If you are at the right latitude the no-power fridge is awesome. I am colder here in winter and often have my chest freezer in shed and running heating pad inside to bring up to fridge temps....a converted chest freezer was my original solar system refrigeration - its so efficient. I still use it to store fruits and other bulk products.
Do You Ever Regret Going Off Grid?
- Thread starter Solarcabin Channel
- Start date
Jack Rabbit Off Grid
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2021
- Messages
- 478
Been off grid for two years now. I’m going back when the funeral home has to burn me. I’m pretty sure they are on grid.
clockmanfr
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2020
- Messages
- 24
Okay... but honestly, ....
We here in Normandy, France have been off Grid and On Grid for getting on 20 years. All distribution circuits have main Change over switches and we do not back supply to the Grid utilities, and even if we did the law states only 3kw.
We kept the 9kw Grid connection as rental for the connection is low and the supplier can do a very cheap rate at night.
Also the Grid does mean that we don’t have a large standby generator with all the initial costs and maintenance and fuel required for those emergency situations.
Off Grid we have 30kw PV and 3 off 3.7m dia wind turbines, and in the winter when the sun is grim for days, the turbines keep the 1300ah 48v batteries charged.
We have 12 buildings here, small farm, with 4 Gites, (independent houses), stables, sheep barns, salt swimming pool etc etc.
However, keeping the On Grid connection does mean that we can cope with ordinary public folk who visit and take time understanding about their 5kw 230vac supply for each Gite.
I have decided to retire to another country and sell up here in France, but sadly the French do not get Off Grid or RE systems, yea they talk allot and puff about, but are not willing to learn. So having the On Grid connection means we do not suffer from stupid people when it comes to house purchase folk. We are offering all the RE as is, if the buyer wants. Its mostly my stuff and very costeffective and our sunk costs are very low. And i will offer support for a few months, if they want it.
Our Off Grid system is 24/7 and needs management, and that is difficult to teach the death and stupid.
My new place will be in the wilds but a heck of allot smaller for my age, loads of RE stuff so i can continue my RD etc, the modern version of the PLANTE battery etc.
Everything is possible, just give me time.
3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v.
We here in Normandy, France have been off Grid and On Grid for getting on 20 years. All distribution circuits have main Change over switches and we do not back supply to the Grid utilities, and even if we did the law states only 3kw.
We kept the 9kw Grid connection as rental for the connection is low and the supplier can do a very cheap rate at night.
Also the Grid does mean that we don’t have a large standby generator with all the initial costs and maintenance and fuel required for those emergency situations.
Off Grid we have 30kw PV and 3 off 3.7m dia wind turbines, and in the winter when the sun is grim for days, the turbines keep the 1300ah 48v batteries charged.
We have 12 buildings here, small farm, with 4 Gites, (independent houses), stables, sheep barns, salt swimming pool etc etc.
However, keeping the On Grid connection does mean that we can cope with ordinary public folk who visit and take time understanding about their 5kw 230vac supply for each Gite.
I have decided to retire to another country and sell up here in France, but sadly the French do not get Off Grid or RE systems, yea they talk allot and puff about, but are not willing to learn. So having the On Grid connection means we do not suffer from stupid people when it comes to house purchase folk. We are offering all the RE as is, if the buyer wants. Its mostly my stuff and very costeffective and our sunk costs are very low. And i will offer support for a few months, if they want it.
Our Off Grid system is 24/7 and needs management, and that is difficult to teach the death and stupid.
My new place will be in the wilds but a heck of allot smaller for my age, loads of RE stuff so i can continue my RD etc, the modern version of the PLANTE battery etc.
Everything is possible, just give me time.
3 HughP's 3.7m Wind T's (14 years). 5kW PV on 3 Trackers, (10 yrs). 21kW PV AC coupled SH GTI's. OzInverter created Grid. 1300ah 48v.
Exactly what we are in the process of doing on our 81 acre ranch with 2 ponds & high pressure irrigation.
Among other things in our home, I believe having 3" closed cell spray foam on walls, ceiling & 2" subgrade of the slab will be welcome additions along with 22kW of solar, 3,500 gal cistern, 1,700 gal septic radiant heat in residence & shop (2k of propane), wood burning stove...I think will help.
Finishing year 2...in our 5th wheel while building. ? the same for us. ?
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VERY interesting... thx so much for taking the time to share à
Just curious, to what country are you going to? I have 2 different forms retiring to Portugal as American Ex-Pats.
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
I find this interesting because I always figgered' if you could figger' what you need for power in a day, then get your 70-80th percentile worst daily PV ouput high enough you could cover crummy days, then get enough battery for two or three zero days. Nothing will prevent Mommy N from pounding you with a week of gloom, but you could take generator needs to only the most abysmal intervals. So you are generating 1500 watts from how many watts of panels? Also your window of production falls when the gloom hits, so 1500 for maybe 4 hours. 6KWH, isn't bad if you heat with gas or wood. In particular 6KWH/day though a small amount, if supplementing batteries could really stretch the amount of time you can go before you have to crank the generator.
littleharbor2
Solar Addict
9 years off-grid in Baja. Been through 3 hurricanes and a number of high wind events. Never lost power. The grid ends 10 miles up the road. They lose power for multiple reasons, including Hurricanes. There is talk of running the grid power down this far. I doubt many of us would be interested in switching.
There are still some down here who insist on using FLA batteries. I had been using AGM for my solar stuff for probably the last 15 years. Switched to DIY LFP last year and now I am building LFP for all my friends. Keeps me busy.
Off-grid to stay. Down here it's a no brainer.
There are still some down here who insist on using FLA batteries. I had been using AGM for my solar stuff for probably the last 15 years. Switched to DIY LFP last year and now I am building LFP for all my friends. Keeps me busy.
Off-grid to stay. Down here it's a no brainer.
So last winter, a neighbor asked how I was feeling with out power for the last 3 days. I told him I had no idea what he was talking about. He said, "You didn't lose power when the semi went off the road & hit the power pole?"
I told him I had no idea what he was talking about & I never "lose" power so long as the sun shines. ? ?
I told him I had no idea what he was talking about & I never "lose" power so long as the sun shines. ? ?
Cuemaker
New Member
We are working on it, not planning on total off-grid but should be able to be 75% electric from solar & wind.
To many machines, lathes, milling machine, table saw & band saw all 240v.
Our electric bill in Dec. 2020 was $695, with the increase in price that same bill would be about $870 today.
I started studying solar & wind energy in Jan. 2021, had a small system in place by April 2021.
This month's electric bill was about $325, vast improvement, would hate to see what it would have been without solar.
Within the next year our plans is to have over 10kw solar panels, about 56kwh battery bank + 2 wind mills.
We use a lot of electric, our goal is to the get electric bill to averages less than $200.
No regrets & love the challenge, big thanks to the people on this forum, there is always someone willing to help!!!!
Special thanks to Will for starting & maintaining this forum, like to meet you someday but no plans going to Vegas.
To many machines, lathes, milling machine, table saw & band saw all 240v.
Our electric bill in Dec. 2020 was $695, with the increase in price that same bill would be about $870 today.
I started studying solar & wind energy in Jan. 2021, had a small system in place by April 2021.
This month's electric bill was about $325, vast improvement, would hate to see what it would have been without solar.
Within the next year our plans is to have over 10kw solar panels, about 56kwh battery bank + 2 wind mills.
We use a lot of electric, our goal is to the get electric bill to averages less than $200.
No regrets & love the challenge, big thanks to the people on this forum, there is always someone willing to help!!!!
Special thanks to Will for starting & maintaining this forum, like to meet you someday but no plans going to Vegas.
I don't get an electric bill either.
But as for the question we have both a house on grid with solar that washes the bill completely. We have batteries on this system for backup whole house would have no problem staying off grid as long as needed.
Then we have a cabin in the woods 15 min from the house and it's 100% off grid and had no regrets. We have had it for a very long time.
Nobodybusiness
Solar Sponge.
Don’t know if I can claim off grid or not.
I have grid power but don’t use it anymore.
It’s really there in case of really bad weather or I’m just to lazy to go hook up the PTO generator.
With the panel upgrade I am doing now hopefully never need Grid or generator again.
Had Solar for 3 years.
Nobodybusiness
Solar Sponge.
I hear ya on this. Have the same issue.
Fortunately I got it covered now.
If I would just quit using that stuff I could reduce my consumption quite a bit.
Oh well. Gives me something to get out of bed in the morning for. Inactivity is a sure way to waste away quickly.
To be honest 1500W on heavy snowfall day with snow-covered panels sounds like fairytale.
Or it was one of those days southern part of sky is clear and the snow clouds are sitting right on top of you.
littleharbor2
Solar Addict
That's gotta be frustrating.
We are all electric in our manufactured home. We increased our electrical efficiancy first. Our old bill this time of year would be around the $200 /month. Now about $120-$130. Adding smart switches so can turn things off to get rid of parasitic draw. Anyway we have decreased our usage so that a single Outback 8048A should handle our usage no problem. Lots of people here with great ideas on how to become more efficiant without having to give anything up. In keeping with the thread we are not off grid. Yet. Heading that way asatwwlm. (As soon as the wife will let me.)
Unfortunately I don't have a grid to fall back on. I've trimmed down everything to a minimum. Turned off the fridge, etc. I average around 70 W in the daytime, and completely turned off at night.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
Wow! impressive.
My inverter idle is nearly that much - each.
Spoiled with my grid connection remaining available as needed Nov - Dec and week or two in January, then the solar is good again.
pollenface
Solar Addict
My own regret is being on a budget
Steve_S
Offgrid Cabineer, N.E. Ontario, Canada
There is a great deal of truth to Conservation is far cheaper than Generation & Storage. I use on average between 3.5-4.0 kWh per day year round and I live up near Algonquin Park Ontario, remote & rural.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
Yeah I was too, until I smashed that darn budget into a thousand pieces...now a few other aspects of my life are on a budget instead!
Cuemaker
New Member
I went into my solar project with a little different perspective.
I'm asked a lot by friends & family; how long will it take to pay for itself?
I don't care if it ever pays for itself with saving from the power company.
My goal is to be able to operate my house on solar when I get too old to work.
While I'm working & able to build a big enough power grid to do the job & all paid for is good enough for us.
After we retire a ZERO electric bill will go a long way stretching that monthly check!
I'm asked a lot by friends & family; how long will it take to pay for itself?
I don't care if it ever pays for itself with saving from the power company.
My goal is to be able to operate my house on solar when I get too old to work.
While I'm working & able to build a big enough power grid to do the job & all paid for is good enough for us.
After we retire a ZERO electric bill will go a long way stretching that monthly check!
But I have wondered, do they create, atleast some, themselves?
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