Off the Grid Update

[albear_garni]

As we have learned, living off the grid has its challenges.  We are now on the third iteration of our solar system, and are hoping that this is our last (except of course, for adding more solar panels).  We spent last Sunday with our solar engineer, Doug, installing the new battery bank.  The batteries (48 volt service) are made by a company called Hawker, and with four banks installed, should provide 3-4 days of power storage.  It took a quite a while to get the batteries moved, as each of the battery banks weighs over 600 pounds.  As a comparison, the batterie they were replacing weigh 150 pounds each.  Our engineer rented a hoist to get them off the trailer and to lower them into place, and I came up with the idea to use teflon furniture glides to then slide them into position.

We drove back to Berkeley that night exhausted, but happy, and celebrated with dinner at the truck stop in Ukiah (not as interesting as it sounds, unfortunately).

We stayed in town this weekend, for Halloween.  Maybe more on that later.


Our engineer on his trailer with the all important hoist and the batteries.

Below is a series of photos showing how the system has changed over the years.


This is the original 12 volt system that was in the house when we purchased it.  We couldn't run anything over 600 watts at one time; finding a toaster that met this qualification was a bitch.  The propane fuel back-up generator ran a lot.


The second system, with a Trace sign wave inverter, Outback Charge controller, and larger batteries.  Still 12 volts, it gave us more storage, and enough power to run the washer and dryer without running the back-up generator.  The white box is an on-demand Buderus Hot Water Heater, for the radiant heat system and general hot water.



The lates and greatest system, with an Outback inverter and Outback charge controller.  A lot fewer things on the wall, but over 2,000 pounds of batteries still boggles my mind.

Comments

[putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com]

How hard would it have been to get connected to the grid? Oh, and thank you for the care package!

[albear-garni.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the closest electric lines are about 6-8 miles away. The neighbors want to keep the landsacape looking natural, which is acutally a good thing. I'll admit that we knew this when we bought the place, and I've now gotten over my Lisa Douglas phase!

Oh yes, and you are VERY welcome re: the care package!

[ursine1.livejournal.com]

Is a wind turbine an alternative or an additional energy source to solar?

Chuck, we all have "on-demand" water heaters here

[albear-garni.livejournal.com]

Yes, we've thought about wind turbines, since the winters at the house are pretty stormy. We've held off, since our original inverter could not handle the required voltage. Also, being an architect, I can't help but to look for one that isn't so darned big (did I say that?)

Farm House

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

My parents moved to the farm in the 1940s. There was no electricity. Rural Electrification was later. They had a 32 volt windcharger. In the basement was 16 glass batterys about one foot square and about 18 inches tall. They were able to get a few small appliances. My mother couldn't iron clothes unless the wind was strong. Most of the power was used for lighting. The stove and the refridgerator were both natural gas. We have come along way in 60 years.

Re: Farm House

[albear-garni.livejournal.com]

And I thought I had it bad not being able to run the toaster and the blender at the same time! Our refrigerator is propane, and it was kinda weird at first, since it's so quiet.

BTW, I can't wait to read more of your coming out story, Van. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[ednixon.livejournal.com]

Very impressive.
Mercy Hot Springs, a hunnerd miles or so south of S.F.
is one of those "off the grid" places too.
http://www.merceyhotsprings.com/energy.html

[albear-garni.livejournal.com]

Cool, I hand't heard of this place before...