The Ultimate Guide To Off Grid Solar Power

Inefficient and cost prohibitive unless you are
at the South Pole.
Even there you're in trouble for half the year.

Over the years I can count on both hands the
number of days we've been without power.

You do the same, then consider the cost,
which ain't cheap.

If the grid ever goes down for good, it will
probably be bugout time, so you can forget your
solar, and just remember your matches.

i watch your stuff tin hat.... :)

the only thing i am waiting for is the price of the flexible solar roof mats to drop a bit more and i've got shed loads of roofing to place it on ;)

just glad i didn't jump in when the heavier MK III solid ones came out... i've saved more by staying on the grid so far....

I'm not really doing the series to save money. In fact, it would take me 30 years to realize my investment, and that's not even counting the battery changes. My system is foremost for piece of mind, much like any prepping endeavor. Another poster said if the grid ever went down it would be time to bug out...maybe, but if bugging out is not possible, at least I have power for however long I make it into the scenario.

agreed... a long term user here, and now a good friend, has a great set up, and i should have went down to see him before i moved back west... oh well...

On more caveat to my statement. I have a minimal setup, I stated that it would take me thirty years to recoup my investment. This IS true, but the bigger the system, the less time it takes to recoup the investment. For someone who goes completely off the grid, it may only take 8-10 years.

Hehe, didn't the homosexual duo Pet Shop Boys write a song about "going West?" lol

I saw "The Great Gold Swindle" mini series, those WA cops look like real assholes!! I thought SA cops were bad!! (THEY ARE!! BTW)

since i've been here... WA seems to be THE police state, but everyone here is indoctrinated and don't even realise it....

When Nuclear Winter hits there will be no Sun. SOL.

No, but that isn't if the economy collapses first.

you can't lose out in western australia, that's for sure.

they had really cool rebates about 6 years ago in QLD, and where i was staying, the suburb?... every second house was solar... never seen anything like it...

That's great until the .gov tries to get their rebate money back by taxing your solar.

County next to this one requires a building permit for solar and charges $50 for each "installation", what ever that means.

It'll only be a matter of time until they get their grubby hands into it.

better that, then payment in perpetuity....

tax it? that's why you don't share the grid with them... lie....


1. install 60-40 to make it seem legal...

60 on and 40 off the grid...

keep 40 off the grid, and wait till tesla like batteries become affordable (3-4 years), and hide them....

hidden in true site....

i've done this with our water tanks... (the base of my two top ones, have a mock level base built (reqd for permit), under those 2? are three of the same just below ground level that has been formworked.... ;)

Last Edited by CitizenPerth™ on 05/19/2015 06:39 PM

I kind of think that the Tesla Battery is already "affordable". 10kwh for $3500? Considering that is a "useable" 10kwh, it nearly matches lead acid at that price point in useable watt hours. When you consider you will replace the lead acids 3 times in the lifespan of the tesla, they are a steal. But still, $3500 is $3500.

If I ever have occasion to build there, like most others in the country, I'll just forget to get the permit and pay the fine if they ever make an issue. But I think they are going after bigger fish swimming in urban ponds. :-)

You have some interesting ideas there, though.

It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Besides, what business of theirs is it anyways?

That's what I think, and what I plan to do. A solar installation doesn't have to announce itself, so to speak.

I think if I ever actually live there, it would be after the systems collapse anyway, and there wouldn't be any zoning department left to bother me. LOL

In Arkansas and Oklahoma in unincorporated areas
you can do off grid solar PV or Wind with no
hassles.
As long as you have septic system, electricity
and running water nobody would ever hassle you,
not even CPS.

you can also white lie.... if they even bother coming over and taking you to task (i bet that would be on the request of the power company btw...)

you can tell them it started out as a hobby interest?

and just by luck, hard work and determination, you got the courage up to see if it would actually work?

well! by golly, by gosh, and by crickey!

IT WORKED!


so- mr coucil worker - i left it on now to see how long it would work for....

do you want me to help you build one, now that i know they work?


GRIN

Last Edited by CitizenPerth™ on 05/21/2015 09:18 PM

LOL

Good one! I will remember that, it won't be hard, it is quite memorable. :-)