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91. Posted: 8 Nov 2015 21:24 - Cabin Construction / what did yours cost?
...n delivered & installed $2.1 K Excavation work, 22 loads of Pit Run, 4 loads of packing gravel $3.7K (have 280' driveway & two pads (one for cabin & one for a shop) 1, 2Kw Solar System (8 260w panels), batteries, Inverter, wiring etc: $8k 1, 7200/9000 Generator $700 (door crasher sale) 1, Pump/Powerhouse build, $500 with conc...
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92. Posted: 8 Nov 2015 19:23 - Cabin Construction / Burying electrical cable
...deep inside a 4" O-Pipe, the other 4" O-Pipe next to it is my water line... Both are housed in an XPS Foam Box (channel I made). Overkill ? YUP but better safe than sorry ! Power from my Solar Panels to Powerhouse will be in simple Flex Conduit with a protector plank above & 3' deep as that crosses my driveway. Sand I got so it will be there too...
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93. Posted: 6 Nov 2015 15:33 - Off-Grid Living / Best Charge Controller to charge batteries?
I linked to that particular Samlex charger for good reason. It has true multi stage charging. That is the same method a good solar charge controller uses to charge the batteries from PV panel input. That Samlex can operate as a three stage or a two stage. There are reasons or circumstances for a...
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94. Posted: 5 Nov 2015 06:32 - Off-Grid Living / Am I reading this right? Solar generator question!
...ts of medical and non-medical "fun." But I digress ... I'm getting my cabin building particulars together, thinking about the basic plumbing and wiring. I'm still toying with the solar generator idea and found this very intriguing: 12K Watt Peak 120/240Vac Split Phase Solar Generator Allows You To Use both 120v & 240V Items Such As Well Pumps...
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95. Posted: 3 Nov 2015 15:41 - Off-Grid Living / Strongly considering going back on grid
RiverCabin. I find this funny. I'm on off grid solar. You use less power than I do. I create and use 114 kw/mo. Unfortunately my solar cost amortized over 5 years is still more than 25/mo. More like 100. And I doubt I...
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96. Posted: 3 Nov 2015 15:24 - Off-Grid Living / Strongly considering going back on grid
... 2006 when we decided to build a cabin, I cut the cord with the local coop and bought a Honda EU2000 generator. We put up the cabin and wired it with the intent to run it off the generator until the solar was in place. From 2006 to 2012 that dreamed solar array never happened largely because I was afraid it would get stolen. (my cabin while isolated is visible from t...
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97. Posted: 3 Nov 2015 12:40 - Member's Projects and Photos / Newbie in Tennessee
...ittle smaller... I haven't measured it properly). I've redone the interior.. put new flooring, paint, woodstove, futon, etc. I've also got it wired up and powered with a few 100 watt solar panels.
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98. Posted: 2 Nov 2015 12:32 - Off-Grid Living / Keeping Cabin Warm...?
... There will be no one to throw a log on while I am gone. I'm looking for a....cheaper route to go to take the chill off. What is a good little heater? Propane? I will eventually be purchasing solar panels and a generator, but for now, I need to figure everything out BEFORE next winter since it may be my first in it. Thanks!
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99. Posted: 1 Nov 2015 19:09 - Off-Grid Living / Solar Planning for this spring.
Cabin Build will continue as planned and will be worked on over winter with Genny Power & Woodstove + Propane heater for warmth. After a good healthy nudge from Creeky and a bit of info from my Solar Component Supplier (+ a couple of extra bits of kit) I will be installing the Inverter/Charger and small AC Panel in the Power House this week (weather is surprising...
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100. Posted: 1 Nov 2015 17:12 - Off-Grid Living / Charge controller wattage question
...ical 60 amp controller will handle 800w. Mine both have 1kw on them. Now the more important stuff. What kind of CC is it? Any modern good quality MPPT CC will happily "overpanel." And it's an excellent idea now that solar panel costs have dropped so much. During peak solar production you will see a message "curre...
