Small scale Solar panels to power all your stuff.

I hear everyday that the reason people are not installing Solar Panels is because they are so expensive. And this is True.

I had a quote to provide 500 Kwhr/mo Solar Power (grid-tied)  to my house and the cost was $23,000 .... Add another $10,000 for batteries and you are easily up to $33,000.

Most people use 1000 KWhr per month of Electricity so you would need to double that cost to $66,000.  Yes, I agree this is very expensive.  Until they come up with a better Solar Technology most of us will never ever be able to afford Solar Power.

Unless.... unless you take a really good look at your consumption and see if you can reduce it to 300 KWhr / mo .... 10 kWh per day.  Or better yet reduce it to 100 KWhr per months. Is this possible in Canada or in very hot or cold climates ?

If you live in an area that has on average 5 hours of sunshine, with a 280 watt Solar Panel you can be making roughly 250 * 5 =  1,250 watt per day...  1.25 kwhr / day. That works out to 37.5 KWhr/mo .... Can you get your consumption down that low ?  Yes you need to have additional Solar panels and batteries for cloudy days and certain inefficiencies but you see it is possible if you reduce the amount of Electricity you are using.

The way I am approaching this is learning how much each appliance requires to run each day and for how long. When I go completely off the grid I will need a small solar fridge, propane cooking stove, BBQ, about 10 LED lights and battery to power my computer and other devices. Heat will need to be via a Wood stove. I am looking for an old Amish Cook Stove that can also help to heat a very small, well insulated Offgrid House I will build.

In order to learn this I am starting with Small Solar panels and learning what I can charge with each one. So far I am able to charge several LED lights, my computer, a fan, phone, and iPod.

I am now searching for the most efficient Solar powered Fridge I can afford.

$8.79 LightMe Portable 15W 130lm Solar LED Bulb Light, White-1 LightMe https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CL71HHY/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_HgSvyb6R15FEP

$55.99  PowerGreen 21W Folding Solar Charger with Dual USB Port Solar Panel for all 5... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6Q4BY4/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_omSvybKTTFP56

What do I need to live off the Grid ?

It depends on where you live. It is one thing to live off the grid in Costa Rica, it is quite another to live off the Grid in Northern Canada. The Technology is constantly changing, constantly improving.

The Basics are shelter from the elements, clean drinking water, food and power ....

We will cover each Topic in the coming days but starting with Power you will need to know how much energy you currently use and how much energy you will need to operate the critical appliances you use on a  daily basis. Lights, Fridge, Heating, computer  etc.....


Take a look at your current Hydro / Electricity Bill. Do you use 500 KWhr per month ? More ? Less ?  You will need to learn how to use less.


There are many sources for off-grid Power, but as you can see form the running poll on the right the best value is Solar. You need to know how many hours of sunlight you get each day? 5 hours ? More / less?  If you can capture 5 hours of sunlight each day, with a 280 Watt Solar panel you should be able to generate about 1,000 watt hours per day. - 1 KW hr....  so 30 KWhrs per month.  If you are using 500 kwhr per month  you would need 500/30 of these panels. 


So 17 - 280 watt Solar Panels + Controllers, Inverters and Batteries.


But you would also need a gas generator Back-up Power for the days where there is no sunshine.

We found this 400 Watt Kit that includes Solar Panels,Controllers, Inverter for $805 (Does not include 12 Volt battery) ....
WindyNation Complete 400 Watt Solar Panel Kit with 1500 Watt VertaMax Power Inverter RV, Boat, for Off-Grid 12 Volt Battery :


Complete kit includes: (4pcs) 100 Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel, 30-amp P30L Solar Charge Controller (w/ LCD Display and user adjustable settings), 40 feet of UL Listed 12 AWG Solar Cable, all necessary MC4 Connectors, all necessary solar mounting hardware + 1500 Watt (3000 Watt surge) VertaMax DC to AC Power Inverter, 2 pcs of 2 AWG Battery Cables for connecting the inverter to a 12V battery

Solar charging will provide on average 1600 Watt Hours (Wh) or 135 Amp hours of charge per day (depends on sunlight availability)

Designed for RVs, cabins, homes, boats, back-up and remote power use

Bundle and save! Purchase all the components together and save time and money!

Perfect kit for a off-grid 12 volt battery system. 1500 Watt VertaMax Inverter provides plenty of AC power to run your household appliances !

