Doom's Day Aftermath

Photo credits: darkwing/wierdasianews.com

There once was a poet named Poetryman

He was such a hunk of a man

Who started a poem competition

Something about earth's destruction

Lost everything, including his woman

The scientists missed their predictions

Because the earth was in collision

Chaos was everywhere

My lady was nowhere

Dark clouds blurred my vision

The earth rumbled and tumbled 

I was disoriented and troubled

Total darkness shrouded my being

Modern gadgets useless for seeing

Got knocked down and humbled

When I woke up I was in a cold maze

I'm surprised to see a familiar face

Coming around the bend was Poetryman

With all the foxy ladies in a white van

Ready to reproduce a new breed of race

We need your expertise poetic engineer

Rebuilding can't be accomplished by a seer

The earth as you see, is still intact

Regardless of the huge impact

Come with us, my dominion is near

Thank you my friend for your invitation

I thought I was in total abomination

Who could refuse such gestures

When all I could see are sexy figures

Nice prelude to sexual culmination

____________________________________________________________

My second entry to "The End of the World as we Know It" poem competition

The End of Days

Original photo by: darkwing (modified by EngrVV - 2012)

The end of days is fast approaching...

that's what the doomsday prophets are anticipating

Believers who called themselves Doomsday Preppers--

prepared survival kits and everything keepers

There's so many theories and religious interpretations

of this coming judgment day they call Armageddon--

Judaism believes in the Day of the Lord - when God

causes death and destruction to those who deserved

Islam simply calls the end of the world as The Hour

Signs are clearly visible as Israel is fighting its new war,

and we are experiencing unprecedented cataclysmic disasters:

      hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, to meltdown of nuclear reactors

In Hinduism, their God Vishnu rides a white horse

with a comet-like sword and destroys the evil force

While the Buddhists believe in Shambhala - in which

the good triumphs over evil--as ugly as the witch

In Shambhala, the planet is restored rather than destroyed

I think the Doomsday Preppers would be pretty much annoyed...

Both the Hopis and the Mayans have the same beliefs

For they don't prophesy that the world will come adrift

They said, we are approaching the end of a World Age--

If we transition with resistance there will be cataclysmic change,

but if we move through it with acceptance and enlightenment -

gradual peace and tranquility would be a crowning achievement

It doesn't really matter whether the end of days is near

for no one can know what's going to happen for sure

People will speculate endlessly until it's all over

My world ends...when you don't love me anymore!

____________________________________________________

This poem was entered in a competition in: It's The End of The World As We Know It! (Deep Underground Poetry Competition)

The Invisible Field

Photo credit: ironpalm.com

We are nearing the dawn of science and technology,

wherein the final frontier shall be in spirituality­­ -

harmonious relationship between body and soul,

not physics and chemistry - we learned from school.

Focus your energy and be one with nature,

breathe deeply and keep a steady posture;

that's one way of maintaining harmony,

as you listen to your favorite symphony.

Learn how to harness your internal energy 

so that you may reinforce your synergy -

extra energy most ordinary folks can't bear,

but only those people with minds who are pure. 

Power without control would be a disaster

just lurking in the shadows waiting to batter;

mastery of the mind, body and spirit -

something in this world, you don't inherit.

Bear in mind that money and power are needed

by most political leaders whom our trust exceeded;

to control people and protect their selfish agenda,

and gain more wealth to buy another hacienda.

People have eyes but oftentimes don't see

that field of energy surrounding the human body;

only hyper-sensitive individuals, and not just anybody,
even if we discuss this Aura over a cup of tea.

The Fall of a Spy

Your apocalyptic dreams appear in my vision:

women weeping - mixed with tears from heaven

and children crying for help, nobody can see

Sad pictures of your gloomy prophesy

Oracles of doom predicted fire in the sky;

what I'm beginning to see is the fall of a spy

Regrets fill my heart; we only remember the bad deeds,

not the gallant efforts when he planted the good seeds

Let no stones be cast till this whole fiasco is over

The burden of proof lies not in the eyes of the beholder

We might think he was careless and got pussy-whipped

A silver lining separates the truth when one is tight-lipped

You're in a field of bounty but sees only weeds;

in the middle of an oasis, but sees only sands

If your mind is trapped in that sad context--

your spirit is weak and will starve to death

What if you were right and everyone else is wrong

for you see wealth in "weeds" tucked in your sarong

We shouldn't judge you based on our biased perceptions,

and mustn't peel the layers to the core without directions

Don't be fooled with what our naked eyes could see...

