Bushnell Trail Cameras, by Pat Cascio

I’m old school – especially when it comes to hunting. I always thought that the word “hunting” meant you got out there and beat the bushes for the game you wanted. I guess things have changed over the years, and now it is a scientific and calculated thing – doesn’t sound much like a hunt to me. It is more of a game, if you ask me.

Have you ever wondered what is going on at your digs, when you aren’t home, or who – or what – is on your property in the dead of night? Yeah, I thought so – many of us are curious about what is lurking and may pose a threat to us – when we aren’t as attentive as we should be. I know on my small retreat, of only about four acres, I can’t see the entire place, without actually walking my property – it has heavy timber and other vegetation.

There are times when we’ve been gone for several hours from our home, and when we return, we just have a feeling that someone has been on our property. That is just a feeling, and I’m sure many of you have had this happen to you. You just know that something isn’t right, or is out of place, from the time you left until you returned home. Sure, you’ve looked around your place, but you can’t put your finger on it – but something is different.

We have motion sensor alarms all over our front yard – and it is a big front yard. We also have motion sensor lights that turn on after the sun goes does, and we know when someone is on our property with the combination of lights and audible alarms. However, none of that is of any use, when we’re not home.

Many hunters have turned to trail cameras in recent years. These are handy-dandy cameras you can attach to trees in the area you plan to hunt. Used to be, these sort of cameras were very expensive, and there was always the chance that someone else might discover them, and steal them. That happens a lot more often than you might think. Plus, when setting up these cameras, to check the game in your area, you have to have a good idea where a game trail might be. To inexperienced hunters, they might walk over a game trail or even on the trail, without knowing where to place a camera or two.Continue reading“Bushnell Trail Cameras, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Anne’s Smoked Flavor Chicken With Chickpeas

The following recipe for Smoked Flavor Chicken With Chick Peas was kindly sent to us by  Anne. This is a tasty and stomach-warming winter recipe that serves four adults.

Ingredients
  • 2 chicken breasts, cubed
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • One 12- to 16-ounce (1.5-cup) can of chopped tomatoes
  • One 12- to 16-ounce (1.5-cup) can of chickpeas
  • Chicken bouillon cube — or 1/4-pint of frozen chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Cooking oil (of your choice)
Directions
  1. Heat the cooking oil.
  2. Saute the chopped onion and garlic for five minutes.
  3. Add the cubed chicken.
  4. Add the listed spices.
  5. Fry slowly, for about 10 minutes.
  6. Dissolve the chicken bouillon cube in a quarter of a pint of boiling water and then add this broth to the pan with the tomatoes.
  7. Add the lemon juice.
  8. Bring mixture to a boil.
  9. Pour in the chickpeas.
  10. Add salt and pepper (to taste).
  11. Cook slowly for another 10 minutes to ensure chicken is cooked through.
SERVING

Serve with bread and/or rice.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at stock market prospects in 2022. (See the Equities section.)

Precious Metals:

The Key Factor In Silver Is A “Concentrated Short Position On Comex”. JWR’s Comment: This shorting-selling cannot go on forever. When interest rates spike, it will trigger a breakout in spot and futures silver prices. The shorts will have to cover their positions. What I’m describing here is a massive short squeeze in a notoriously thin market. When the short-sellers finally capitulate, it will likely propel the price of silver above $60 per Troy ounce. So, buy your silver now, before the Fed raises interest rates!

o  o  o

Gold/silver: are you buying the dip?

Economy & Finance:

Economist: Outlook for economy in 2022 uncertain.

o  o  o

The Federal Reserve is scaring markets with the triple threat of policy tightening.

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‘If we’re lucky,’ the Fed can engineer a ‘soft landing’: Expect more than 4 rate increases in 2022 and a lot of market volatility, says JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon.

o  o  o

Inflation Fears Among Small Business Owners at Highest Level In 40 Years.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.” – Samuel Adams

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — January 16, 2022

On January 16, 1920, one year after it was ratified, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution went into effect, for the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

Surviving Virginia’s New Year’s Snowstorm, by K.A.A.

Unlike many of you, I am an average suburbanite, not a hardcore prepper living on a homestead in the country. My family needs to stay where we are because of my husband’s work. So we are making the best of living a short distance from Washington, DC. We are generally well-prepared for the typical emergencies experienced in northern Virginia, such as severe thunderstorms and hurricanes. But we were caught mostly unprepared for the unusually severe snowstorm that we had in early January, 2022. This storm delivered 14-inches of snow where I live and stranded hundreds of drivers, including one of Virginia’s US Senators, for over 20 hours on a 50-mile stretch of I-95, which was rendered impassable by the storm. I am going to share our successes, failures, and lessons learned from this experience to help others who live in suburbia and may face a similar situation.

We had been out of state on vacation for Christmas and New Year’s for over two weeks when we saw that some snow was expected at home. We decided to return early to avoid the bad traffic that results from any precipitation as we live in one of the worst traffic areas of the country. We returned late on Sunday night and didn’t do any food shopping. We weren’t concerned because any snow that is forecast usually falls short of what we actually get. We woke up the next morning to heavy snow falling at a rate of over one inch per hour. By the storm’s end, we received over a foot of heavy, wet snow. To give some perspective, where we live a few inches is a big deal and causes government shutdowns, closures, traffic accidents, and a general feeling of panic in many people.

Our power lines are mostly underground, so we were surprised when our power went off in the morning during the storm. We ended up being without electricity for almost four days. Unlike hurricanes where the worst we have to worry about is some spoiled food and a hot, humid house, for the first time we had to worry about hypothermia and frozen pipes.

Our central heating system no longer worked. We had no hot water because our tankless gas water heater requires electricity. Our gas stove did not work because safety features prevented us from igniting the burners manually. The only remaining source of heat, our gas fireplace, would not turn on because the power was out. Heavy snow caused several of our trees to fall in our yard and on the neighbor’s fence.Continue reading“Surviving Virginia’s New Year’s Snowstorm, by K.A.A.”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:1-23 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — January 15, 2022

Today is the birthday of Dr. Edward Teller, who co-invented the H-bomb and worked on the Manhattan Project. In his later years at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, he was often so deep in thought strolling through the Berkeley hills that he would become confused and disoriented. His assistants would have to go out looking for him.

—

Today is also the anniversary of the 2009 “Miracle On The Hudson” engines-out emergency water landing.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Using a Dankoff Solar Powered Water Pump – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.)

Spare Electric Motor

The motors used in the Dankoff slow pumps are of the highest quality and would not need service except for brushes. However, it would be nice to have a spare motor just in case an armature fails, or a bearing fails, or if the original motor is lost to theft. If the spare pump motor was stored in an alternate location with a spare pump head and coupler, then we could eventually fabricate the missing parts.  A recent quote from the owner, Kenny at Dankoff Solar Pumps: $539 for the motor, and $22 for the motor coupler that has uses a rubber piece that could dry up and crack after 20 years of service.

To make a complete spare Dankoff Slow Pump from the parts mentioned in this article, we would have to manufacture the brackets and fasteners (bolts) to save ourselves roughly $400 off the MSRP. That is currently $999 for the complete pump, but the process requires certain fabrication skills, and a few common tools.  In the event that the motor fails, it would likely need only a bearing that could be found at an auto parts store, that may or may not be in business, or available, in the grim near future. Given that we have a complete spare motor, one set of three replacement brushes would not be needed, lowering the overall cost of long-term operation. As a rule, armatures rarely fail, and the commutators will last 15 to 20 years, but even given the slow speeds of these motors, it is possible that a bearing could go bad. To avoid the cost of a complete spare motor, buy replacement bearings.

Continue reading“Using a Dankoff Solar Powered Water Pump – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

After getting 20+ inches of snow last week, this week I caught up on snow shoveling.  We needed to cut paths to the greenhouse and woodshed. I also needed to clear out the snow around the doors to the hen house and sheep shed.

On Tuesday morning, Lily implored me to slaughter, gut, and skin a couple of hens that she had determined were the egg-eating culprits. It was below freezing, so I made quick work of it. The red-spattered snow made the scene of my trabajo de matanza look a bit brutal. Lily had them both cooking in an oversize stew pot within an hour. Such is life on the ranch.

I had to make a trip to town to pick up mail, and mail out my Elk Creek Company packages. This time of year the roads can be a challenge, so I took that trip slower than usual.

I have had a lot of organizational projects for the past two weeks.  That started with my annual desk-clearing and establishing and new box for receipts, bills, and statements, marked “2022.”  I also stowed our Luxe hot tent and 3W collapsable backpacking stove. 3W stands for: “Wild, Wild West.” They are made in South Korea — so I suppose they mean the western edge of South Korea?  😉  That tentage and the stove are now housed in one of our green hardshell portage packs.