The best part about this kit is that it shows you in one diagram all the parts and pieces you will need to actually run something using Solar Power (except the 12 Volt battery) . Before you can decide what to buy though you really need to understand what you will be using Off the Grid.  A Computer ? 10 LED Lights ? a small fridge ?  (To be continued)

DC - 12 Volt Cooler as a Fridge for Living off the Grid

$97 with Free Shipping: http://amzn.to/2jJZ30t
Perfect for the RV, truck or car, or Offgrid Cabin the Coleman PowerChill Thermoelectric Cooler is fully portable, plugging into your vehicle's cigarette lighter. The PowerChill's new motor design provides quiet, long-lasting performance, cooling the contents down to 40-degreeF BELOW the surrounding temperature. 
The PowerChill is designed with many convenient features, including a patented, adjustable door that can open on the right or left side. The cooler can be used in two positions, either as an upright or a chest cooler. An adjustable shelf divider helps keep things organized inside. 
The PowerChill Cooler's molded handles make it easy to lift and carry.With a 40-quart interior that holds up to 44 cans of soda or beer in addition to snacks, the Coleman portable PowerChill thermoelectric cooler is ideal for the office, dorm, RV, truck, or car. The cooler is compatible with any vehicle's cigarette lighter. As a result, you can bring the PowerChill pretty much anywhere, from the campsite to the tailgater to your backyard BBQ. The PowerChill is equipped with a redesigned motor that provides quiet, long-lasting performance. The motor cools contents down to 40 degrees F below the surrounding temperature, so you don't have to fret once the ice starts melting in your standard cooler.The PowerChill includes several handy features, including a patented adjustable door that can open on both the right and left side, an adjustable shelf divider to keep things organized, and molded handles that make the cooler easy to lift and carry. The PowerChill even functions in two positions: upright or chest style. The PowerChill measures 15 by 21.75 by 17.125 inches (W x H x D).

Turning off the Power on January 13 2017 6:00 pm-7:00pm

A Protest Message to Ontario Hydro:

"Hi everyone! So here is what I am going to do on Friday, January 13, 2017. At 6:00pm, after work and just before low peak I am going to shut off all power in my house for one hour. I heat with electricity but the hour shouldn't hurt too much. As for dinner, well...I will work it out, pizza, sandwich...something. Anyway I know protests have been launched before with very little turn out, however, I am not asking anyone of you to join me although it would be nice. In fact we have over 35,000 members in this group. Now think about that. If..and that's a BIG IF everyone in the group turned off their power at the same time as myself...that is 35,000 power hours at high peak that Hydro one and Kathleen Wynne couldn't help but take notice of. More if I can get my friends and family to join me. Again, I am not asking anyone of you to join me, I can't take anymore let downs, but personally I can't sit here and bitch and moan and take it up the tail pipe without doing AT LEAST a little something. Even if I am alone. Hell! I don't even expect 90% of you will even see this post, however you who do, of course are welcome to join me. You don't even have to tell me. It would be completely your choice and it would be your silent protest as well. Why Friday the 13th? Why not?? Apropos don't you think? Even if my protest is seen by only me. I will know. And what's an hour without power? Better than an ice storm they would make us pay for. This way I still have my power and they might still feel it. Or not especially if it is only me. Maybe I will go out for dinner during that hour, or catch a movie, or take my dog for a walk. And I will have the self satisfaction that comes with being a doer, and not just a justified complainer. No matter how small. Hope all will be well in the upcoming new year. Take care of you..together." - Mara 

Note: Please be safe. Turn off what you can ... like you do on Earth Hour.  

Time for Tesla's Free Energy.

Remember way back in 1901, Tesla explained how we could harness Free Energy from the Cosmos ?

Whatever happened to that Idea ?  Isn't it time we investigate?

I like the idea of power generated via an exercise bicycle or tread mill or something that does 2 or 3 things at once, Grind wheat, create stored energy, get exercise etc ...

We would all be in great physical shape.

The Age of Off-grid Enlightenment .... Chop wood. carry water, generate and store electricity ... all at the same Time.


http://www.nuenergy.org/nikola-tesla-radiant-energy-system/

Another beautiful Winter day in Canada ...

864 sq ft Log Cabin Kit for $23,488 Cdn

Specifications

Ground level:

Width: 24' 0"

Depth: 24' 0"

Square feet: 576

Second level:

Width: 24' 0"

depth: 24' 0"

Square feet: 288

Total square feet 864

Pricing:

Timber Homes

Package "A": $23,488

Package "B": $33,866

The paradise creek is the simple multifunctional model you want when showing up at the lake on a Friday afternoon following a long work week, easy to use and ready to go!

More ... http://www.outaouaisloghomes.com/en/models/paradise-creek/