That's the moral lesson to our falling of a spy story

There could be a hidden agenda within their agenda

For their eyes only, and not for political propaganda

Tanka Poems (Vol. I)

Autumn in the Capitol

bursting of colors

along washington parkway

soothing to my soul

wondering what would it be

if there are no living trees

the call of the wild

along potomac river

music to my ears

if its old banks overflowed

my world would be sad and doomed

beauty of nature

dancing with the passing wind

whispering good-bye

her whispers become louder

yet, no one pays attention

if now, we don't care

future generations die

robbed of nature's best

the rolling hills and green fields

become their graveyards instead

we owe to our youth

what our forefathers had left

conserve and protect

stop denuding forests

to preserve ecosystems

join me in my plea

send e-mails to the capitol

preserve nature's wealth

influence decision makers

in writing new policies

it's never too late

listen to the weeping tree

my heart bleeds for you

every time you cut my trunk

gloomy days not far behind

you choose to ignore

biblical signs and warnings

become deaf and blind

to scientific studies

went on your own care-free way

my spirit roams

in my own niche of the woods

tears mix with flash floods

mourning the loss of loved ones

price you paid for being deaf!

alternate ending (last stanza)

Replace the last two stanzas with the following:

my spirit roams

in my own niche of the woods

our legacy lives

thank you for heeding my plea

nature's beauty,  here to stay...

___________________________________________________________

It's never too late to do something about erratic climate change caused by global warming. We already saw the devastating effects of the fury of Nature. Those are just early warning signs; the worst is yet to come. If we don't act now, then we are doomed, and nobody else to blame but ourselves. 

My poem is in Japanese style of Tanka poetry, which consist of five lines with a total of 31 syllables (5-7-5-7-7). It is focused on raising awareness about the beauty of Nature and what we can do in return to preserve and protect it, not only for ourselves but for future generations. This is just part of a whole lot of solutions that we can do. Please join me in my advocacy!

Global Warming: Real or Myth

[ photo source: zmescience.com ]

Extreme weather has become the new normal

But for a layman's point of view, it's paranormal

All across the land we suffer from Poseidon's wrath

Yet we ignore his warnings, and act like a spoiled brat

Make no mistake about global warming-- 

Science has given us unequivocal warning

It's for real--and happening faster than ever

Work on solutions; otherwise, it's now or never

The deep blue seas are beginning to rise
from the polar regions due to melting ice;
caused by the hotter sun and earth's reflectiveness,
as well as greenhouse gases from human activities

Human activities - burning of fossil fuels: coal and oil

Continuous actions causing greenhouse effect more severe

A few have attempted to raise awareness but failed to foil

Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere

Makes the earth warmer causing erratic climate change

Deforestation for agriculture and community development

Threatens the biological diversity of the world that's why I lament

Together with half of all plant and animal species in the forests

Who would protect our unique ecosystems if we lay down to rest?

Increase in famines, earthquakes and other natural disasters:

              scorching wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and record floods

The list could go on and on... as long and frequent as it gets

Are these signs of the end times as written by St. Matthew?

We know a whole lot more, we just pretend to ignore

"Warning: we are not to be deceived

These events are only the beginning of birth pains;

The end is still to come..."

Women: Are They In Binders?

Gentle is the touch of a woman's hand,
as she glides expertly in the abyss of perpetual darkness
emerging from the sea of tumultuous clouds,
and spraying the rows of thirsty palms
along the blazing desert of inferno
with a deep bass and chattered sound, stuttering...
like an old sewing machine, stitching to the ground.

If the hand that pulls a trigger and kills without empathy
belongs to a Woman...
Does it make any difference?
Women have greater compassion and sensitivity
according to some clinical study
Taking lives-- not giving, sustaining and nurturing;
is it a cultural shift not in the right direction?

Women in society, are they in binders?
    They give Life,
          sustain Life,
                 nurture Life...

Somebody claimed he had a binder full of women;
it makes me wonder what they can do...
For as long as they are just in binders,
in oblivion will remain, and voiceless forever.

Women who demand equal pay and equal rights          
send the unexpecting into a whirlwind of confusion;          
while those who are gender-biased and narcissistic,
may find it hard to swallow and comprehend.
       
Don't women deserve anything greater?
For sometimes they could led better,
either in combat or office settings, and many more...
Let's ask Lilly, for she knew--it's now or never.

