Living off the grid, a lot of people ask me if it is really worth the expense and trouble when you can just hook up to the grid and not worry about it. If your are considering going off grid, read this article first! So, is off grid solar really worth it?
While setting up a solar system for your home can be serious business, solar panels can be quite fun as well. They are really amazing creations, so today I I decided to share some cool facts about solar panels. Here are 10 amazing facts that you probably didn't know about solar power.
When I first started learning about using wind turbines to generate off grid energy, I thought that a solar charge controller and wind turbine charge controller might be the same thing. However, now I know that mixing up the two can be a huge expensive mistake. That's why I decided to write this short article explaining exactly what a wind power charge controller does, and how to choose the right one for your system.
Sometimes, picture can we worth a thousand words. If you are getting started with an off grid solar system, this is the simplest complete diagram that available to learn how to connect your own off grid solar system.
When I heard that you can make free gas from kitchen scraps for stoves, heaters, or even propane refrigerators, I knew I had to look in to it. And, I love it! Here is everything you need to know to get started making your own biogas.
For those just getting started, you might wonder is it really legal to generate your own power. Surely the government and big corporations have figured out a way to lock you in to a power bill.
When I talk to people about designing an off grid solar system, the part people tend to find most confusing is the charge controller. So, today I decided to sit down and describe as simply as possible what a charge controller is, why you need one, and how to choose between all the different options.
As summer approaches, I thought it was time to spend some time researching off grid air conditioning. While traditional AC units are generally quite expensive to run off solar, I though that there must be a better way keep cool off the grid, and I wasn't disappointed.
One question that I often hear from people getting started with off grid solar is, How many panels do I need? While there is no universal answer, here are some common sizes, and the easy way to figure out exactly how many panel you need.
Getting started generating free solar power is really not as hard as it seems. In the last 5 years, I have learned the key concepts of building a low-cost off grid solar system. Now I've written everything down right here. Just everything you need to know without the fluff.
Getting started generating free solar power is really not as hard as it seems. In the last 5 years, I have learned the key concepts of building a low-cost off grid solar system. Now I've written everything down right here. Just everything you need to know without the fluff.
Getting started generating free solar power is really not as hard as it seems. Here, I've distilled down everything I've learned about off grid solar energy over the last 5 years, in to this easy to follow but comprehensive guide.
While building up my own off grid homestead, I wondered if off grid micro-hydro might be a good match for my needs. With more consistent power generation and less visibility, micro hydro can be a good power source. Let me share what I've found with you.
One big mistake people commonly make when design and setting up their own off grid or on grid solar system is to not take in to account proper panel angle. It may seem simple at first glance, but facing your panels at the wrong tilt can cost you a lot in lost power if you aren't careful.
Shade is the enemy of solar panels, but common in lush green homesteads and farmsteads of the off grid community. Even small amounts can destroy power output of solar systems. Let me walk you through what shade does to your solar system.
Nickel iron batteries are a century old technology that has profound potential impact for off grid energy systems. The weakest point of renewable energy production, batteries systems are typically expensive, fragile, toxic, and fail relatively quickly. Iron batteries, however, once the darling of famous inventor Thomas Edison, solve many of these problems and seem to be prefect for off grid energy systems.
Although there are a number of option for low power consumption refrigeration technologies when going off grid, there are none that tick all the boxes of a low cost, sustainable solution. In this articles I'll introduce my DIY ultra efficient refrigerator / freezer design.
To the uninitiated, there can be a bewildering amount of terminology surrounding electricity and electronics. Below I'm going to give a simple description of the most basic terms you need to know to understand and set up your off grid electrical system.
The first thing people think of when they consider going off grid is the cost of installing solar panels to meet their power needs. But, when budgeting for such a system, it can be hard figure out what you actually need, and how to save money. I've done the research for you, and give a plane answer to how much solar power will actually cost.
Nature lover & tinkerer. Daniel moved from a city apartment to a 12'x12' tree house and never looked back.
