Anyone have an off-grid back up power supply?

[Greywolf224]

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my cabin is completely off grid, we run solar power and I have a backup generator~~~that I have not used in 4 years. The only time I use the generator is when I need to run high amp draw equipment for extended periods of time, like circular saws, air compressors ect,ect. I have an EZ-Tankless water heater. it's propane fired and runs off two *D*-cell batteries. The water pump and macerator pump is 12v (runs off the batteries)
There is 771 watts of panels on the roof, charging four 6v golf cart batteries -- the batteries are wired in a series/parallel circuit to put out 12v. Using a Morningstar MPPT 45amp charge controller. The batteries power a 1500 watt inverter that powers the lights. The stove and refrigerator are propane powered. The cabin is heated by a Thermo-Climate 400 wood fired stove (this stove can regulate its own burn rate by use of thermostatic damper on the door) View attachment 84 View attachment 84 View attachment 85

Excellent setup. Well thought out. Very curious, how many hours of 110 inverted voltage do you get with that battery bank. Meaning if you ran 200 watts worth of lights at night, how long can you keep them turned on before the batteries drain.

I always wanted to use my golfcart as the battery bank for a 36v inverter for use of my power tools when no power is available. Now you started the itch again.

 

[Jmac00]

Excellent setup. Well thought out. Very curious, how many hours of 110 inverted voltage do you get with that battery bank. Meaning if you ran 200 watts worth of lights at night, how long can you keep them turned on before the batteries drain.

I always wanted to use my golfcart as the battery bank for a 36v inverter for use of my power tools when no power is available. Now you started the itch again.

we have 202 watts of light, it IS less now that some of our lights are LED. we can run the lights all night, no problem

 

[Toecutter]

Wood stove for backup heat , I have a small 1000w genny if needed I can store a weeks worth of fuel easily . I'd love to go solar one day if I can afford it.

 

[Jmac00]

sorry about the pix, Im still trying to get use to the forum. That is actually an old picture of the cabin, I'll see if I can find a newer picture. try these. we have 400 feet of lake frontage, 30 acres surrounded by a 1200 acre Conservancy. so no one will be building around us, ever

 

[Jmac00]

Wood stove for backup heat , I have a small 1000w genny if needed I can store a weeks worth of fuel easily . I'd love to go solar one day if I can afford it.

I started out with a harbor Frieght 145 watt solar panel kit, I found a coupon in the back of a magazine for $149. I got 4 kits, and then bought four 'rea' solar panels with the Morningstar 45 amp MPPT charge controller.
make no mistake, this is not a cheap sport and will help a LOT if you know something about electricity. I also have a 1955 <circa> Lister SR-2 single cylinder diesel generator that will run for about 12 hours on 5 gal of diesel fuel. Unfortunately the generator part need to be re-wound. the diesel part runs like a champ. anyone want to buy a Listor diesel generator, starting price $2000.....and you have to come get it, it weighs about 600 pounds.

 

[Robin]

My gas fired welder has a couple 110's, 220's. That'll do in a pinch.
Robin

 

[BDinPutnam]

That looks like a beautiful spot, Jmacoo.

 

[Jmac00]

Thanx, we try to get there every weekend. we need to start bring in firewood. Deer season is right around the corner. Goose opened sept 1st, Duck season opens Oct 22.

 

[Snappo]

My Deere will run on home heating oil. I heat with wood and keep that 500 gallons topped off. A 16Kw PTO drive generator is $1,400. I also have a Coleman 6.5Kw that runs on gas. I figure I have an hour a day of well pumping and water filtering for the rest of my life since I can run that Deere for 4 or more hours on a gallon. So that's 3,000 hours of power easy.

 

[Snappo]

I started out with a harbor Frieght 145 watt solar panel kit, I found a coupon in the back of a magazine for $149. I got 4 kits, and then bought four 'rea' solar panels with the Morningstar 45 amp MPPT charge controller.
make no mistake, this is not a cheap sport and will help a LOT if you know something about electricity. I also have a 1955 <circa> Lister SR-2 single cylinder diesel generator that will run for about 12 hours on 5 gal of diesel fuel. Unfortunately the generator part need to be re-wound. the diesel part runs like a champ. anyone want to buy a Listor diesel generator, starting price $2000.....and you have to come get it, it weighs about 600 pounds.

Harbor Freight sells brand new 10Kw diesel generators all day long for $2K for folks that don't have a tractor with PTO. A PTO generator will do 16Kw for $1,500.

 

[dsdmmat]

Well here is to hoping we don't need the generators this year.

 

[Snappo]

I'm all excited when I don't need generator power for a month. Lol

 

[carpediem]

I would be interested in hearing if anyone has ever tried water power. Saw a couple good videos on you tube, guy using old raggedy car batteries charged up by a water wheel turning a bicycle rim attached to an alternator.