______________________________________________________
 (This is my tribute to Lilly Ledbetter* and to our women combat pilots)
                          Photo source: racialicious.com

                     copyright 2012 Engr. Victor P. Vizarra


* Note: (From Wikipedia)

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (Pub.L. 111-2, S. 181) is a federal statute in the United States that was the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 29, 2009. The Act amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964stating that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each new paycheck affected by that discriminatory action. The law directly addressed Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., 550U.S. 618 (2007), a U.S. Supreme Court decision that the statute of limitations for presenting an equal-pay lawsuit begins on the date that the employer makes the initial discriminatory wage decision, not at the date of the most recent paycheck.

Solar And Wind Energy (Excerpt From My Open Letter To A Municipal Official)

(photo source: istockphoto)

First of all, I would like to greet you and all our townmates a happy fiesta, an annual town celebration which brings back a lot of childhood memories.

Going back to my childhood days in OMPSA, I saw a young and bright student who vowed to himself that never again will he let the future generations of his beloved town suffer the same experience he had while studying under a dimly-lit room and literally burning his eyebrows every time his head accidentally touches the gas lamp (made out of empty coffee jar), which provided the much needed light. To pursue his dreams, he studied Electrical Engineering in college hoping that someday after gaining some expertise in his chosen field, he would be able to alleviate if not totally eliminate the problem of having no electricity or lack thereof, that currently besieged our town and the whole province of Marinduque.

That young and bright student is now a successful and experienced Electrical Engineer; ten years away from his retirement is no other than yours truly, Engr. Victor Perlas Vizarra, at your service. I could not believe that we still have the same power and energy problems thirty-nine years ago, after I left our town to pursue my dreams and seek for greener pastures in a far away land, they called the land of milk and honey. I could not wait for another ten years, for me to be able to give back to my beloved town of Torrijos. I believe the time has finally come for me to get out of the sidelines and take the necessary actions to help your good office and with all honest intentions tackle the immense task of preventing brown-outs.

Why don’t we harness the power of the sun and wind (which are bountiful in our area) to provide us with the much needed source of electrical energy? If given the opportunity, I propose the following solutions to our power and energy problems which consist of four stages:

I.   Installation of a prototype solar panel

       A)  In public buildings such as hospitals, puericulture centers, municipal hall, etc.
       B)  Funding of this project may come from non-profit organizations and private citizens or this could be a joint venture between the local government and private citizens.

II.   Providing a classroom or some sort of building structure for solar panel manufacturing

       A) Training our out-of-school youth and jobless members of our community learn the basic skills of soldering and practical electricity.
        B) Once they become knowledgeable and proficient, they will provide the needed manpower to assemble the solar panels that we need. In return we are not only giving them jobs but quite literally, a bright future.
        C) This portion could be tied-up to the local government’s livelihood program.  

III.   Installation of solar panels on rooftops or ground structures of private residences

       A) Those more fortunate and well to do members of our community can do this on their own by buying directly from our self-manufactured solar panels or get their panels from a third party vendor.
        B) This privately installed solar panels shall be tied-up to the local electrical grid, so that in cases of excess power generated by the solar panels, they will be able to supply power back to the grid which will enable them to sustain the diesel generators used to supply power to the less fortunate members of our community.
        C) The government shall provide subsidies to private homeowners in terms of credits earned by supplying excess power to the local grid to entice the private sector to participate in these efforts. This would be subjected to your discretion.

IV.   Rural electrification using both solar panels and wind turbines

        A) Solar power and wind power are an ideal combination of providing non-conventional or renewable forms of energy sources. The solar panels work best in day time and wind turbines will provide the much needed boost at night time to charge the storage batteries that we need to store the energy generated by both solar and wind power.
        B) Wind turbines are noisy and require strategic positioning that’s why I do not recommend them for installation in the town proper. They should be installed in individual homes in the rural areas.

For details of my proposals, please feel free to contact me anytime. To start with, I would like to request your good office to send me an electrical plan of your public hospital complete with power and lighting loads so I can start my feasibility studies. You can give the plans to Architect Glee Rosas who will be there during the town fiesta or send the plans directly to my home address above. It would be great if you can also include the perspective drawing of the hospital.

I hope you agree with my proposed approach to providing solutions to our power and energy problems instead of building whole arrays of solar power plants and fields of wind turbines which would require a lot of financial funding; I believe we could not afford to provide. My approach to solving our problem is not complex at all. All we need is active participation from each member of the community. If we work hand-in-hand, we will accomplish great things even beyond our wildest imaginations.

