Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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(Cleanup of the mainpage, part 1)
(→‎THINGS: add link to Inverters list)
 
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[[File:Image solarcells.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Solar Cells at the CCCamp 2019]]
 
[[File:Image solarcells.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Solar Cells at the CCCamp 2019]]
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We're an '''international group''' of people '''working on DC microgrid technology'''. We've been present at multiple Chaos camps and events, under different names like '''AltPwr''', '''EventGrid''', etc.
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Our aim is to '''build technology and methods to connect small autonomous energy systems via DC microgrids''', to allow them to share energy production, storage and usage resource. We also want to provide the means to measure, monitor and visualize power consumption on regular AC grids and DC microgrids to create awareness on power usage and potential improvements.
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= Participation =
 
= Participation =
  
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'''IMPORTANT:''' Right now we need to improve the communication channels and connections with others like [https://hacc.uber.space/ Hackers against Climate Change]. If you would like to help send a mail to trailblazr(at)noxymo.com I will soon update the most recent info here. (Updated: 17th of Sep 2019)
 
'''IMPORTANT:''' Right now we need to improve the communication channels and connections with others like [https://hacc.uber.space/ Hackers against Climate Change]. If you would like to help send a mail to trailblazr(at)noxymo.com I will soon update the most recent info here. (Updated: 17th of Sep 2019)
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== List of participants ==
 
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We provide a list of participants to get in contact with each other after the camp. Please create a wiki account and add yourself to be included into updates (we will check changes to this list regularly).
 
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
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! Nickname !! E-Mail !! Comment
 
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| '''[[User:trailblazr]] / blazr''' || trailblazr@noxymo.com || Representing Workgroup on CCCamp 2019
 
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| [[User:Benadski]] || mynick(at)gmail(dot)com || Developed the grid for SHA
 
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| [[User:Chewie]] || mail || altpwr groupie
 
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| [[User:Teun]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:Jule]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:Thejeremail]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:emergy]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:Raphael]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:Maesto]] || mail || comment
 
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| [[User:Tiefpunkt]] || altpwr(at)tiefpunkt(dot)com || Initiated Microgrid project at CCCamp2019 (with people from Infuanfu and /dev/lol)
 
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| [[User:Jackie]] || c3 at chaosfield dot at || comment
 
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| [[User:Obri]] || obri at chaostreff dot ch || comment
 
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| [[User:Fraxinas]] || altpwr@repairfox.de || comment
 
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| [[User:unknown]] || mail ||
 
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|}
 
  
 
== Telegram Group ==
 
== Telegram Group ==
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== AltPwr / EventGrid at Chaos Events ==
 
== AltPwr / EventGrid at Chaos Events ==
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=== SHA2017 ===
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=== SHA2017 and prior ===
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Take a look at [[History]]
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===CCCamp 2019 ===
 
===CCCamp 2019 ===
 
Reignition as EventGrid. See [[CCCamp 2019]] for more details.
 
Reignition as EventGrid. See [[CCCamp 2019]] for more details.
  
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== rC3 Meetings ==
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=== rC3 (2020) ===
 
[[User:Tiefpunkt|tiefpunkt]] organised two virtual meetups during the [https://rc3.world/rc3/ Remote Chaos Experience], December 2020.
 
[[User:Tiefpunkt|tiefpunkt]] organised two virtual meetups during the [https://rc3.world/rc3/ Remote Chaos Experience], December 2020.
 
Meeting minutes:
 
Meeting minutes:
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* [[20201229 rC3 Meetup]]
 
* [[20201229 rC3 Meetup]]
  
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= Links =
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== Links ==
  
 
* [https://hacc.uber.space/ Hackers against Climate Change] (Wikipage)
 
* [https://hacc.uber.space/ Hackers against Climate Change] (Wikipage)
 
* [https://libre.solar/ Libre Solar] (Web Page)
 
* [https://libre.solar/ Libre Solar] (Web Page)
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= History =
 
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Things that happened before and where the latest workgroup formed.
 
