The best part about being off grid is ... well let me tell you the story.
We had a major storm last season (we get them all the time). The radios said power is out in cottage country and is expected to be out for days.
My wife was at the eye doctor getting my daughter's glasses. The eye doctor mentioned to my wife that all the power is out in cottage country and is expected to be out for days.
My wife simply replied " I think we will be ok" .HA!!!
Build your own power and get off the grid. Save a buck or two ... and stop depending on someone else to live.
I see a lot of information these days about solar power.
I have been "off the grid" using remote solar power for over 14 years. It was the only acceptable solution for me at the time.
I bought a virtually brand new cottage. A dream come true for me. I was single at the time and intending to spend hours upon hours fishing with my friends.
The cottage can best be described as a "guy's cottage". The reason I say that is, even though it was brand new, it had some issues. It had no power. It had one hand pump connected to the kitchen sink for water. It did have a toilet, but you had to pour water into it to flush.
No showers. You cleaned up in the lake. It had a propane fridge and stove.
I figured when I bought it I would somehow get power to it ... eventually.
I called up the hydro company. To make a long story short, they wanted over $52,000 to bring me power. It was a little too steep for me at the time. So we settled on candles and oil lamps, along with plenty of flash lights.
My real estate agent mentioned solar power to me. At the time, solar power was not popular. I did some research and did invest in one solar panel and a couple deep cycle marine batteries. At the time, the sole purpose was to charge my marine batteries for my boat. Unfortunately, some punks stole my panel and batteries.
I did not want to buy a gas generator. To me they were loud and smelly. This did not fit into my tranquil cottage. I still do not own a generator by the way.
Gradually, I built out my solar power system to my cottage. I added panels and deep cycle batteries. A friend gave me an inverter as a gift for letting him use my cottage for a few days.
Now I had all the pieces to power the cottage.
My remote solar panels charged my batteries. The battery power was inverted to 120 volts and wired into the cottage.
Now we full power to the cottage. All the lights work. All the electrical fixtures work. You would never know we are off the grid.
I forgot. I had a well drilled and have a 12 volt deep well pump that pumps water 180 feet up to a tank at the top of a water tower. The tank feeds to the cottage by gravity.
Now all the faucets work. The toilet works (without having to dump a bucket of water down it).
For hot water we use two sources: I build my own solar hot water collector and we have a on demand water heater as well powered by propane.
Total cost: about $1,000.
Here's where it gets interesting for you.
I got a new cottage neighbour last year. He had a Solar power company come to his cottage, size it up and provide an estimate to install solar for him. Are you ready ... $12,000.
I nearly fainted. So I invited him over. He did not know I even had remote solar power. You really need to look to see it (at least it isn't an eye sore!).
I showed him my system. He could duplicate what I have for around $1,000.
If you are considering building your own solar panels, the key consideration is your expertise. I am expert at solar now. But for most, this is foreign territory and if the information is not 100% clear and presented in a step by step manner, you will not likely be too happy ... and you probably won't be successful and want you money back. I would.
Adding remote solar to your house is the same concept. You can use it to add to your power consumption, which will lessen your energy bill.
The best guide with support I have found is Mr Solar Pro.
