Is anybody off grid?

**coxmw** · 02-26-2012, 05:49 PM

Nice setup you have there..

**Iron mike** · 02-27-2012, 12:55 AM

I do like the set up I would however like a more detailed explanation of how to acheave it I am about to get out of the military and would lik any hints to make my life eaiser

**Zoar** · 02-27-2012, 11:54 AM

It Is Simple. Here is my system at home. I have been off the Grid about 8 years now:

6 Solar 175-225 WATT Solar Panels (24 Volts DC)
1 Wind Turbine 400 WATT (24 Volts DC)
4 Six Volt Golf Cart in one pod to make 24 Volts DC battery Storage Unit
Outback Controller
1 Inverter 3500 WATTS (Xantrex)

I have all the above (except the wind turbine) in or mounted on a SHED in my garden. The side of roof with the solar panels on it faces SOUTH. My power generation is all 24 Volts DC. But when it gets to my inverter it gets changed to 110Volt AC. There is a standard 110 Volt AC power line (buried) from this shed to my house. My house is wired just like any other 110Volt AC home. It keeps it so simple and there is NO reason to go DC lighting. It just complicates things and makes it more expensive!

Keep It Simple! You can be totally off the grid too. As I said, disregard the magazine articles that say it is $30K just to get into it. They are lying to you so you stay a sheep. Thus every month you send money to "the man" whereby you can remain sucking the teat of the Utilities and being a GOOD CONSUMER!

**rlewis581** · 03-02-2012, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by herbalpagan

we are looking at getting solar and wind for 100% of our needs. However, we were thinking of going with a buy back switch instead of a battery bank at first.

The only problem with "Grid tie inverters" (buy back type) is that they need to have grid power supplied to them to work. I personally wouldn't waste my money on that system, just to save a few pennies on you power bill. I love solar power, but grid tie is all about the rebates and the all mighty $$. My advice is to buy panel, batteries and inverter, as you can afford them and build the system up in stages, then if you have excess power buy a grid tie inverter and sell back your extra at that point. No disrespect at to you choices just a little advice from a master electrician and 30 year electrical contractor. LOL

**bgtexas** · 03-03-2012, 02:51 AM

I am using solar panels and batteries. The lights are leds and use only a fraction of the power required for normal AC lights. The small system I have configured will run my lighting and one small frige for 3 days without sun. Heating is a small wood burning stove which supplies heating and cooking. most of the items used were purchased off ebay or craigslist at a huge savings.

Originally Posted by Brosia

just curious.

or even partially. If so, what are you using for power?

**christian** · 03-13-2012, 09:02 PM

Not yet. Im starting to price out giant solar arrays to suppliment power/heat/water. Really it will pay for it self sooner or later it all depends on current oil prices. It will be a giant system to get off grid completeley.The idea has already been mentioned use converters to keep things 110. If the array is large enough you can get off grid in style :>)

**bambam55** · 03-16-2012, 09:20 AM

has any one here heard of the hojo motor? seems like some thing viable magnets on a stator type unit w/ all magnets same pole up and an outside ring of magnets same side down as in all magnets being in pushing mode the magnets in the stator being in a slight angle which pushes the stator round, this could be connected to a generator directly if you could figure the size of the stator(dia ) needed to turn the gen also I'm going to try the hydrogen gen. to power a gen .