Thank you for your precious time and once again, Happy Fiesta to ALL…Mabuhay tayong lahat!


Sincerely,


Engr. Victor Vizarra


Note: I wrote this letter last year to a town official in our beloved province. Unfortunately, I did not get any response at all. I will not stop until my vision of rural electrification - that is for every household, even the poorest of the poor in remote areas shall be provided with power and lighting. I know this is a big task and a real challenge, that's why I'm asking for every one's help and cooperation. We need to start somewhere, and I'm glad some of you are already doing it, while others are interested and willing to do it. Now, for those of you who are interested in my proposals, you can contact me at engr.vizarra@yahoo.com.

                                                         
                         
                   

Collection of Haiku Poems

4 seasons

forever changing seasons 

buds peep from the ground

waking up from long hiatus

two hearts beat as one.

fiery golden rays

kissing the glistening crests

ignite mortal souls

sea of golden hues

drifting with the passing wind

sorrows left behind

fluffy as cotton 

embracing the mountain sides

love is all we got

_____________________________________________________________

Fall in The Capitol

 Fall in DC

bursting of colors

along washington parkway

soothing to my soul

the call of the wild

along potomac river

music to my ears

beauty of nature

dancing with the passing wind

whispering good-bye

if now we don't care

future generations die

robbed of nature's best

we owe to our youth

what our forefathers had left

conserve and protect

join me in my plea

send e-mails to capitol

preserve nature's wealth

my spirit roams

in my own niche of the woods

our legacy lives

__________________________________________________________

copyright 2012 Engr. Victor Perlas Vizarra

Infinite Loop (The Hourglass)

___________________________________________________

copyright 2012 Engr. Victor Perlas Vizarra

"He Didn't Build That" I Did...(Part 3)

Solar Panel Array: Number of Panels Needed

Solar-powered bahay kubo (original photo from: Hagikhikan)

Before proceeding with cost savings and payback calculations, let us discuss some important topics such as solar panel sizing, electrical loads and Ohm’s Law which is the basic formula that we are going to use.
In its simplest form, Ohm's law states that the current in an electrical circuit is directly proportional to the applied voltage and the resistance of the circuit. The three (3) most common mathematical expressions are:

 P= V * I                    I = P / V        V = P / I = I * R

Where:
P = Power : the product of the voltage times the current in an electrical circuit measured in watts
V= Voltage : the electromotive force (pressure) applied to an electrical circuit measured in volts
I = Current : the flow of electrons in an electrical circuit measured in amperes
R = Resistance : the opposition to the flow of electrons in an electrical circuit measured in ohms

Example Only: ( Based on a daily usage)

LOAD DESCRIPTION                  RATING     HOURS     WATT-HRS.   
_____________________________________________________
LAPTOP                                             75 watts     4          300  
LIGHTING (4x15-watt CFL)               60 watts     5          300
ELECTRIC FAN                                 120 watts     6          720
TELEVISION                                     100 watts     6          600
REFRIGERATOR (35% run-time)       120 watts     8          960

TOTAL DAILY WATT-HOURS REQUIRED = 2,88O WATT-HOURS

In the Philippines which is a tropical country and has plenty of sunshine we can get at least 8 to 10 hours of daily sunshine. Use 5 hours daily average sunlight for mid-latitude in the US.

NUMBER OF SOLAR PANELS NEEDED:

Although I used a 45-watt panel for my experiment last year, I recommend using a 100-watt  solar panel currently available at Home Depot as of this writing, at $199.00 each with free shipping within the US except GU, PR and VI. This is the Grape Solar 100-Watt Monocrystalline PV Solar Panel. This is a whole lot cheaper and more efficient. I got mine on sale last year for $149.99 from Harbor Freight Tools and their regular price is $299.99. You will need two of these, as compared to one from Home Depot, and still you are 10 watts below capacity. Let's stick to our example load description for computational purposes, as follows:

Grape Solar 100-Watt Monocrystalline PV Solar Panel

Using a 100-watt solar panel and assuming 8 hours of sunshine, that would give us 800 watt-hours per day per panel.

Total number of solar panels = 2,880 watt-hours/800 watt-hours per day = 3.6 = approx. 4

Therefore, use: 4 solar panels with a capacity of 100 watts each.


