Off-Grid Living

[RobertN]

The Sierra Solar catalog shows a lot more of the books ect than thier web site. Even just thier catalog is really informative.

Thanks Robert N, for the info., just checked their site and bookmarked it..

 

[MadJack]

pic 1
only 4-11watt CFL's to this amount of light in the kitchen.

pic 2
Rec-room looking north, open to below living room. Half wall to keep upstairs noise down for TV downstairs. Notice the cat walk along the north wall to access high wall for mounts/pictures.

pic 3
Finally graded front yard for lawn this past spring. Notice the windows are only 3' x 3' for minimum heat loss but still give ample light.

pic 4
We got a little bit of snow so unless I shovel the natural light isn't so great all the time.

 

[teg]

Good looking cabinet doors... Like that style.

 

[BoFuller]

This looks awesome! We doing an off-grid cabin and I just got the plans back from the engineer.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

To say I'm impressed would be an understatement. I admire people with talent, especially those that combine that talent with a lot of hard work and ingenuity to accomplish what you have. You have a right to be proud...it's beautiful.

 

[tcartwri]

We should be installing 10- 235watt solar panels and the Outback inverter/charge controller in early Spring along with 6 more of the same batteries.

There is a glut of solar panels in Ontario right now. You could easily save 30~50% on the cost of the panels if you start scanning Craigslist and Kijiji. I just bought 8 235W panels at $1.50 / W.

Ottawa.kijiji.ca

No duty on Green renewables at the border.

 

[tommu56]

I'd look at the 2v L16 cells a lot more umph in their package.
I have 8 Trojan 6v L16 series and paralleled at my cabin and when they go I plan on gong to one string of 2v ones

I have all solar parts including batteries came from from Back Woods solar my well pump came from then too grunfus SQflex at 450ft deep (cheaper than local)

tom

 

[MadJack]

Tom, my cost on the 6v L16's was around 375. each, and are 475 amp/hrs. I haven't even put a strain on them yet.
What do the 2V go for and how many amp/hours? Are they the same size & weight as the L16's?

Thanks for the info tcart. I'll check craigslist...

 

[tommu56]

Tom, my cost on the 6v L16's was around 375. each, and are 475 amp/hrs. I haven't even put a strain on them yet.
What do the 2V go for and how many amp/hours? Are they the same size & weight as the L16's?

Thanks for the info tcart. I'll check craigslist...

The reason is to not parallel the sets makes a better bank I ordered the battery's from backwoods and picked them up at a local Trojan warehouse.


1100 ah


battery info

note we use our place on about 2 weekends a month and my wife stays up there most of the summer.
The only load on all the time is well pump we have to pump to a cistern because of the low yield well it pumps 2-3 hr a day till the cistern is full.


tom

 

[MadJack]

In another thread I mentioned this solar heated stock tank, and surprisingly found the link...

Solar heated and insulated stock tank

No power for a tank heater when you're off grid.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

No power for a tank heater when you're off grid.

I still like to find a solar tank heater.

Maybe a solar well pump too!

David

 

[MadJack]

Yes, you really need the solar [ or wind-mill ] pump.

 

[RobertN]

The Sierra Solar link I posted earlier, they carry all that stuff.

I still like to find a solar tank heater.

Maybe a solar well pump too!

David

 

[troutsqueezer]

Is this off-grid living by choice or are you waiting for power to come to your area?

I couldn't live without my milling machines, lathes, welders, etc. Not to mention the big screen, microwave, wine cooler, etc.

I lived off the grid in a camping trailer for two years while putting my house up. That was more than enough. Haven't been camping since and that was 28 years ago.

 

[tommu56]

Is this off-grid living by choice or are you waiting for power to come to your area?

I couldn't live without my milling machines, lathes, welders, etc. Not to mention the big screen, microwave, wine cooler, etc.

I lived off the grid in a camping trailer for two years while putting my house up. That was more than enough. Haven't been camping since and that was 28 years ago.

3 outback inverters can be wired to provide 3 phase 120/208
Rob (3RRL) could have done it on his system but was too late to change it

tom

 

[MadJack]

Is this off-grid living by choice or are you waiting for power to come to your area?

I couldn't live without my milling machines, lathes, welders, etc. Not to mention the big screen, microwave, wine cooler, etc.

I lived off the grid in a camping trailer for two years while putting my house up. That was more than enough. Haven't been camping since and that was 28 years ago.

When the power company wants $18K up front to run wire to 8 existing poles (and they said it may be more) I decided to invest 1/2 to 2/3 of that into my own place. This will also add $30K to $50K more value to the place.
Conservation and power-management gets us by pretty well.

 

[feedjake]

What an accomplishment! Hats off to you sir! 10 years of designing, planing, and finally implementation. Do/did you have a wife during all of this, any children? My struggle is keeping my role as a father/spouse/provider, and implementing my dreams. Good news is, as the kids get a bit older I'm finding some cohesion between the two worlds.

Once again outstanding work!!

 

[teg]

I was looking at building a retirement home 1200' past the last pole... we got the electric company to come out and give us an estimate of how mush that would cost.

Answer was that it would be free and if we wanted under ground that it would be cost of underground minus cost of overhead... which is very doable :thumbsup:

Wife and I had a bet, I had over 20k... her under still giving her back-rubs to pay off the bet.

 

[Davinator]

MadJack,

You have described and done exactly what I dream (and I suspect many others) of doing. I tip my hat to you. FANTASTIC Job!