Guru
Joined: 26/07/2007
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686
| Posted: 01:00am 10 Jan 2009 |
Update:
The little car has done over a hundred miles now, and hasn't had a spanner put on it. I know a hundred miles doesn't sound far, but over the paddocks (fields) it is a fair chore for any car.
Total cost of running so far is $0.00. so thats good motoring. Average speeds are probably 6mph (looking for weeds with with a backpack sprayer).
It can do 35 kph to come back from the farthest parts of the farm on the "roads" in third gear.
As a guide, the Suzuki 4x4, gets about 9lt/100km on the road which is about 9lts/hour. However at paddock speed, it seems to use about 3-4lts/hour. (couple of hours spotlighting seems to use 1/5 tank (about 40lt tank))
so 160km/6= about 26 hrs of paddock bashing... times about 3.5lt/hr=91 litres of fuel saved... which here is about $180.00
Not a bad hobby car really.. so maybe up to $200/month savings... at that rate, batteries are economical when these ones die. ($2400/year)......cool
The mill has no trouble keeping it topped up at that rate. It seems to only need a few hour of wind to pull up the necessary amp/minutes, and still spends most of it's time shut down.
Another month or two, and the mill will have paid for itself... amazing
And as Dinges has predicted, it also doubles as a mobile power plant. Using some long jumper leads, and some welding rods, used the 24v connection to weld the tail bracket on the back of the mill (new position) without taking the mill down... nifty welder.
............oztules
Village idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth