29 replies to this topic

[solarman]

Hi folks, just wanted to introduce myself and share my off-grid experiences.

I have been living off-grid for over 15 years now. Started small living in a camp trailer with one 45 watt solar panel and an old truck battery to power a water pump and lights. I saved enough in two years to build a 14x14 off-grid cabin.

The cabin has a kitchen, dining area, living area and bathroom downstairs and large bedroom and office upstairs. My power system is 580 watts solar and 400 watts wind which runs my water pump, lights, tv, laptop, fridge and lots of gadgets. I use a solar composting toilet of my own design and hand drilled my water well. Heat is woodstove with backup propane.

I have lots of vids of my cabin and system on youtube for ideas:

youtube solarcabin

I hope to make some friends and share off-grid ideas!

LaMar

[zararina]

I am not living off grid but had tried my best to conserve anything I could conserve like electricity, water and material things.
Nice to know you had manage to live like that and it is nicer to learn how to have such kind of place/home. It seems you can really share lots of great ideas here.
Welcome to the forum and hope to read more of your posts around.

[solarman]

Thanks Zararina!

[mariaandrea]

I'm not remotely anywhere in the vicinity of living off the grid - inhabiting a city apartment as I do - but it's my dream. Closer to a fantasy at this point, but with seeds of reality. I haunt and lurk websites, books and videos like yours to educate myself about how to do it, which is part of the battle. So thanks. It motivates me and gives me inspiration to read stories like yours.

[solarman]

Hi Maria, going off grid is a serious decision and many of us do it out of necessity while some do it by choice. It is not as hard as people think wth todays technology but it does take some lifestyle adjustment.

LaMar

[mariaandrea]

solarman, on 03 May 2012 - 12:33 PM, said:

Hi Maria, going off grid is a serious decision and many of us do it out of necessity while some do it by choice. It is not as hard as people think wth todays technology but it does take some lifestyle adjustment.

LaMar

Oh I don't think it will be hard and in some ways I think it will be easier. I'm already prepared with most of the skills I will need and learning the rest. Raising 2 kids has taken most of my time and money up until now, but they're grown and I'm looking around realizing I need to make this happen soon. I'll be moving back home to the country in a couple years, where it is decidedly easier to go off the grid that it is in a city.

[steph84]

Thanks for sharing your youtube page with us! I am into living off-grid and plan to when I get to my 30s. Right now I am wrapping up some things for work. I can't wait to get to it!

[MyDigitalpoint]

zararina, on 03 May 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

I am not living off grid but had tried my best to conserve anything I could conserve like electricity, water and material things.

Me either, but I would like to live off grid and stop worring about electricity, which is my main concern, not just for the billing but because  my dream is having a house fully-powered by solar energy.

I have to check your videos on YouTube, but since yesterday my connectivity is so poor to get videos loading. I'm sure it will improve sometime later though because weekend is over. My ISP tends to do maintenance jobs on weekends that slow down the connection.

[solarman]

This is my latest video:

[milano]

How much did you spend on your solar panel and wind? Do they run on the same wire? What I mean is that if there is no sun, the wind can be used to draw power and vice versa. I am not planning to live off the grid but i want to try and see how much I will save if I use renewable energy sources for my necessities like the fridge and the heater.

[solarman]

milano, on 07 May 2012 - 08:02 AM, said:

How much did you spend on your solar panel and wind? Do they run on the same wire? What I mean is that if there is no sun, the wind can be used to draw power and vice versa. I am not planning to live off the grid but i want to try and see how much I will save if I use renewable energy sources for my necessities like the fridge and the heater.

My system was built over time and cost about $3000. It would not be recommended to try and run a fridge and electric heaters off solar and wind power as these appliances use a lot of power. I use a DC fridge and propane and wood heat.

[tri-n-b-helpful]

Magnificent! Did you buy that fridge brand new or convert it yourself? How are the local regulations there for this sort of thing? How is the sun in your area compared to the wind and which do you get more power from? How is the old truck battery today? What are your plans for the future? Inspirational!

[solarman]

tri-n-b-helpful, on 08 May 2012 - 10:45 PM, said:

Magnificent! Did you buy that fridge brand new or convert it yourself? How are the local regulations there for this sort of thing? How is the sun in your area compared to the wind and which do you get more power from? How is the old truck battery today? What are your plans for the future? Inspirational!

Thanks- the fridge is designed for RV and trucker use. It depends on the county for regs and some only require an approved septic system. Always check with the county. My plans for the future are more fishing, bigger garden, and raise a cash crop.

[saver]

You live a fascinating life solar man!

I'm not gonna come round and say hi, but could you mention roughly where you live?
Climate obviously plays a big part in your power sources, and I'm wondering what kind of area you live in that provides a decent amount of sun and wind.

[solarman]

saver, on 12 May 2012 - 01:44 AM, said:

You live a fascinating life solar man!

I'm not gonna come round and say hi, but could you mention roughly where you live?
Climate obviously plays a big part in your power sources, and I'm wondering what kind of area you live in that provides a decent amount of sun and wind.

I am in Utah near Flaming Gorge. Monocrystaline panels work even in low light conditions and we average 4-5 hours of sunlight a day in winter.

[JBMedia]

I personally don't live off-grid. But I would not be opposed to learning how and possibly adapting to this in the near future. If anyone could give me brief beginners tips, I'd really appreciate them.

Thanks.

[solarman]

JBMedia, on 13 May 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

I personally don't live off-grid. But I would not be opposed to learning how and possibly adapting to this in the near future. If anyone could give me brief beginners tips, I'd really appreciate them.

Thanks.

You can start with my vids and then ask questions:http://www.youtube.com/solarcabinLaMar

[artistry]

Fascinating. Welcome. Thanks for all the information, the web address and the video. You are a wealth of great informaion. I am stuck in the city, but I love what you have done. This way of living, should be a wave of the future for a lot of people. Thanks for sharing. .

[aspen]

Hi there solarman. I've been off the grid for 30 years. The last 23 on solar panels. Only a small system but adequate enough. Hey thanks for sharing your video. It's great to see others at it.

[saver]

solarman, on 12 May 2012 - 05:25 AM, said:

I am in Utah near Flaming Gorge. Monocrystaline panels work even in low light conditions and we average 4-5 hours of sunlight a day in winter.

Thanks :)

I'm past thinking there's one right way for everyone to live, people just aren't all the same.

BUT what you're doing is something that a lot more people should know about. It occurs to me I have no idea how environmental subjects are tackled in schools. I guess as part of geography.