Here is the place for news and general off grid discussion. You can post about anything here, as long as it has relevance to off grid tech, permaculture and off grid living in general.
I have been thinking of getting a wood chip boiler over here for my needs instead of a wood/pellet boiler.
Hence i was thinking of getting a wood chip boiler i was thinking, is it possible to make the charcoal from the wood chips or would it just become to small pieces for the charcoal gasifier? i mean i have seen your videos on your charcoal kiln (looks sweet btw) , i just figure maybe could make the charcoal from the wood chips instead from the wood piles so to say.
I will soon start a thread on GMRS radios here soon. As we are not just a gasifier company anymore. We started as Vulcan Gasifier however in order to be sustainable the plan is to expand out to other technologies. Eventually we address solar panels, battery banks, chargers, inverters along with other off grid related things. Green House Gardening, radio communications, Off Grid water storage.
One thing at the time though LOL. For now Off Grid LP and NG replacement will keep me busy enough. This is what the VersiFire system is and we are just starting the first prototype build. So getting this system up and running and brought to market is big priority. But as things move on, I will be taking the deep dive into all these rabbit holes so you dont have too. Such as radio communications, GMRS is where its at. Its as close as you can get to Ham without taking a test. Although you do need to license if you plan to get a higher power GMRS radio and you really need that in order for it to be viable anyways. Getting the FCC license for GMRS is like getting a hunting license. Pay them 35 bucks and take 10 minutes out of your time and you get one. They are good for 10 years and this covers your entire house hold.
I will have recommendations for a low cost solution that will allow Ham communication if needed along with dedicated GMRS radios that are better quality and have a broader set of features. You really should have both. Along with this Ill be getting additional equipment to test for range. If you are one those that think you will be fine without a license and wait for post SHTF your are a FOOL!. This is a skill set you must learn and you can only learn test your equipment by using it. Your are going to 100% fail and the things and knowledge you may need post SHTF will more than likely be out of reach. Long range communication will be one of the most important tools you will have. Get the equipment, get your license, start using your equipment and learn the ropes. Better to learn and get all that you actually need now before its too late :) This also goes with our gasifiers, 80% of our buyers never even unbox the machines. They go straight into a shed!! When you try to set this up post SHTF and you need additional parts good luck! You need to get that machine out of your shed!!. Start making charcoal, get that thing hooked up to an engine and start learning to use it. This is not automatic, we make it as simple as we possibly can; but this is still going to be a learning process. You should be practicing grid down situations using this equipment. Try going off grid with your gasifier for just a weekend, then later try it for a week. etc. Learn these systems before you actually need them not after.
Yup, Ive been in touch with Ben as well. Yeah it really sucks to see this guy take advantage of him. If people only knew what we developers actually put into our development. Ive been developing our systems for over a decade and the 2022 models are the first ever to transition from a development to consumer grade. I am probably the only one on market to achieve this level of development. These other guys are about where I was 6 years ago, They are not even close to where we are today. We are now light years ahead of anyone in small engine scale gasification technologies.
A few years ago I was considering purchasing a Gasifier from Off Grid48,and emailed them but never received a reply until several weeks later.Then I discovered there was a waiting list of Two Years ! That was a close one ! Sure glad I found ThriveOffGrid !
Glad to see you active here on the forum. There 20 machines we built this last quarter hopefully others will be active. I dont know why but very few will use this platform and this is the best way to get help and also share your experience. This forum is the user manual, if you cant figure something out just ask and I will help you in near real time. I monitor this forum 24/7.
I just talked to Danny. Ok you won this in the raffle. I told him what I had told you and he was bummed. I told him he should not feel that way as you are now here and you can get direction to build a simple working system. It would be easier to just start a fresh build rather than convert this kit gasifier to work as a charcoal unit.
All you need to do is get the concept and get some stuff to start building. All you have to do is ask and I will help you. Start a thread here and build it, someone has to start might as well be you right!? lol.
The small 10 gallon barrel drum with a removable lid would be a great place to start or if you can acquire the large ammo boxes we can replicate the DIY ammo box unit.
Watch these videos. Its all about the principle, you can be creative and make other things work. What ever is available or obtainable. Create a build thread and if you want to; before you get started you can throw out ideas, sketch drawings, post pics of stuff and we can brainstorm those ideas.
Yeah unfortunately its probably junk. Dont go down the raw wood fuel rabbit hole. It works ok on larger engine applications. But for small engines you are just in for a lot heart ache. Build a charcoal system. Its very easy to build a unit, Just a single jet inlet into a hopper with an exit port. Pipe that to a filter and you are running an engine. We are all way better off figuring out how to make charcoal more efficiently rather than continue to follow the path of making raw fuels work. The reality is a raw fuel gasifier at this small scale will never ever be tar free.
That was designed for wood pellets. They dont work and that project was scrapped. You might be able to get charcoal to work. That is really your only hope. I would cap off the bottom reactor completely. But I have moved on from that development.