Based on our example daily load requirements, our total solar panel cost would be:

          Total solar panel cost = 4 panels x $200.00 = $800.00 + tax

This cost does not include the DC batteries needed for storing solar energy during night time and extreme weather conditions without sunlight. The inverter needed to convert DC power to AC power (power coming out from your regular power/lighting outlets) is also not yet included in our cost.

Basically, if you live in the rural areas and just need power for electric fans, some lighting at night and some juice for charging your I-pads, I-phones, notebooks and other portable devices, all you really need is a 100-watt solar panel and a solar charge controller which usually come free with the kit. Otherwise, you can buy the controller below $20.00 from Amazon.com. Connect your solar panel in parallel with wind turbine and your electrical needs 24/7, 365 days a year, are all set. You don’t have to worry about brown-outs anymore.

Every year the cost of solar panels are going down and the designs are becoming more efficient brought about by technology advances. Direct savings is realized if you actually connect your DC appliances and other DC power requirements directly to the solar charge controller and you’re off-grid, meaning not connected to any utility power company. That means all your appliances and light bulbs should be rated either 12-volt DC or 24-volt DC. The solar panel can generate as high as 27.8 - 29.5 volts DC, that’s why you need a charge controller to regulate the voltage at either 12 or 24 volts depending upon your needs.

This is just a bird’s eye view of how much is involved in owning solar panels. If you really need to know how much it would cost you to have solar panels installed in your homes, it would need an in-depth analysis of your actual monthly electric usage for a period of 12 months, and also actual survey of your house location to determine the best location and efficient utilization of your solar power system.

For a more detailed information, take a look at Wall Street Journal’s study on the economics of installing residential solar in 5 US cities.

What I can say right now, with the government incentives and rebates, as well as lease options being offered by companies such as SolarCity,  SunPower Corporation and other solar companies, there is no better time than now, to start using solar energy. Right now, you don’t have to shell out $20,000 - $30,000 as initial investment for your solar panel system. Instead, you just pay for usage of the solar panels which are owned by the solar companies. You will have considerable savings and significantly lower monthly payments than your electric bills from your current utility providers. Utility companies bill you for transmission and distribution charges which will be eliminated when you use solar. Another advantage is helping your environment to become free from pollution caused by diesel and fossil-fuel generating power plants.

Is it not a good legacy for our grandchildren and their children in the future to have a pollution free environment?

"He Didn't Build That" I Did... (Part 2)

My finished tool/storage shed with solar panel on the right side

How To Install A Solar Panel

Before proceeding to our topic of installing solar panel, let me give you a brief introduction about solar panels and their types.

A solar panel (also solar module, photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged connected assembly of photovoltaic cells. The solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each panel is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions, and typically ranges from 100 to 320 watts. The efficiency of a panel determines the area of a panel given the same rated output - an 8% efficient 230 watt panel will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 watt panel. Because a single solar panel can produce only a limited amount of power, most installations contain multiple panels. A photovoltaic system typically includes an array of solar panels, an inverter, and sometimes a battery and or solar tracker and interconnection wiring.

A solar panel or photovoltaic module, is composed of individual PV cells. This crystalline-silicon panel has an aluminium frame and glass on the front.

A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell (in that its electrical characteristics-- e.g. current, voltage, or resistance-- vary when light is incident upon it) which, when exposed to light, can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source. (Source: Wikipedia)

Types of Solar Panels:

1. Monocrystalline silicon (mono-silicon or single silicon) - the most efficient type of solar panels. They convert sunlight into more electricity than the other types below. As a result of their high silicon content, they’re also more expensive, but you need fewer of them. That’s the reason why they’re ideal for roofs, because fewer solar panels means lesser load bearing weight.

2. Polycrystalline silicon (multicrystalline or multi-silicon) - have lower silicon levels than “mono” panels. In general, that makes them less expensive to produce, but they’re also slightly less efficient. Their overall construction design can often make up for the efficiency loss, so they’re also good for roofs.

3. Amorphous silicon (thin film) - inexpensive to make and can absorb sunlight even on a cloudy or rainy day, but not efficient as compared to the first two above. They are usually installed on ground structures and not on roofs. This is the type of solar panel that we are going to install.

There are two more types of solar panels: BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics) and solar hot water (thermal) panels. BIPV’s look like real roofing tiles such as solar shingles. They have good aesthetic looks, but good looks cost a lot more. Also, they are less efficient than conventional PV.

