how you like them in the long run. Sadly, we have too much shade to make it work on our coop.

So today is the day before C. Eve. I really need to get everything wrapped up today before activities begin in earnest tomorrow. My DD and her BF will be here for dinner and the night, yippee!!! But their menu choices can be a challenge. They are far more into natural and healthy food than I am. It's a good approach to eating, but hard for me to integrate into my routine. Well at least they love my home grown eggs and I have 18 right now. Maybe a couple more tomorrow if I'm lucky! (I'm sure that sounds pathetic to people getting 3 or more every day). I've got some over-size gifts that are a challenge to wrap in a traditional manner so I need to settle on how to do those. One of CR's signs is one of those -- I'm so happy to have gotten it, it's going to be a great gift. Then there's the house cleaning, ugh. That's the part I don't like. I'm so thankful my DH is a tidy person and willing to do so much of the general work around the house. He is a TRUE partner and gem! I feel guilty I don't do more.

Does anyone ever go Christmas Caroling any more? I would so love to do that but can't find anyone willing. When DH asked what I wanted for Christmas I told him I just wanted everyone to sing carols on Christmas Day. It's so easy but I'm sure it won't happen.

I miss the old fashioned traditions of Christmas. It seems that it has to be a mountain of gifts and busy lives and very little heart. But I'm probably just romanticizing it. Well... I'm try to do my part and see how it goes. At least I'll be playing Christmas songs on the stereo!

Take Care everyone! Give a Hug to everyone you know!
Peace & Joy!
Merry Christmas!