Homebuilding in the DR the inexpensive (Dominican) way

[andrewc52002]

Here in Canada, I see lots of projects with micro-hydro water turbines. I have a friend who builds himself a house with water turbine in Laurentides, Quebec. Is it a good idea for DR ? Have somebody tried it ? Chip, you must know something about this, for sure.
thanks
ac

[Texas Bill]

Originally Posted by andrewc52002

Here in Canada, I see lots of projects with micro-hydro water turbines. I have a friend who builds himself a house with water turbine in Laurentides, Quebec. Is it a good idea for DR ? Have somebody tried it ? Chip, you must know something about this, for sure.
thanks
ac

andrewc52002;

I'm not familiar with the laws governing individual/private electrical production here in the DR, but I'd be willing to bet that there is a law/regulation prohibiting such and one would have to fight EdNorte, EdSur and EdEste plus every one between the terminus and point of production to keep themfrom tappong into the system and stealing the production.
Just a comment which has no basis in fact.

Texas Bill

[andrewc52002]

I've read that in El Limon, a comunity installed such a micro-hydro turbine, using the irrigation system and help from an US engineer. It's a hydro system for 65 houses and a school. I'm curious if this could be done for only 1 house and what is the experience in that matter.
thanks,
ac

[Texas Bill]

Originally Posted by andrewc52002

I've read that in El Limon, a comunity installed such a micro-hydro turbine, using the irrigation system and help from an US engineer. It's a hydro system for 65 houses and a school. I'm curious if this could be done for only 1 house and what is the experience in that matter.
thanks,
ac

There is a book called "Back to Basics" from Good Housekeeping, I think, that covers a multitude of "do-it-yourself" projects in household electrical service and generation.
If you can find a copy, there is a lot of very valuable information therein.
Probably all your questions can/will be answered. I have had a copy for many years and am continuously going to it for information and "how-to" on many different subjects. Mostly about self-sufficiency stuff.
Go to your local library. They're sure to have a copy and you can scan and copy the pages you want.
Also, you might look up the solution in "How Things Work", a 4 volume collection of just about EVERYTHING you can imagine.
Amazon might just still have those books in inventory; either new or used.

Texas Bill

[Chip]

Originally Posted by andrewc52002

Here in Canada, I see lots of projects with micro-hydro water turbines. I have a friend who builds himself a house with water turbine in Laurentides, Quebec. Is it a good idea for DR ? Have somebody tried it ? Chip, you must know something about this, for sure.
thanks
ac

Honestly, I don't know much about this system. However, I research it but also too if Texas Bill sees a conflict witht he governemt power companies, he is more than likely right. Economics for the big players down here is all about price fixing and monopolies - forget about western notions of a free market and fair play and all that down here.

[BF1]

Chip00, this is a very interesting lecture, congratulations for your post, I have a question, when you speak of an architect/engineer, do you mean just one of them can do the work required to present the project or an architect is needed to design the house and an engineer to do resistance calculations etc.?
Do you know any of them in the Santo Domingo - Boca Chica area you can recommend ?

[Chip]

Originally Posted by BF1

Chip00, this is a very interesting lecture, congratulations for your post, I have a question, when you speak of an architect/engineer, do you mean just one of them can do the work required to present the project or an architect is needed to design the house and an engineer to do resistance calculations etc.?
Do you know any of them in the Santo Domingo - Boca Chica area you can recommend ?

Typically an architect will layout the floorplan of the house and the engineer will calculate the loads. However, as is the case in the US, many homes are built even without an engineer, but an experienced(hopefully) maestro. A good maestro will use a design that is overbuilt and can be put just about anywhere on this island as long as they put the foundation deep enough. I don't know any architects or engineers in the capital, but if you have an idea of a floor plan you can talk to my buddy who is a maestro and works with an engineer.

[BF1]

Thank you Chip

[PICHARDO]

Originally Posted by Texas Bill

andrewc52002;

I'm not familiar with the laws governing individual/private electrical production here in the DR, but I'd be willing to bet that there is a law/regulation prohibiting such and one would have to fight EdNorte, EdSur and EdEste plus every one between the terminus and point of production to keep themfrom tappong into the system and stealing the production.
Just a comment which has no basis in fact.

Texas Bill

I do believe that shouldn't represent a problem to someone wanting to use the technology for power generation, but if anything the required parameters for such envisioned project are very narrow to say the least.

The local authorities if anything could require that an impact study be carried out before undertaking such project. In the case of a property owner with water streaming already well within the limits of such property that shouldn't even come up.

Many communities in the DR's campos use some form of natural cycling way of producing energy. Some are as advanced as any top notch technologies since many foreigners that have relocated to the DR have use such advances to good use in their new adopted piece of land.

I came across a good example of this in my lat trip to Jarabacoa, where a friend of mine had just installed a system to produce electricity and recycle water as well. It took him a good time to build it, but the end results are hard to argue against.

[Chris]

Let's keep on topic here .. inexpensive home building. Please take Alternative Power Generation to a new thread.