Now that we're done with the crash course on solar panels, let's get down to business.

Tools You Need:

1. Electrical Pliers/Wire Cutter
2. Flat Head and Phillips Screwdrivers
3. Electric Drill/Screwdriver (optional)
4. Wire Stripper/Terminal Crimping Tool - this is a must have tool if you are a novice

Schematic/Wiring Diagram:

Wiring diagram from solar panel to junction box

The solar panel kit comes in 3 pieces, rated at 15 watts each for a total of 45 watts with its own connecting wires, 20 feet in length (gauge #16). This is good for short distance only from solar panel to solar controller/voltage regulator because as you go farther, there is a higher voltage drop along the wires. Here is what you need to do to minimize voltage drop:

1. Cut/splice the wires to desired length using wire cutter/splicer.

2. Connect positive to positive (red wires) and negative to negative (black wires).

3. Attach the connected wires to wire connectors/terminal block and place them inside a PVC junction box.

4. Use an insulated 3-wire extension chord (gauge #12), usually comes in standard 25-foot and 50-foot length, and cut to desired length from the PVC junction box to the location of the solar controller/voltage regulator.

5. Connect the positive wire (red) from the junction box terminal to the positive terminal of the solar controller/voltage regulator. Then connect the negative wire (black) to the negative wire (black) of the same component.

6. Use gauge #4 wire, 3 feet in length for connecting the solar controller/voltage regulator to 12-volt DC battery and from battery to inverter (see wiring diagram). Make sure the positive wires and negative wires do not touch each other, as this will cause short circuit causing damage to your expensive components, especially the inverter.

The color of the wires vary depending upon the source or manufacturer, so pay close attention to what kind of terminal you connect the wires to. Simple rule is: positive to positive and negative to negative. I can't emphasize well enough about this simple rule, but this is very important.

Before starting any of the above instructions, make sure you cover the solar panels first to prevent electricity from flowing through the wires while you are working, and to prevent damage to solar panels just in case the wires accidentally come in contact with each other.

The inverter (left side) which converts DC to AC power is connected to two 12-volt deep cycle lead acid battery (2nd battery not yet connected) with a rating of 105 amphours. The battery is connected to the solar charge controller or voltage regulator that came with the kit, as well as two light bulbs. 

On the left side is a 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter which I bought from Amazon.com and on the right side is a 7-amp solar charge controller that came with the kit. As you can see the output voltage is 12.5 volts DC. 

The front panel of the solar charge controller is equipped with USB port and three other ports (6-volt, 9-volt, 12-volt) for charging cell phones, laptops, car battery and other portable DC devices. You only need a 300-watt inverter for this particular set-up, but I opted for a higher output size for future use, as I plan to install more solar panels in the near future.

There you go folks, you have just learned how easy it is to install a solar panel. Maybe next time, we can build the solar panels ourselves from new or recycled solar cells. You will be surprised how easy and simple it is to build one.

Next time I will cover cost benefits and payback calculations of solar panels based on my experiment. Hope I shed some light on this topic, as I tried to discuss this in layman's terms as much as I could. If you have some questions, you can post them under the comments section of this article below.

"He Didn't Build That" I Did... (Part 1)

How I built my solar-powered shed:

Solar-powered Shed

I built this shed, (12 ft. x 10 ft.) 3 years ago for storage purposes and to keep my power tools in a safe and convenient place. I installed solar panel for observation and experimental purposes and to provide the much needed electricity for my toys: CB radio, small TV, Hi-Fi stereo, ceiling fan and for charging my cell phone. It also provided power for my Koi pond's waterfall pump and filter.

If you are interested in building a similar one for storage purposes and for any purpose you may want, here is how I did it:

1. First find a convenient area in your backyard or sideyard (whichever is convenient for you), and make sure you level the ground where you are going to put your floor slab.

2. For this size which is 120 square ft. (12 feet long and 10 feet wide), I used 3 pcs. 4"x4"x12' lumber, each of which is placed on top of 4 pcs. concrete hollow blocks to prevent the wood in direct contact with the ground. I also sealed and cured them before hand prior to installation. You can also use 4" thick concrete slab for your flooring foundation, it's up to you.

3. Then I placed on top of them, a 2"x6"x10' floor joists spaced 16 inches apart and across the 4"x4" floor slabs. After that, you nail down your flooring. You can use a 5/8" plywood or MDF. I just used a 1/2" MDF which is a lot cheaper, available from your local Lowe's or Home Depot.

