3 weeks off of grid service ..So here’s where it is…

[littleharbor2]

I totally get and Thank you for the hints on propane reduction, BUT, my problem is for the second month now my usage of electricity and propane has been about 1/2 as much as normal as I’m using the solar stuff to supplement…
the power company doesn’t care…But
the propane deal I cut with the small company was I would get about a 40 % reduction off what most people here pay IF I used a certain amount…and put it in a corp acct …
I am now trying to use a bunch of propane to stay within the limits of my discount deal…it’s a sweet one…
I already bought it and it’s just sitting there…I. Am modifying my system everyday to upgrade stuff…add more panels , ventilation .etc…
I will try improve it and use enough propane to keep them happy…
At some point I will cut free of most electric other than the basic electric fee for being connected..and my streetlight,..
the propane people I need to make them happy ..if I loose my discount it would almost double my price….plus since I got the solar stuff running, I have between 3-4 years of back up propane for heating , cooking , hot water and gen set running if needed, sitting out side in my tank…
that’s worth protecting if the grid went south for whatever reason..

sometimes in life ya have to compromise a bit to keep making progress…

thanks for your thoughts…
J.

You have a propane fueled generator?

 

[justgary]

I'll buy propane from you at your cost. We can rig up a 20 lb bottle filler.

 

[J.H.]

You have a propane fueled generator?

3 of them…2200 3500 9750…why…?

 

[littleharbor2]

3 of them…2200 3500 9750…why…?

Figured you used it as backup for your generators

 

[J.H.]

I'll buy propane from you at your cost. We can rig up a 20 lb bottle filler.

I get the same price for the big tank and for the 20 -30 lb tanks…
it’s about 7 bucks for a 20 lb refill

 

[J.H.]

Figured you used it as backup for your generators

I don’t use gasoline at all except for one old gen set… all use propane only ..I had the big tank plumbed and a low pressure regulator installed to feed them correctly…… don’t have to change the 20 lb tanks thst way…actually I can plug the gen set to one of the aux BBQ quick connects and it feeds it just fine…

 

[Supervstech]

A small fly in your ointment is you haven't used the system in the winter...

Xlouds, and sun angle DRASTICALLY reduce solar power...
If you are small now, you will be non functional in winter...
Get more panels before you have to tick it in and sulk to the trailer...

 

[J.H.]

I don’t use gasoline at all except for one old gen set… all use propane only ..I had the big tank plumed to feed them… don’t have to change the 20 lb tanks thst way…

Actually ,

A small fly in your ointment is you haven't used the system in the winter...

Xlouds, and sun angle DRASTICALLY reduce solar power...
If you are small now, you will be non functional in winter...
Get more panels before you have to tick it in and sulk to the trailer...

I have anticipated… and calculated panels tilt to 45 degrees and are trailer mounted to move around easily…. but nothing is ever perfect…been up here at 4000- 5000 + ft for since ’76 … I am aware of the NC mtns when they want to show their butt…

I have pretty good sun in winter…clear air …cold temps… panels this last spring were up to 25% higher than rating… and over rating most times this spring under load … Hickory and it’s pollution crap is the closest city at 50 miles away… … will triple the panels by next year… hopefully will be plenty for all I need for what I run in a RV…

your correct… one can can ever be sure of what’s coming…thst why I have all the propane gen sets, a big ass tank and a back up grid connection…
do you remember the blizzard of ‘93…? . Haaaa I was living at 5200 ft o top of beech mtn…4 ft of snow in one day..

 

[HarryN]

I guess in theory you could convert one of your cars to propane ?

 

[HRTKD]

Set up a distillery?

 

[J.H.]

I guess in theory you could convert one of your cars to propane ?

Nope …. buying a tesla Y soon hopefully ….will use solar to charge…

 

[J.H.]

Set up a distillery?

now that would save me some bucks…

 

[Supervstech]

Actually ,

I have anticipated… and calculated panels tilt to 45 degrees and are trailer mounted to move around easily…. but nothing is ever perfect…been up here at 4000- 5000 + ft for since ’76 … I am aware of the NC mtns when they want to show their butt…

I have pretty good sun in winter…clear air …cold temps… panels this last spring were up to 25% higher than rating… and over rating most times this spring under load … Hickory and it’s pollution crap is the closest city at 50 miles away… … will triple the panels by next year… hopefully will be plenty for all I need for what I run in a RV…

your correct… one can can ever be sure of what’s coming…thst why I have all the propane gen sets, a big ass tank and a back up grid connection…
do you remember the blizzard of ‘93…? . Haaaa I was living at 5200 ft o top of beech mtn…4 ft of snow in one day..

Ahhh. I didn’t realize we were neighbors! Holla when you wanna get some help or show off!

 

[J.H.]

I'll buy propane from you at your cost. We can rig up a 20 lb bottle filler.

Ya know ,now that you say that, I bought a kit a few years back for doing that…seemed like a cool thing at that time….never have even tried it… I also got a few of the special little one lb tanks and that are rated for refill , with little bronze caps…and some gizmo to hook up the stuff …. all of it is stashed somewhere in a box… have no idea where…???….but it’s around ……I totally forgot about it…thx.

 

[J.H.]

Ahhh. I didn’t realize we were neighbors! Holla when you wanna get some help or show off!

Getting help would more likely be the case… compared to some of the big systems you cats have running ,I have nothing show off other than a few cool guitars and other random items…im just a lowly hillbilly ……but thanks.