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== The Alternative Power Network ==
 
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<strong>How it started...</strong>
 
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At [https://events.ccc.de/camp/2015/wiki/Main_Page CCCamp2015] we had the idea to build a small DC grid suitable for being used at events where normally diesel generators supply most of the power. We started designing for two years in our spare time. We wanted something safe, simple and transparent where everybody can be a supplier or a user of electric energy. For safety reasons we chose a voltage of 42V (+/- 15%), a bit below the "safe to touch" voltage maximum of 60VDC ([https://www.cui.com/catalog/resource/iec-62368-1-an-introduction-to-the-new-safety-standard-for-ict-and-av-equipment.pdf IEC 62368-1:ES1]). This way there is a bit of headroom for the over-voltage protection circuit which is needed to protect the users. Still leaving some extra volts headroom for cable losses was a thing we wanted to have just in case too. Simpleness was achieved by not doing too much complicated stuff with end-user connections. No monitoring of energy consumption or under-voltage protection was implemented. Just the basic necessities such as over-current protection (4A type C 300VDC circuit breakers) and over-voltage protection. (The last being a 600A peak capable thyristor based crowbar that shorts and isolates a node above a 52V voltage peak on the grid. The crowbar has a 0.16F 63V capacitor bank for guaranteed triggering that doubles as a smoothing capacitor for the node as well! A bonus is that it really helps keeping it ES1 as it keeps AC ripple to a minimum!) Transparency is important, the old website explained how the grid works and what users can and can't do with it. People started building nice things at home before the SHA event, connected them to the grid and all of it worked after maybe some finetuning!
 
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At "Still Hacking Anyway 2017" the first test grid was laid out. It was running for the duration of the camp without any big issues. Solar panels were attached, tea was made with solar power, bread was toasted, lithium batteries were charged and even a 48-300V (2500W) bi-directional DC-DC converter setup was tested. TDK-Lambda was kind enough to supply us with two of those fantastic units. [https://dsrp.eu/post/165047832948/altpwr More about that here!]
 
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[https://hackaday.com/2017/09/08/that-decentralised-low-voltage-local-dc-power-grid-how-did-it-do/ On Hackaday] there is a nice article too about how the grid was used. Of course there was much to improve, battery backup would have been nice for instance, but it did work as expected and nobody got electrocuted!
 
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Now the whole setup is dismantled again. It just was too heavy, took up too much storage space and it's just what should happen to an experiment for new and improved experiments to follow. So we'll be back!
 
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== But now what?! ==
 
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First of all: Use this wiki to share bright solutions for planetary health improvement. It doesn't even to be something electric! If you have an idea to save a tiny bit of energy, or if you have a reuse, recycle, upcycle tip, or something else, post it on the tips page or make a page of your own explaining your idea! If a lot of people do small good things it makes a huge difference!
 
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So just start editing! On the top right of any page you can create an account and become an editor.
 
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'''Share this website, the more people are helping the better!'''
 
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== What happened to the old website? ==
 
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Due to a personal error of mine, the website was not backed up properly... I didn't realize my error and took the site down. This site will be held up as long as possible. Backups will be tested for completeness too. Fortunately the [https://web.archive.org/web/*/ALTPWR.NET Wayback Machine] has backed up a good deal of pages! Still relevant data will be put on this wiki too!
 
  
 
= The battery balancer =
 
= The battery balancer =
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= THINGS =
 
= THINGS =
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*) We know bringing all this heavy equipment is not helping keeping down CO2 much, but the idea is mostly about giving people the opportunity to get hands-on experience on building green solutions. This experience will hopefully lead to more permanent green solutions in other places.
 
*) We know bringing all this heavy equipment is not helping keeping down CO2 much, but the idea is mostly about giving people the opportunity to get hands-on experience on building green solutions. This experience will hopefully lead to more permanent green solutions in other places.
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[[File:Image breedenord.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:Image breedenord.jpg|400px|thumb|left]]
 
If you have some useful DC-powered equipment, list them [[Wide Range Voltage Equipment|here]].
 
If you have some useful DC-powered equipment, list them [[Wide Range Voltage Equipment|here]].
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If you have used general equipment, please review them and add a link here
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* [[Charge Controllers]]
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* [[Inverters]]
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== Equipment Reviews/Recommendations wanted ==
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* Bidirectional DC-DC Charge Controllers
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* DC-powered kitchen equipment
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Have you successfully converted equipment to work directly from DC without inverters etc? If so, please list them [[Devices converted from AC to DC|here]] with instructions about the conversion process!
 
Have you successfully converted equipment to work directly from DC without inverters etc? If so, please list them [[Devices converted from AC to DC|here]] with instructions about the conversion process!
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=== [[Failures]] ===
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It is also important to list what didn't work and why, so people don't waste their time or break their own equipment!

Latest revision as of 23:32, 22 December 2023

Solar Cells at the CCCamp 2019

We're an international group of people working on DC microgrid technology. We've been present at multiple Chaos camps and events, under different names like AltPwr, EventGrid, etc.

