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creeky
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 11:47 - Edited by: creeky
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I'm a tech guy. Love my solar.
But recently I added a "securifi". I needed a range extender for my internet so I could surf from bed in the new winter bedroom. I know, I know.
However. it came with home automation "zigbee" control too. And IFTTT (if this then that).
This means I have added a door sensor to the studio. This turns on a light when I enter the building at night so i don't have to look for a light switch. And turns it off automatically 5 minutes later.
I have an occupation sensor in the washroom. Again. the lights stay on when I'm in the room.
I use CREE "connected" lights. So I can turn lights off and on from my phone.
My internet is on a remote switch so I can turn it off at night and save that 45/w/hr. Again, usually from my bed. Note that my internet box is 200 feet from my bed. So not getting up and hiking through a winter's night has a certain joy to it.
I love the simplicity, nature focused life and joy that off grid life brings. Yet, I find it odd, if wonderful, that I can use tech to further simplify that life. Weird ain't it?
What about you'ze? High or low tech?
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groingo
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 14:28
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I guess it all depends on how big your place is, mine is 195 square feet with a power inverter master off / on switch on the night stand right next to my bed with a flash light on the floor just in case.
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LDamm
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 15:55
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When I open the front door of my shed, I light an oil lamp. If I want to go high tech I use a Bic instead of a match.
(And I'm hooked up to grid electric)
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 17:31 - Edited by: MtnDon
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I like high tec / lower tech.
I love the Outback inverter because it has the ability to be programmed for a search mode that will detect the flipping of a switch to power up a light bulb. It sits there drawing milliamps until a demand is detected. However, using motion detector switches defeats the purpose of search/sleep mode as the motion detector requires constant power. So the cabin has no motion detectors but the grid tie house does.
To make navigation around a darkened cabin property, in lieu of motion detector lights I have LED flashlight running on a high(er) tec lithium cell, clipped to my belt. Actually I have several... a city light which is smaller and lighter and a larger much more powerful (2500 lumen) rural use light.
I soon will have a completed working old fashioned oil lantern with a sort of high power LED and Li-ion cell with built in charger. Low / high tec I guess.
We have cell phone but no sat/dsl/cable TV... But one phone is a dumbphone, one is a smartphone. The smart sees limited internet use, other than email. We manage on 500 MB or less a month on it. When we get close before the month end we don't browse at all. I could not do that full time, but don't mind when it is only the recreational time away from home that has limited internet.
Does that make me smart/dumb, high tec / low tec. I can't decide.
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 18:07
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I know!! It makes me selective tec. I select the tec I'm willing to pay for. 
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Julie2Oregon
Member
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# Posted: 5 May 2016 19:45
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Selectech sounds about right.
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