Biography of Roy Rakobitsch

The Past

It all started when I was a kid... maybe when I was 4 or 5. I started playing with wires and batteries. According to my parents I used to drag them around with me. Lamps, light bulbs, broken appliances, you name it. You know, back when children had real toys... I chose to drag around electronic items. (I know, it's weird).

That was 25 years ago. I've come a long way, and learned A LOT since then. Over the years, I've worked for a number of large corporations (and some smaller) in the engineering/design fields, also sitting for a few technical management positions. But in my spare time, I've always worked on my own projects and had a clear idea of where I wanted to take things.

This website, its photo gallery, and my Blog serve as my PORTFOLIO IN PROGRESS. It accurately represents how I've spent my time during the last 15 years, describes my current projects, and gives an indication of what I'll be working on in the near future. Though the majority of it was not documented by me terribly well (lack of digital camera), I hope to change this moving forward.

I've been interested in RE for a while. Probably almost as long as I've been interested in Radio (licensed Amateur operator since age 14 - KB2UHF, and, yes, I learned Morse code to get my ticket!). Since Jr. High, I used to build little wind turbines and float them out on rafts in the bay to power lights. I've had many failures and successes alike. I quickly learned that Long Island has some of the best wind resources around. Over the years, I've built other slightly larger machines to power portable and stationary radio transmitting equipment that I personally built and operated. I've always thought that the two technologies (Amateur Radio/Wind Power) went hand in hand. Solar PV lends itself nicely to this application also and, therefore, I began playing with that too.

I speak of RE "technology" like it's something new. However, IT'S NOT!! Wind power is thousands of years old. Think, sailing! Wind electric is over 100 years old. Basic alternator technology must be close to 150 years old. PV is over 50 years old. With the exception of inverters, Neodymium magnets, and slight efficiency improvements overall, PV and wind technology has been around for ages. Although the physics and math that govern how these technologies can become complicated the further you delve in, one can still have an operational system by knowing just the basics. This is something you learn once you discover you have the "DIY gene." Don't get me wrong, I never did mind math as long as I could relate it to something.

The Present

About 8 years ago, I decided to see it I could live solely on the power produced by the wind turbines I constructed (off grid). BANG!! -- I caught "the bug!" REALLY BAD! I couldn't shake it since, and it has progressed into somewhat of...an obsession.

Good thing it's A LOT of fun. :-)

Browse my Blog for the latest updates on new and ongoing projects.