 

[Hedges]

Ya know ,now that you say that, I bought a kit a few years back for doing that…seemed like a cool thing at that time….never have even tried it… I also got a few of the special little one lb tanks and that are rated for refill , with little bronze caps…and some gizmo to hook up the stuff

DIY refill of propane I think carries it's own special risks. I think refilling compressed gas cylinders doesn't have the same pitfalls as refilling something that liquifies. I think propane relies on headspace maybe to allow liquid expansion with temperature.

Not saying it can't be done, but research the method rather than just figuring it out empirically without even RTFM like many of us do most things.

 

[littleharbor2]

The trick to refilling those one pound cylinders is to use a valve removal tool. The same one you use for removing bicycle and car tire valves. You need to take a hacksaw blade and lengthen the little slot on the tool. When you start refilling you open the valve on the top of the cylinder next to the main opening which allows the liquid to flow into the cylinder with ease. I have filled hundreds of cylinders but must say do at your own risk. Of course do this in open air away from any ignition sources.

 

[J.H.]

DIY refill of propane I think carries it's own special risks. I think refilling compressed gas cylinders doesn't have the same pitfalls as refilling something that liquifies. I think propane relies on headspace maybe to allow liquid expansion with temperature.

Not saying it can't be done, but research the method rather than just figuring it out empirically without even RTFM like many of us do most things.

That why I have never messed with it…the 1 lb tanks arent required by anything I have ,as I bought the proper hoses and filters to run the devices off a 20 tank…..I don’t trust the little 1 lb tanks anyway…I have seen them leak when partially filled but not attached to somthing…

the 20 and 30 lb tanks I have filled at the place who placed my 500 gallon tank…I watch them very closely to be sure they don’t exceed the 80% rule… I trust no one anymore about doin the right thing……..I watch em…

almost got killed once trusting a new person “ fill up” my boats propane tank at the dock.. she did too. TO 100% FULL …not 80% ….and I dint know…it was located in the cockpit in a special type propane locker next to the deisil engine room. it was 100 F degrees outside on the 4th of July.

I didn’t sail at all but motored around the other marinas with 6 passengers.. the combination of hot weather - full tank- and hours of engine room heat blew out the safty plugs on the propane tank Releasing a lot of gas over us filling the whole cockpit area … it had no headroom to expand saftly.
it covered alot of stuff with ice …and a big plume of whiteish gas…with everyone smoking and drinking beer.. I was taken aback as to how ice could be forming in 100 degree weather…I was stunned as to what was happening..
how it didn’t ignite and start the first of the fireworks show scheduled for that nite amazed me…

I don’t even use those 20 lb tanks much anymore except for a workshop heat source or to run a genset in an odd place not near the quick connects on the RV or the big tank….
I keep an eye on propane… it’s sneaky ..
Darwin is alway lurking around watching.

 

[littleharbor2]

That why I have never messed with it…the 1 lb tanks arent required by anything I have ,as I bought the proper hoses and filters to run the devices off a 20 tank…..I don’t trust the little 1 lb tanks anyway…I have seen them leak when partially filled but not attached to somthing…

the 20 and 30 lb tanks I have filled at the place who placed my 500 gallon tank…I watch them very closely to be sure they don’t exceed the 80% rule… I trust no one anymore about doin the right thing……..I watch em…

almost got killed once trusting a new person “ fill up” my boats propane tank at the dock.. she did too. TO 100% FULL …not 80% ….and I dint know…it was located in the cockpit in a special type propane locker next to the deisil engine room. it was 100 F degrees outside on the 4th of July.

I didn’t sail at all but motored around the other marinas with 6 passengers.. the combination of hot weather - full tank- and hours of engine room heat blew out the safty plugs on the propane tank Releasing a lot of gas over us filling the whole cockpit area … it had no headroom to expand saftly.
it covered alot of stuff with ice …and a big plume of whiteish gas…with everyone smoking and drinking beer.. I was taken aback as to how ice could be forming in 100 degree weather…I was stunned as to what was happening..
how it didn’t ignite and start the first of the fireworks show scheduled for that nite amazed me…

I don’t even use those 20 lb tanks much anymore except for a workshop heat source or to run a genset in an odd place not near the quick connects on the RV or the big tank….
I keep an eye on propane… it’s sneaky ..
Darwin is alway lurking around watching.

Propane and boats don't mix well. The fact that boats are a hole in the water, so to speak , gives propane gas a place to hang out just waiting a spark. Gasoline fumes as well. Good ventilation fans are a must, AFAIAC

 

[J.H.]

Propane and boats don't mix well. The fact that boats are a hole in the water, so to speak , gives propane gas a place to hang out just waiting a spark. Gasoline fumes as well. Good ventilation fans are a must, AFAIAC

True..that’s why I got rid of all the propane on the boat that fall and went to all electric appliances powered by shore or a 7000watt diesel gen set…no more propane for me and the boat..

 

[littleharbor2]

I lived on Catalina Island for 48 years. One night we heard this huge explosion. It was a 50 foot Cabin Cruiser that had a propane leak. It literally blew the entire top of the boat right off. The hull looked like a 50 foot skiff sitting there in the water.

 

[J.H.]

I lived on Catalina Island for 48 years. One night we heard this huge explosion. It was a 50 foot Cabin Cruiser that had a propane leak. It literally blew the entire top of the boat right off. The hull looked like a 50 foot skiff sitting there in the water.

I have seen that happen to good size boats .. with people asleep inside..never knew what hit em..