Re: the direct battery powered computer.

A computer generally has 4 power sources. +12VDC, -12VDC, +5VDC, and -5VDC. 
all sources are needed to run the computer.
check out http://home.midmaine.com/~cgf/graphics/comp_power_supply.jpg for 
an example of how it can be done. (charger not shown)

Re: the carburetor on my Honda generator.

Depends on how mechanically inclined you are. (visit the Honda shop 
otherwise)
Get a can of spray carb cleaner (available at 99.9% of auto parts stores). 
if the carb venturi area is accessible with the carb mounted, spray a few 
small squirts on the jets. Pull the engine over a few times to burn off the 
cleaner (don't spray too muck or you will flood the engine). if it does not 
run smoothly yet, turn it off (unless it didn't start in the first place) 
and spray a few more times. make sure to pull it over a few times every now 
and then. Take notice, carb cleaner is very volatile. about the same as a 
burst of nitro into the engine. don't spray too much.
If the carb is easily removable (enough so that you can do it without help) 
then do so and give the jets a good spray. if it is of the float bowl type, 
fill the bowl with cleaner and lightly shake it (cleans the bowl and the 
needle jets). Make sure to replace any gaskets with new ones (unless they 
are of the paper kind, those are multi use usually. if there is a mettle 
ring on the gasket, replace the gasket.)
if doing this gets it into a more or less running state, then run a tank of 
high octane gas. Octane booster is available at wal-mart last I knew. about 
a pint to a 5 gallon can seems to work well (read the directions). Add this 
to premium gas (highest level of octane from the pump). the engine will run 
a little hotter so make sure to stop it and give it some cool off time if it 
gets too hot (don't cool off with water, it will crack the block). the 
higher octane will dissolve most of the remaining varnish.
A way of figuring the running temp, feel the exhaust gas (about a foot away 
from the muffler/pipe so as not to get burned) with your hand. most engines 
run cool enough that the exhaust is hot but not so hot it burns. if it feels 
too hot, give it a break for a little while.
only use a tank of gas (or two if it is a small tank) because the higher 
octane will lower the lifetime of the engine if used too much. If all else 
fails, visit your local Honda shop.

if there is allot of super high octane gas left over, pour it into your car 
(unless it has oil pre-mixed for a 2 cycle engine). it will do wonders. 
(cleans injectors, fuel lines, pump, ect...) and as an added bonus, it gives 
better acceleration.

-Travis



>From: CapAAVSO@.......
>Reply-To: psn-l@..............
>To: psn-l@..............
>Subject: Re: Gas Generator recommendations
>Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 11:24:31 EDT
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>-0400 (EDT)
>From larry_cochrane@.............. Tue May 08 08:37:12 2001
>Message-ID: 
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>Sender: psn-l-request@..............
>
>
>Hi Travis,
>
>I like your idea and plan on eventually building a similar backup system.
>What I would like to know is how can I go about eliminating the 12V DC/120V
>AC inverter in your system. Since the computer ultimately runs on DC power,
>how can I just run it from the 12V batteries? Then a charger with an
>automatic cutoff when the batteries are fully charged, could be connected
>permanently to the 12 V batteries so they are always kept fully charged. If
>the 120V AC mains go down as is happening in California, the computer would
>not know it happened because it is running off the batteries. They will of
>course run down eventually but that problem can be taken care of with a
>generator. I have an 800 Watt Honda 120V AC generator that also has a 12 V 
>DC
>output that could be used to keep the batteries charged until the mains 
>came
>back on. I hope somebody can tell me what to do inside my computer to 
>convert
>it to run on 12V DC from the batteries.
>
>Also another question, does anybody know how I can clean the carburetor on 
>my
>Honda generator. I left gas in it for too many months and now it won't 
>start.
>I took the carburetor apart and blew it out with air but it still won't
>start. How can I get it running again?
>
>Best regards,
>Cap
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>In a message dated 05/07/2001 11:32:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>travis5765@........... writes:
>
><<  You can build a battery backup fairly simply.
>  just get a 12V - 110V (or whatever you need) power inverter in the 
>wattage
>  you need, connect lots of Deep-cycle marine batteries in parallel to the
>  inverter. get a hefty, low noise, battery charger to charge all the
>  batteries (as fast as you use the power). set up a 12V relay (with lots 
>of
>  power handling) so that the relay coil is directly powered by the charger
>  and the switch (duel or single pole) connects/disconnects the batteries 
>from
>  the charger. it should be setup in such a way that when the charger no
>  longer has power, it deactivates the relay and disconnects the batteries
>  from the charger so that it does not discharge them. at least this is how
>  the UPS I have works (just one battery at the moment).
>  Just a note, the charger should be an auto charger (automatically stops 
>when
>  the batteries are fully charged) so as not to over charge the batteries.
>
>  -Travis
>   >>
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