4. By the way I'm doing this myself and before I knew it, I forgot to take pictures of the initial stages of my construction, so don't get confused. Just follow the procedure as numbered. After laying down and finishing the floor, start framing the wall studs. You can just use three studs per 4"x8" std. size MDF, but in my case I followed the CA building code of 16 inches between studs, i.e. 4 pcs. of 2"x4"x8' per std. size MDF.

5. Next step is to install the rafters for the roof. At this point, I needed some assistance because it's hard to do this part on your own. Spacing is 2 ft. between each rafters.

6. After all the rafters are in place, nail down the MDF board in place. Staple the #15 black felt roof deck protection as shown in picture, and then install metal flashing to protect roof from water damage. 

7. Next nail down asphalt roofing shingles (different styles and colors) of your choice, in an overlapping manner and in alternating positions (as in laying down concrete hollow-blocks).

8. Nail down MDF wall boards and ceiling vents (optional).

9. Install doors and windows and any decorative wall finish of your liking. There you go, you have completed building a wooden storage shed. Now, it's up to you if you want to paint it or leave it as is. I recommend that you paint your completed project with matching color with your house to give it a more aesthetic look, and to protect it from early wear and tear brought about by the harsh environment.

Next time, I am going to discuss how I installed the solar panel (as shown above), and how much it cost me to install one.

Journey To Success - A Poem

Success can't be measured by accumulation of wealth but by the numbers of true friends you got and how you impacted the lives of others without expecting anything in return. To me, that's the real success...     by: Victor Perlas Vizarra

Can success really be measured

by the time spent on a journey

and how we get there at any cost?

Does it count at all

no matter how noble or wicked

our intentions maybe?

How do you measure success?

Some may measure it by fame;

while others gauge it by fortune.

In this world with various standards,

neither a yardstick nor a barometer

can really measure fame and fortune.

Plaques of recognition and awards

hang on the wall of a simple abode,

and the joyous laughter inside

filled their hearts with contentment.

They maybe deprived, but their spirits are free.

Look at the mansion on the nearby hill

lavishly adorned with glittering lights,

yet it looks gloomy and haunted.

Deafening silence filled the air,

as if lost souls-- there reside.

They maybe wealthy, but prisoners within.

We can take the road less traveled,

and expect tranquility at journey’s end.

We may choose to plunge into the abyss

and expect nothing more--nothing less. 

We may have fame, fortune and accolades,

yet emptiness still exists within our restless souls.

Success itself is a journey;

getting there is all that counts.

There maybe be roadblocks along the way,

and curve balls in each and every turn;

no matter which road you take

it doesn’t matter after all.

For success to some-- is just a state of mind.

A Democrat or Republican: Enlighten Me

Source: cutcaster.com

Are you a full bloodied Republican or a Democrat? Let's find out...

Sing with me the following lyrics which I created last night inspired by exchanges of comments to a thread in FB by my friend, Wendell Fabul. Let's hear it, to the tune of one of my favorite songs, Tequila Sunrise - by The Eagles.

  

    

       ENLIGHTEN ME

                    

                    I                                                       

G                                                                               

It’s just another election year                              

D                                       Am                             

Black propaganda is on the rise                          

D7                  G                                                 

“The days go by.”                                                     

                                                                             

 G                                                                         

I can’t really fathom why                        

D                                   Am              

The science behind politics        

D7                   G                                                   

Enlighten me.                                                                    

                                                                             

Refrain:                                                                

Em                          C                                           

Every time when election comes                        

Em                   C          Em                                  

Candidates go out of town                                   

Am                                       D7                           

Seekin’ out your precious votes.                          

                                                                             

( Repeat: same chords as I )                                    

                      II                                                    

Candidates would spend billions

While hungry folks are in the millions

It bothers me.

                       III

We’re still crunching on the numbers

When asked on his budget plan

It puzzles me.

                       IV

It’s just another show of blatant lies 

And you still trust this kind of guy

Enlighten me. 

              copyright 2012 Victor Perlas Vizarra  All rights reserved.

If you are out of tune, then you must be a Republican just like Paul Ryan who is out of sync with reality.

I have no party affiliations and just having some fun listening to the issues at hand from both Democratic and Republican parties. Have you noticed the big difference between the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention? I did. If you do please share them with me, and I appreciate any comments you might have about my new composition.