Solar power off grid cabin

For all of you who have shared your solar powered systems thanks for all the info. It helped me build mine - which I am now sharing with others. I love being off grid and the simplistic lifestyle. In addition to the cabin, we have a small apple orchard of 30 trees, a 1/4 acre garden hidden deep in the timber, a river within 500 yards, a great state park to fish and gather berries and mushrooms and smack dab in the center of Amish country in Southern Iowa

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Solar power
• off grid
• self sufficient life
• homestead gardening

[matt4270]

Great system! I'm thinking about doing this in PA. with a 16x36 cabin and a Honda 2000 watt gen. What did you do about plumbing and do you have to drain your pipes every weekend in the winter?

[southerniowahunter]

@matt4270 - thanks Matt. I did bring in water into the cabin. I also have a 40 gallon LP water heater. I do have a low point drain out valve that drains the water each weekend in the winter but I leave the water in the 40 gallon tank with the pilot on.  If you can swing it I would get the honda 3000 gen as it can do more....like power a air conditioner.

[matt4270]

@southerniowahunter I'm thinking about a tankless water heater, and the Honda 3000 is probably the way too go. A lot of guys with RV trailers use them and often cite the A/C as the reason. Thanks!

[southerniowahunter]

@matt4270 Matt, the only reason why I didn't go with a tankless water heater was that it seemed much more difficult to get all the water out of the coils when I leave the place to go home after the weekend. Also I have a 3000 and 2000 Honda generator. I use the 3000 most of the time and turn on the eco mode. Running watts on the 3000 is 2700 watts. On the 2000 is only 1300 watts. 3000 also has a much larger fuel capisity (3.5 gal vs. 1 gal). Makes a diff running the gen all nights

[tavispond]

Great tour. Thanks!

[MrMagicseeds]

i am wondering if i put a breaker in between my wind turbine and batteries will that cut off power to batteries when they are full and if so do i put one on both live and neutral??

[MrMagicseeds]

@ssj4goko4 go on ebay i got 225amp deep cell 12v £145

[ugotboost]

Nice vid.

[ssj4goko4]

what you payed for all those 6 volts you probly could have gotten a large 12 volt. i got a 250 amp gel 12 volt for 600$.

[tanker0wns1]

can you power your water heater off solar panels?

[TheFutureVet101]

"southerniowahunter" would you happen to live anywhere near Pella, Knoxville, Oksy, Newton, or maybe areas around there?

[snowfallzz]

nice sniper ladder goin up the roof to over look the driveway! XD 2:14

[greenmountainsolar]

i have been full time off grid since 1997. my system is 24 volt. the fridge, lights and water pump along with a lot of other stuff running without the need of an inverter. that is more efficient. i am using 750 watts of PV and 500 watts of wind power. for backup i use a small 1500 rpm Robin propane DC genset and a Kubota diesel 1800 rpm 4 KW for big loads.. i also harvest rainwater with a 12,500 gallon system. Clears skies! Chris

[greenmountainsolar]

you might consider putting the inverter, charge controller any other electronics over on the other side of the wall. battery vapors are very bad for electronics. the batteries ought to be boxed in and vented out side as a precaution. also, i notice a lot of shadows on your panels... that gets really costly.