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101. Posted: 1 Nov 2015 11:35 - Off-Grid Living / Battery heated shower
No, to electric water heating from batteries / solar. You could use a water heat collection panel and a storage tank with a small DC solar powered pump to circulate the water. There are propane fuel...
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102. Posted: 31 Oct 2015 19:57 - Off-Grid Living / Solar Planning for this spring.
THREAD REVIVAL sorta... Installation Phase One starting now. No Solar Panels installed at this time, that's more involved and requires me to build a pivoting frame, trench in a conduit for the DC Lines to the Power-House which is ...
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103. Posted: 29 Oct 2015 15:22 - Member's Projects and Photos / Cabin Build underway 2015
... onsite today because of weather but I trekked up and went through that Duo-Therm furnace... Mine is 12V / 8A. There are two other 12V models, 1 is 10A the next one up is 15A. @Creeky & Other Solar Guru's... head scratchin and pondering the growing grey hairs, I'll be rigging up my Inverter Charger to the battery banks... It's the only way I'll be able to...
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104. Posted: 27 Oct 2015 11:58 - Off-Grid Living / Direct Vent Propane Heater or good alternative in Canada?
...milli volt thermostat, but I don't intend to hook anything up to my small battery bank in regards to heating. Keeping the batteries for lighting and charging my phone/laptop (the trickle charge solar panel does work slowly to top the batteries up ). Unfortunately, I don't have access to the US, so ordering from Northern Tool isn't possible unless I c...
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105. Posted: 24 Oct 2015 11:53 - Member's Projects and Photos / Cabin Build underway 2015
...for 10-15 hours. Perhaps over a few days. you could grab a cheapo charger from CT with 6v? why do you need a transfer switch? there's one built into your inverter/charger, no? or. hook up your solar controller temporarily. wire in one panel. put the panel propped up on the ground. charge the batteries. here's how I kept my batteries alive ...
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106. Posted: 23 Oct 2015 20:55 - Member's Projects and Photos / Cabin Build underway 2015
...ncer. ** KEEP WALL PANELS UP & DRY... One set got wet underneath & warped a little... Tops & Sheathing OK as that was all covered but wasn't off the flat concrete... Grumbles... SOLAR: I haven't any issues with doing electrics, time is the big issue. I still have several bits to buy: main & pony panel, transfer switch, c...
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107. Posted: 21 Oct 2015 23:17 - Off-Grid Living / Small Cabin 12V DC Power Question
...n my 12x32 cabin and soon I will need to install my power. My basic plan is to run my lights off 12V DC and all my other electrical needs off of the A/C Inverter that is tied to a battery bank and solar panels. Those A/C items will be a small fridge, fan, toaster oven, etc. For the lights, I was planning on using all LED 12V DC lights because of the lower power ...
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108. Posted: 21 Oct 2015 20:24 - Member's Projects and Photos / Cabin Build underway 2015
...ck & IF THE WEATHER HOLDS we should be lifting them into place this weekend with out friends / neighbours. After that comes the internal support wall in the centre and then roof/2nd floor. SOLAR SYSTEM: ERF-age Keeping my batteries toasty in the power house with a little buddy propane heater. THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION !!! Unfortunately Panels, Charger, Inv...
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109. Posted: 21 Oct 2015 17:08 - Off-Grid Living / Refrigerator on solar... help
squeaks. to run a small fridge like that you'll use around a kilowatt of power a day. so a good 600 to 1kw of solar panels. Around 600 to 1000 amps of storage at 12v. Much less of course if you go for the new lithium batteries. you need a 1kw puresine inverter of good quality. f...
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110. Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:51 - Off-Grid Living / Refrigerator on solar... help
Hello, I would like to purchase a 10ish cubic refrig. that I could run on my solar panel. However, I'm not good with figuring out what would work and what won't so that is why I'm asking for some help. I have seen the DC ones but the...
