u/michigician

I would like to run a window AC unit from solar. The goal would be to turn the unit on when the solar panels are providing adequate power to run the AC unit, and turn the AC off when there is not enough power.

Is there an off the shelf inverter that would do this?

I could probably use a low voltage disconnect on the solar output to turn an inverter on and off. But I don't know if that would work with an air conditioner load connected.

Got any recommendations?

A Day of Accomplishment in the Life of an Ultralight Backpacker

Today I picked up my pack, and emptied it out of all the gear it was loaded with. I started to repack it from scratch from my collection of gear.

There were many difficult challenges: compacter bag or nylofume bag? Critical decisions, like which of my quilts to include, or foam pad or inflatable pad? Full length or torso length? I weighed every decision carefully to the tenth of a gram. Trekking pole tent, 3x3 tarp or poncho tarp? Only the lightest please.

Then the various ditty bag items: that tiny swiss army knife has a scissors that does a good job of trimming my nose hairs; no, I am going minimalist and growing them out. Ibuprofen? I could just tough it out and limp that broken leg to the next trail town. Pooper scooper? I'll just kick a hole in the ground. TP? Thats what leaves are for.

After a prolonged struggle full of mental anguish and inner conflict, I completed my load out, closed my pack, and hung it on the basement wall in triumph. Once again I have succeeded in assembling an ultralight pack. I have accomplished packing a hardcore ultralight pack that weighs "almost nothing". As I gaze upon my pack hanging on the wall, I feel an upwelling of pride, almost as if I have just completed a full through hike.

​

I am interested in people's experience using alpha direct clothing and wind pants/shirt as the entire set of clothing outside of the worn clothing (shorts/shirt/socks) and rain gear.

Here is what I would consider a full alpha suit: pants, hoody, socks/booties which could also be used as mitts, and beanie.

A wind suit: pants, hoody, booties/mitts.

You would select which pieces of the suits to take along based on weather. For example, in summer, the alpha pants and booties are not needed. If there is not heavy bug pressure, the wind booties are not necessary.

My preference for the wind suit is uncoated, lightweight ripstop nylon. The more breathable, the better. I have used both 60 and 90 alpha fabric and don't have a preference.

My suits are myog, but you can assemble a suit pretty easily using vendors. Here is some weight data, this is for a xxl size with everything oversized for a loose fit.

Alpha hoody 246g

Alpha pants 113g

Alpha booties/mitts 31g

Alpha beanie 36g

Nylon hoodie 97g

Nylon pants 94g

Nylon booties 34g

These are weights from my scale this morning.

So for a total weight of 652g, the suits provide 3 season insulation, bug protection, and wind protection.

You would also need your worn clothes, a raincoat and maybe a extra pair of socks.

So I am wondering if anyone else is using the wind suit + alpha suit concept, and what your experiences have been.

Is there a battery holder like this:

3 slot 18650 (11 V) with 18 gauge wire?

I have a few that have very thin wire. Can I modify them?

What is a good solution for 3 batteries in series? It is for a small robot car, so a few amps at most. I don't have a spot welder.

​

Please Read the Entire Post.

I took a look at the rules, and they didn’t explicitly outlaw questions like this, but if this isn’t appropriate for this subreddit, I’m so sorry, and I’ll take it down immediately if anyone objects.

I will preface this to say I know absolutely nothing about through hiking.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Before I ask, a little about me.

I am a cruelty free gender-fluid ARCX multinegative-polar, recently diagnosed diplomanic. Just got evicted from the insane asylum and want to try through hiking. Things just haven't been the same since I touched that electric fence.

ASDF

I'm stoned but it seems like a good idea to share this with everyone. My pronouns she-he-it with inner child trauma anxiety.

I take multiple psych meds and literally lose my mind if not on them, even for just a week or two. As of right now I check in with my psychiatrist every few months and then get my prescription filled by her. But I'm not going to drive all the way up to my current state every month or so for a fifteen minute appointment. So how do you guys get meds on trail?

Also, I'm looking for a forever tramily, I hope to see you out on the trail. I will be looking for you, each and every one of you.

My question is, I have a dcf trekking pole tent that I have been trying to set up in the basement but I keep bending my tent stakes. How do you set up your tent on a concrete floor?

Ultralight backpacking food - No cook

I have been eating a no cook diet made up of three ingredients: TVP, raisins and almonds. This is a base set of ingredients, you can add snacks or candy if you want (substitute any dried fruit for raisins).

The important thing to know is how to eat dry TVP. Eat a hand full of raisins, then pour some dry TVP in your mouth. Chew it up and pour some more in your mouth. Chewed together with raisins, it will form a mass. Start sipping some water. Keep chewing and when it gets to a paste consistency, swallow it down bit by bit. Drink about a half liter of water to hydrate it in your belly. I eat two handfulls of raisins and about a quarter cup of TVP at a time.

Throughout the day, breakfast can be raisins and almonds, mid day and evening meals can be raisins, TVP and almonds. Raisins have carbs and fructose, almonds have fat, and TVP has protein.

Some people worry about digesting dry TVP, if you eat it together with raisins and sip water to hydrate it, it does not cause problems. TVP is made of soybeans, so it does cause farts, about the same as if you would eat an equal amount of refried beans.

TVP is made the same way as many breakfast cereals, except using soybeans instead of oats, wheat or rice. It is completely cooked and there is no problem eating it dry. It will keep long term without need for refrigeration as long as you keep it dry.

When Skurka saw the hikers with poncho tarps and titanium skewer stakes, he knew immediately how the tragedy would end.

The obvious thin closed cell pads, the dyneema guylines, the bivy bags, all pointed to a terrible end for the ultralight hikers.

When he heard the hikers joking about "we don't need no stinkin' coffee mugs" and "two males one pot", Skurka knew they would be dead within hours on the way from the visitor center to the summit of Springer Mountain.