Being off grid simply means I'm not dependent on the countries electrical power grid...I don't have any public utilities on my land but I do have electricity, water and other power sources...I will be selling my home in the city in a few months and moving out to my cabin full time this summer, and building a new home.
Any off grid enthusiasts on here? Or anyone who's living off the grid?
- Thread starter Invictus
- Start date
Prepared for what?
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
RadishRose
SF VIP
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
That sounds exciting!
I don't really know 911, but it's the scout motto.layful:
Natural disasters, economic collapse, among many other possible scenarios.
Tommy
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
Sometimes I think the "best" preppers are naturally born to it. I've a friend who, although he would never call himself one, is probably the most effective "prepper" I can imagine. In this post, I'll call him "Rich".
First and foremost, Rich was born into a strong rural farming community that was the home of his, and many other local residents' families for many generations. His roots are very deep. He has a large number of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren living in the area. He has countless friends as well, many of whom he's known for his entire life.
Like many of his neighbors, Rich has always been a part-time farmer, but he retired from a successful career as an engineer for General Motors. He has an amazing array of skills. He can repair almost any type of mechanical device, operate heavy equipment, and handle most of the building trades well. He raises crops. Until recently he hunted, and can can raise and butcher livestock. Rich and his wife raised their kids to be God-fearing Christians and most of them inherited their parents' values. They are all resourceful, self-reliant, industrious and skilled. Any one of them will (and does) unselfishly go out of their way to help a neighbor in good times or bad.
The community is close and in difficult times they automatically band together. The range of talent represented is very broad. Working together, I can think of very little they couldn't handle. But I don't know one of them who's given any thought to "prepping" - they're just who they are.
I greatly envy Rich. In a SHTF scenario, given a choice between a fortified bunker and Rich's farm, I'd take the farm any day.
First and foremost, Rich was born into a strong rural farming community that was the home of his, and many other local residents' families for many generations. His roots are very deep. He has a large number of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren living in the area. He has countless friends as well, many of whom he's known for his entire life.
Like many of his neighbors, Rich has always been a part-time farmer, but he retired from a successful career as an engineer for General Motors. He has an amazing array of skills. He can repair almost any type of mechanical device, operate heavy equipment, and handle most of the building trades well. He raises crops. Until recently he hunted, and can can raise and butcher livestock. Rich and his wife raised their kids to be God-fearing Christians and most of them inherited their parents' values. They are all resourceful, self-reliant, industrious and skilled. Any one of them will (and does) unselfishly go out of their way to help a neighbor in good times or bad.
The community is close and in difficult times they automatically band together. The range of talent represented is very broad. Working together, I can think of very little they couldn't handle. But I don't know one of them who's given any thought to "prepping" - they're just who they are.
I greatly envy Rich. In a SHTF scenario, given a choice between a fortified bunker and Rich's farm, I'd take the farm any day.
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
Some people do tend to make it look easy.
I know a couple of folks that have always lived on the fringe of society making use of other peoples junk and they are hard to tell from the rest of the mainstream folks until you really take a close look at how they live. For those folks. knowledge and time are more important than money in creating a comfortable life.
old medic
Senior Member
- Location
- Western NC
We are working towards it, Bought a place that its restoration will be for off grid, Planting for year round food sources.
My shop is already all solar.
My shop is already all solar.
That’s great, congratulations.
retiredtraveler
Senior Member
I'm not off-grid, but have been a solar supporter and user for awhile. May I ask how much solar power you have and what kind of storage you're using? These new 'power wall' storage systems are really nice --- don't know if you have that or not.
That is beautiful!
We do have some solar and was a member of a site a couple years ago but we have since ate all the preps since we got behind with a large purchase and still paying for that mistake.
I'm not much into prepping now in a shtf situation we wouldn't last a day once the hordes got hungry. We are not as far in the woods as you are.
But we have some neighbors who are who also keep to themselves. People here are always practicing for hunting or just getting their aim. When we fist moved here I freaked out from all the shooting,lol. Now I just hope they shoot down. Y2K they already had a plan.
old medic
Senior Member
- Location
- Western NC
My shop set up is a 100 watt harbor freight kit on the roof, 2 6V golf cart batteries and a 1000 watt inverter feeding my breaker panel, wired for lights a few outlets and my compressor.
Used an 30 Amp RV plug to feed the panel from a generator when the compressor needs to run.
Used an 30 Amp RV plug to feed the panel from a generator when the compressor needs to run.
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
I have a Son-in-Law who is an executive in a major solar power company...mostly large commercial properties...and a couple of years ago, he gave me an estimate...at Cost..of what it would take to get Off the Grid. We have a total electric home, and our annual electric bills run in the $3,000 per year range. Based upon his estimates, it would probably take 7 or 8 years to just break even. The biggest concern would be the battery storage needed to ride out the extended periods of minimal sunlight we get in this region, especially during the Winter....the basement would probably have to be filled with batteries....not a very practical option for individual houses in this area.
Do you use the Trojan T-105 batteries? Ours has lasted for 12 years before we changed them. We got another set of 6 a year ago.
Are you using mono panels or do you think there is a difference? Ours are Suniva. Not set up all ours is stored.
Fuses vs circuit breakers. Good one for those just learning. I watched it 3 years ago and forgot almost all of it now, but we do have a ' Solar For Dummies ' book to relate to if we ever use it. Our system is stored away from here for now since we take trips to see kids now and then. And a few teens have come onto property.
old medic
Senior Member
- Location
- Western NC
They are...'bought a setup someone had for camping .... The 140 watt Zamp briefcase panel went in the camper.
The Batteries are in a rolling case with the inverter, and also serves as a portable power supply....
Think I got deal @ $300
The Batteries are in a rolling case with the inverter, and also serves as a portable power supply....
Think I got deal @ $300
retiredtraveler
Senior Member
You're behind on the technology. Powerwalls. A number of companies make them. Tesla is either the first, or one of the first. Check them out..............
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
Yes, I'm aware of these "Powerwalls". It would probably cost me about $15,000 to get one of these units installed...and I would probably need 2 to account for the limited sunshine we often have during the Winter months. A complete solar system, using Powerwalls would then probably run around $30,000. By the time we broke even with such a system....around 10 years....it would probably be time to replace these units, and start all over again.
https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-energy-storage/tesla-powerwall-home-battery/
Yup, Tesla and others seem to be dragging their feet in regards to mass production.
Been watching them for over four years now.
Until then, it’s just too expensive to be economically feasible
Meantime, off gridders fiddle around with stuff
Some do OK…ish, but anyone says their good with it year round with their own tinkerings for all their power needs, just ain’t bein’ all that honest
Meanwhile, me and Honda gennys remain tight friends
David_in_KW_ON_Canada
New Member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Invictus!
I would love to talk more with you about living off-grid! We live in a big urban area in South-western Ontario Canada right now and have been considering moving to the woods to live off-grid for quite a few years. We have another couple who would like to do the same and one of my daughters and her husband are considering it, too (she's a vet student, soon to graduate and wants to set up a rural vet practice).
Here's an example of what we are considering doing:
Judycat
Well-known Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
Nice for someone who has endless energy. Just thinking about it makes me feel exhausted.