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111. Posted: 19 Oct 2015 23:15 - Off-Grid Living / your battery charger? Have you tried a few?
...anufacturers spec sheet for max charge rate because the charge times for the percentages you mentioned are right in the ball park from my personal experience. Another thing you want to check is the solar panel charge controller input voltage settings, my controller is a $19.00 wonder but lets you adjust your minimum and maximum voltages( which has a huge positi...
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112. Posted: 19 Oct 2015 10:58 - Member's Projects and Photos / Bunkie build in the north
Outdoor shower building finally complete before the snow. Will add gutter, rain catchment, battery, solar panel, pump and on demand propane water heater in the spring.
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113. Posted: 10 Oct 2015 16:25 - Off-Grid Living / Charging solar batteries from generator
Unlike when I just ripped out and redid my propane lines, I'm kind of hoping that solar can be done piecemeal, or doesn't it work this way? I thought if I upgraded my panel and controller now then I could maybe get a new inverter and then new batt...
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114. Posted: 10 Oct 2015 10:51 - Off-Grid Living / Charging solar batteries from generator
I don't mean to belabor this thread, but I'm reading the manual for my charger URL and it says that the output current rating at 12v. is 1.5A. My solar panel charges at no more than 3.25A at maximum and usually hovers at a midpoint around the 1.5A - 2A range before dropping off to roughly .25A at maintenance. Since...
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115. Posted: 8 Oct 2015 14:09 - Member's Projects and Photos / Hi, just checking in.
...up a hill. Then you'd have to pay least 100 for them two together in monthly basic contracts, plus consumption. So I am firm on a smallish well and 0,5 - 1 Kw of pv. I have plenty of vacuum pipe solar panels kicking about from a factory exchange programme, that'll do for heating and warm water. Since we are planning to use it only (but every) weekends, both w...
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116. Posted: 6 Oct 2015 01:09 - Member's Projects and Photos / off the grid in Mendocino County since 1972!
...inless steel (former) milk tank and gravity supplies my house. The sun gives me hot water in the summer and I build a small wood fire under a recycled gas water heater in the winter. I have a small solar electric system now with 4 75 watt panels and a 1100 watt inverter supplied by 4 6 volt golf cart batteries. Makes all the difference in the world. I can watch TV, ...
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117. Posted: 5 Oct 2015 18:47 - Cabin Construction / NOT an electrician....Need your EXPERTISE...
... Single 20a uses a 20a breaker to a "single" plug in the kitchen. This is to accommodate High Draw kitchen appliances. 20a requires 12/2 Wire. Kitchen Stove: 240V/25A-30A. Gosh I hope this isn't on Solar. 1 outlet per breaker set. Run length will determine wire size & depending on routing the casing type as well. EXTERIOR: Careful here, there's some gotc...
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118. Posted: 1 Oct 2015 00:12 - Off-Grid Living / solar supply for flowjet pump
... 2-8 people using it throughout (usually 3 people but more on the holidays). We stayed out there over 6 weeks this summer. I just take my battery home at the end of summer. Next year I plan on adding solar panel but this is easy so far.
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119. Posted: 30 Sep 2015 18:00 - Useful Links and Resources / Lightening Protection
I think a lot of people living in the country forget about how many different ways lightning can enter the cabin. It can hit the building itself, your solar panels, your water tower, even come down a phone landline. One thing I've seen mentioned on shows about lightning protection is to have a whole house surge prot...
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120. Posted: 29 Sep 2015 15:48 - Off-Grid Living / solar supply for flowjet pump
typically a shower pump doesn't use a lot of power (7 amps x 15 minute shower = 25 watts). i don't know your solar situation. but my shower uses a small rv deep cycle (and I mean small) along with a charger I have left over from my fishing boat after I upgraded the charger. can you take your bat...
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