I recently aquired one of your kit units. This was the one built with the hf air tanks. It is fully assembed, but I have no idea how to operate the thing. Also dont know what it was called to look it up. Could you direct me to the operating instructions?
Ok Ill be working on updating the site over next few days / week. Im considering renaming the M Series to the DF-Series and updating the sight to reflect the gasifiers ability to run on direct wood chips and / or charcoal now.
Fall production machines are shipping out and I start 2022 first quarter production next week. We are now taking pre orders for the 2nd quarter production run.
I will have a lot on my plate this first quarter production. I will have (5) M-4 Alpha machines coming to completion along with (5) of the 5 kW power modules along with new additional new kiln technologies that will direct run LP and NG appliances while they produce charcoal. If this tech is successful this will change the game and bring this full circle.
Any thoughts on using a rotary grain cleaner to size and clean wood chips with the appropriate size mesh?
The inner mesh kicks out big chunks, the outer mesh dump fines.
https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/for-sale/dmc/hi-cap-40/other-grain-handling-slash-storage-equipment/300080
Greetings from Sweden.
I have been thinking of getting a wood chip boiler over here for my needs instead of a wood/pellet boiler.
Hence i was thinking of getting a wood chip boiler i was thinking, is it possible to make the charcoal from the wood chips or would it just become to small pieces for the charcoal gasifier? i mean i have seen your videos on your charcoal kiln (looks sweet btw) , i just figure maybe could make the charcoal from the wood chips instead from the wood piles so to say.
Just got my GMRS license and call sign. WRTZ262!!
I will soon start a thread on GMRS radios here soon. As we are not just a gasifier company anymore. We started as Vulcan Gasifier however in order to be sustainable the plan is to expand out to other technologies. Eventually we address solar panels, battery banks, chargers, inverters along with other off grid related things. Green House Gardening, radio communications, Off Grid water storage.
One thing at the time though LOL. For now Off Grid LP and NG replacement will keep me busy enough. This is what the VersiFire system is and we are just starting the first prototype build. So getting this system up and running and brought to market is big priority. But as things move on, I will be taking the deep dive into all these rabbit holes so you dont have too. Such as radio communications, GMRS is where its at. Its as close as you can get to Ham without taking a test. Although you do need to license if you plan to get a higher power GMRS radio and you really need that in order for it to be viable anyways. Getting the FCC license for GMRS is like getting a hunting license. Pay them 35 bucks and take 10 minutes out of your time and you get one. They are good for 10 years and this covers your entire house hold.
I will have recommendations for a low cost solution that will allow Ham communication if needed along with dedicated GMRS radios that are better quality and have a broader set of features. You really should have both. Along with this Ill be getting additional equipment to test for range. If you are one those that think you will be fine without a license and wait for post SHTF your are a FOOL!. This is a skill set you must learn and you can only learn test your equipment by using it. Your are going to 100% fail and the things and knowledge you may need post SHTF will more than likely be out of reach. Long range communication will be one of the most important tools you will have. Get the equipment, get your license, start using your equipment and learn the ropes. Better to learn and get all that you actually need now before its too late :) This also goes with our gasifiers, 80% of our buyers never even unbox the machines. They go straight into a shed!! When you try to set this up post SHTF and you need additional parts good luck! You need to get that machine out of your shed!!. Start making charcoal, get that thing hooked up to an engine and start learning to use it. This is not automatic, we make it as simple as we possibly can; but this is still going to be a learning process. You should be practicing grid down situations using this equipment. Try going off grid with your gasifier for just a weekend, then later try it for a week. etc. Learn these systems before you actually need them not after.
Just received a email regarding OffGrid48 Knock-off Gasifiers.Hope nobody on this forum purchased one lately.
Not to worry. Ive been around the dow site several years and built a few things. This was just something to play with.
Yep!
Ah! Ok. Maybe the best use of it is for components for something else. Thanks for your quick resonse.
Yep,thats the one! Got it from dan m.
Thats impossible Ive never sold one to anyone. There was only one beta unit that I sold to a personal acquaintance.
Hi Matt,
I recently aquired one of your kit units. This was the one built with the hf air tanks. It is fully assembed, but I have no idea how to operate the thing. Also dont know what it was called to look it up. Could you direct me to the operating instructions?
Ok Ill be working on updating the site over next few days / week. Im considering renaming the M Series to the DF-Series and updating the sight to reflect the gasifiers ability to run on direct wood chips and / or charcoal now.
Fall production machines are shipping out and I start 2022 first quarter production next week. We are now taking pre orders for the 2nd quarter production run.
I will have a lot on my plate this first quarter production. I will have (5) M-4 Alpha machines coming to completion along with (5) of the 5 kW power modules along with new additional new kiln technologies that will direct run LP and NG appliances while they produce charcoal. If this tech is successful this will change the game and bring this full circle.
Greetings from England!
You may have heard about a tiny problem we have at the moment fuelling our power stations with Russian natural gas.
Enjoying reading your posts and watching your videos.