The Tinderbox
Off Grid Electricity
The Tinderbox is a Woodstove powered generator. The principles are well understood, but until now, no-one has made a practical commercial device which you could simply buy, install and start generating virtually free power in useful amounts. The Tinderbox does just this. It will produce at least twenty watts, which is plenty to light a boat, caravan, studio or whatever using LED Lighting, as well as charging a battery bank. It will also of course provide warmth and heat for cooking.
The best thing about The Tinderbox though, is that it works best and its output increases in winter, when heating is a necessity anyway, and when solar panels are at their least efficient but energy use rises due to longer hours of darkness. At these times the stove is needed for heating anyway, and The Tinderbox merely converts a small amount of the heat produced to generate electricity.
Unlike wind turbines or solar panels, The Tinderbox provides continuous output, regardless of the wind or Sun, and will continue working as long as the stove is lit, though it works best when the weather is at its coldest.
The best thing about The Tinderbox though, is that it works best and its output increases in winter, when heating is a necessity anyway, and when solar panels are at their least efficient but energy use rises due to longer hours of darkness. At these times the stove is needed for heating anyway, and The Tinderbox merely converts a small amount of the heat produced to generate electricity.
Unlike wind turbines or solar panels, The Tinderbox provides continuous output, regardless of the wind or Sun, and will continue working as long as the stove is lit, though it works best when the weather is at its coldest.
Like all the best inventions, it's basically a very simple idea, though of course, it has taken me two years work and thirty years experience to bring it all together, source the bought in components, finalise the design get it all working.
Base kits are now available, prices start at £300, which includes all the major components except the hoses and radiators. Special cooling blocks are available for mobile applications. All other components can be supplied on request and I am always happy to to provide assistance in building a system tailor made to individual needs. Radiators are not supplied as standard as they are readily available off the shelf or even second hand. Supplying them with the Tinderbox would needlessly add to the cost and limit options unnecessarily. Installation is straightforward and should take no more than an hour or two, depending on required layout. An installation service is also available depending on location. I hope to eventually be able to offer this service throughout the UK so please ask for details.
The photographs show The Tinderbox being installed in a camper van. The wiring is yet to be permanently routed and there is some tidying to be done, but when the photo was taken it was powering an 11 watt fluorescent light as well as the radio, In Mid August! Fortunately it wasn't one of the hottest days of the year!
20/8/11 The Tinderbox has been at Off Grid festival this weekend and is doing it's thing.......
Base kits are now available, prices start at £300, which includes all the major components except the hoses and radiators. Special cooling blocks are available for mobile applications. All other components can be supplied on request and I am always happy to to provide assistance in building a system tailor made to individual needs. Radiators are not supplied as standard as they are readily available off the shelf or even second hand. Supplying them with the Tinderbox would needlessly add to the cost and limit options unnecessarily. Installation is straightforward and should take no more than an hour or two, depending on required layout. An installation service is also available depending on location. I hope to eventually be able to offer this service throughout the UK so please ask for details.
The photographs show The Tinderbox being installed in a camper van. The wiring is yet to be permanently routed and there is some tidying to be done, but when the photo was taken it was powering an 11 watt fluorescent light as well as the radio, In Mid August! Fortunately it wasn't one of the hottest days of the year!
20/8/11 The Tinderbox has been at Off Grid festival this weekend and is doing it's thing.......
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