Our aim is to build technology and methods to connect small autonomous energy systems via DC microgrids, to allow them to share energy production, storage and usage resource. We also want to provide the means to measure, monitor and visualize power consumption on regular AC grids and DC microgrids to create awareness on power usage and potential improvements.


Participation

If you have any ideas, want to share cool solutions or help out developing hardware or software:

  • Setup an account (top right) and create pages, fix errors, discuss on discussion tabs, all very welcome!
  • Use the telegram group.

IMPORTANT: Right now we need to improve the communication channels and connections with others like Hackers against Climate Change. If you would like to help send a mail to trailblazr(at)noxymo.com I will soon update the most recent info here. (Updated: 17th of Sep 2019)

Telegram Group

Join our group on Telegram

Social Media

Please use the twitter hash tag #eventgrid when referring to this workgroup. It is still a working title right now.

Take part in the Survey!

On CCCamp we had 5000 participants needing electrical power. To improve our future power grid we would like to ask you a few questions in regard to your personal use of power. Please take a few minutes to answer the anonymous survey and help us green the grid.

→ Infrastructure Survey ←

QR Code for Survey Participation


News

We are right now preparing a summary of the activities aiming to reboot the whole power stack as a green power network which happened on the CCCamp 2019. Here re the most recent activities and results...

  • We have a survey online we would like you to fill in. Check it out!
  • Part of the Infrastructure Review
  • Our main bulletpoints summed up on a slide

TL;DR

  • WE ARE EventGrid, JOIN US NOW to work on the next generation green power grid*!
  • 48V / 300-400V DC Power Grid to connect remote villages which have their own local microgrids.
  • 48V DC Power Outlet (2 lines + 1 token ring data bus for Outlet Load Balancing)
  • Power Meters (for villages; 300-400V) for better visualization & awareness of consumption
  • Power Meters (for participants; 48V) for logging 24x7, visualization & awareness of consumption
  • Poll/Questionnaire-driven insights on power consumption of event/village/participant
  • Gamification Concept to trigger more power input & power storage
  • Public Relations activity for transparency & promotion of more green activity

WE MET HERE DURING CCCAMP

  • Our Camp Sessions every day 1600 at THM Village / Lagerfeuer

Some existing very low voltage standards to exchange power

  • USB (5V, 2A) (10W)
  • USB PD 1.0 (5V/2A, 12V/5A, 20V/5A) (100W)
  • USB PD 3.2 (5…[ + 0.02 steps ]…20 V) 5A (100W)
  • PoE …57V …100W

What we plan to do

Following things are right now our focus and work in progress:

  1. A new technical approach to bootstrap EventGrid a new DC Power Network for running power networks on events like SHA and CCCamp in an environmentally friendly way (to be developed!)
  2. We want to raise awareness by making power consumption more transparent using a new power meter (to be developed!)
  3. We want to make it easy for single event participants to gain insight in one's own power consumption patterns by providing a DIY power meter hardware KIT to display/visualize and log power consumption (to be developed!)
  4. We want to gather research data from CCCamp participants on certain important questions setting up a poll/questionaire (to be developed!)
  5. We want add gamification to incentivize green power stacks (to be developed!) on future events like SHA, EMF, CCCamp, etc.
  6. We want to keep the community updated what we do and to which degree the community already reached their goal to shift the whole power stack towards a green power stack. We will do this with e.g. photos, statistics, proof-of-concept-installations and more...

AltPwr / EventGrid at Chaos Events

SHA2017 and prior

Take a look at History

CCCamp 2019

Reignition as EventGrid. See CCCamp 2019 for more details.

rC3 (2020)

tiefpunkt organised two virtual meetups during the Remote Chaos Experience, December 2020. Meeting minutes:

Links

The battery balancer

Some people at the camp were handed out balancers kits.

THINGS

  • ) We know bringing all this heavy equipment is not helping keeping down CO2 much, but the idea is mostly about giving people the opportunity to get hands-on experience on building green solutions. This experience will hopefully lead to more permanent green solutions in other places.

P.S.: At least we hope to add a new twist to the existing, currently in operation solution...

Image breedenord.jpg

If you have some useful DC-powered equipment, list them here.

If you have used general equipment, please review them and add a link here

Equipment Reviews/Recommendations wanted

  • Bidirectional DC-DC Charge Controllers
  • DC-powered kitchen equipment


Have you successfully converted equipment to work directly from DC without inverters etc? If so, please list them here with instructions about the conversion process!

Failures

It is also important to list what didn't work and why, so people don't waste their time or break their own equipment!

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