how's your off grid living happiness level ?

new off grid · Apr 7, 2024

Hello all,
I've been using homemade solar power since 2019
there're 8 people in the family, include 3 kids, 5 adults
we're using/running all electric devices normally just like before, even more and more lately
4 fridges/freezers, 2 microwaves, 2 high power air fry/toaster oven, 2 hairdryers, 3 desktops, 3 big Tvs, tons of lights....
my setup :
- 17 x 390 solar panel = 6630w
- 48v/8kw/ 120v inverter
- 48v/20kwh Lifepo4 battery pack

harvesting around 24 - 30kwh/ day, more than enough for us
only need some pg&e back up on no sun days and many weeks on raining/winter season
100% happy since the 1st day
just 1 minor thing need not to do : do not use 2 hairdryer and 2 microwave oven at the same time
how's yours ?
great day ppl and lets get that free sun !

HalfBaked · Apr 7, 2024

Totally off grid, no grid backup.
Generator didn't run all winter.
Waiting on delivery of EG4 12kbtu hybrid minisplit so I can say the same thing after this summer.

B-Mod · Apr 7, 2024

Fully offgrid. Very small gen usage last winter mostly do to not enough batteries built. Now I have more, and another 60kwh on the way. Also adding another 13kw or so of solar in the next few months. Full electric house, shop, and 2 ev's.

Daddy Tanuki · Apr 7, 2024

completely offgrid, magnum 4448 and battery banks and 7.2kw panels powers entire house and shop for the last 7 years. swapped to Lithium chemistry about 4 years ago. Currently working on a hot water boiler to heat the house vice my wood stove. the wood stove will still be in place just as a backup and for ambiance.

alcook62 · Apr 9, 2024

new off grid said:
Hello all,
I've been using homemade solar power since 2019
there're 8 people in the family, include 3 kids, 5 adults
we're using/running all electric devices normally just like before, even more and more lately
4 fridges/freezers, 2 microwaves, 2 high power air fry/toaster oven, 2 hairdryers, 3 desktops, 3 big Tvs, tons of lights....
my setup :
- 17 x 390 solar panel = 6630w
- 48v/8kw/ 120v inverter
- 48v/20kwh Lifepo4 battery pack

harvesting around 24 - 30kwh/ day, more than enough for us
only need some pg&e back up on no sun days and many weeks on raining/winter season
100% happy since the 1st day
just 1 minor thing need not to do : do not use 2 hairdryer and 2 microwave oven at the same time
how's yours ?
great day ppl and lets get that free sun !

Fully off-grid since 2018. Just the wife and I. 2400 watts of solar and 12.2 kWh of batteries (more coming when my social security kicks in in August!). We've briefly used the backup genny maybe a half dozen times since winter started. You're right about load management, and it becomes ingrained quickly! The wife's hair dryer consumes an insane amount of power. More than our air fryer, if you can believe that. Overall we're very happy with our lifestyle.

Daddy Tanuki · Apr 9, 2024

alcook62 said:
The wife's hair dryer consumes an insane amount of power. More than our air fryer, if you can believe that.

yep I bought 6 used hair dryers at a local recycle shop and use them as test loads for when I capacity test battery banks. load the inverters down and watch the bank drop at a scary rate. ha ha ha

Danke · Apr 9, 2024

new off grid said:
there're 8 people in the family, include 3 kids, 5 adults

…100% happy since the 1st day

You wouldn’t be out somewhere in the sticks of Utah by chance, are you?

how's your off grid living happiness level ?

new off grid

New Member

HalfBaked

Ever the student

B-Mod

Solar Enthusiast

Daddy Tanuki

Solar Wizard

alcook62

Don't Be A Casualty - Cut the Cord

Daddy Tanuki

Solar Wizard

Danke

Solar Wizard

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