Stacked atop that pack is a standard black plastic Rubbermaid tote bin filled with tinder, fatwood kindling, and firewood. This firewood is all cut to the requisite special super-short length and split extra small, to fit in that tiny stove. Outwardly, the 3W stove looks almost like a toy. But once we get a fire going, it cranks out some copious heat. It is an amazing little stove.

My intent is to keep the tent, stove, and stove fuel all stored in a “grab-and-go” configuration. They can both go in one of our cargo sleds — or get thrown in the back of one of our vehicles — at a moment’s notice.

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.” – Nehemiah 8 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — January 14, 2022

On January 14th, 1784, the Continental Congress ratified the Second Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence. In the document, which was known as the Second Treaty of Paris because the Treaty of Paris was also the name of the agreement that had ended the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Britain officially agreed to recognize the independence of its 13 former colonies as the new United States of America.

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Today, we mark the milestone of 6,000 days of SurvivalBlog posts. (We’ve missed posting on just a few days since August of 2005.)

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Using a Dankoff Solar Powered Water Pump – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 3.)

Delivery Line Pressure Specifications
Water pressure per foot of head, in the Dankoff chart indicates 60 PSI static pressure at 140 feet.  When water is pumped, if my gauge is accurate, 60 PSI was reached at about 100 feet. Note that 60psi is the maximum pressure rating of most 1/2″ drip irrigation that is the least expensive black poly pipe. As a quick reference when designing a system, download the PDF of this chart.  To save money, you can use inexpensive black poly pipe rated for 100 or 160 PSI for lifts above 120 feet. To take full advantage of the Dankoff Model 1308’s ability to lift water to a maximum of 400 feet (@173 PSI), Pex, or similarly-rated high-pressure PVC should be used. However, we should not attempt lifts greater than ‘low lift’ without a pump controller, or without using small PV system as a power supply.
2.) Pump Controller, PV Power Requirements
When the linear current booster pump controller is used pump production can be increased by up to 40%, or conversely, less wattage can be used.  It functions in great part in the same way a MPPT charge controller converts voltage to current to perform work, in this case, the pumping of water.  Conversely, it can be said that less PV power is required to pump the same amount of water.  My pump controller was purchased in 2008, and is no longer available on the market. Hopefully, it’s replacement will be similar, or better.  It allows the use of 24 volt PV panel arrays to power a 12 VDC pump motor. This is a significant advantage as less expense smaller gauge wire can be used, or one can double the length of the cable run from a tree-shaded water source out to a clearing that offers full sun exposure throughout the day.
With a step down in voltage from 24VDC to 12VDC, there is also a greater differential of one order of magnitude increase in potential relative to a nominal 12VDC array, an improved advantage and ability to produce amperage in low light conditions available early in the morning and nearing dusk. Ask Thad at humboltsolarwaterpumps.com if he can suggest an alternate pump controller.  There is no limit to how much PV wattage can feed a pump controller. A large array can be spit into three sections, one oriented to the east, one to the south, and one to the west, and the pump will produce twice or more the gallons per day that most charts indicate.

Continue reading“Using a Dankoff Solar Powered Water Pump – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Today, in place of my normal Friday column of economics and investing news items, I’m instead posting a collection of links related to the nascent Parallel Economy.

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First, In case you missed it, here is a link to my recent essay on what I dubbed Parallel Economy Groups (PEGs): PEGs: The Parallel Economy for Traditionalist Americans.

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Dan Bongino set up this site: ParallelEconomies.com.

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What is a Parallel Economy? [A Road Map]

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The Beginnings of a New Parallel Economy On Gab.

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The Hidden Dominion had one of the first essays that spelled out what was needed to counter the recent socialist policies push in the United States. This was posted back in October of 2020: On Fostering and Building A Parallel Economy.

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Parallel Economy Accelerates As Joe Rogan Joins New Social Media After Dr. Malone Interview Censored.

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Christian CEO Announces ‘Beginnings Of A Parallel Economy’ Free From Big Tech And Other Like Systems.

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At The Farm Press blog: Will two parallel economies develop in 2022?

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13 Great Places to Trade Stuff Online.

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The No Vax Mandate Job Board.

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Job board describing itself as a ‘modern day underground railroad’ aims to support people ‘regardless of vaccination status’.

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Video: Bitcoin꞉ How Cryptocurrencies Work in a Parallel Economy.

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An Adapt 2030 video: (MIAC #293) Positioning Yourself for the Parallel Economy After the Reset. (Craig Simpson from Radiant Creators and David DuByne of ADAPT 2030.)