Off Grid

[Gideon35T]

I know I've spoken with a few members about my recent lifestyle adjustment. Where I have purchased land, a house, and most of the infrastructure to not only live off grid but be self sufficient as well. The few I've talked to expressed a lot of interest in the topic and how I plan to manage all the subsystems that go into such an endevor. Which is especially difficult for someone like myself who lives in the desert, haha. So, I decided to start a topic to answer questions about it, support others who're thinking of doing it (to one degree or another), and share experiences.

The reason behind your interest is irrelevent. Some people think giant solar flares are going to knock out all electrical systems, others want to save the environment, recently many people worry about the idea of an economic collapse. My interest in the topic is all encompassing and yet more selfish. I want to be fully retired by 30. What better way to retire early than to have a lifestyle that requires very little overhead? All the other notions are well and good but my motto is "If the dollar collapses I don't want to know until I leave the house for my once a year shopping trip".

Anyways, feel free to bring up whatever subtopic tickles your fancy. There's many many subsystems/subtopics to off-grid and/or self suffiency. All of them are important.

For some educational tidbits check out off-grid.net - I write article for them in my spare time and use it to share those precious pearls of hard learned knowledge.

[flyfishing3]

obvious solar power will be a part, when researching this for myself, to totally go off the grid required major batteries. And i was told these batteries require lots of maintenance, let alone life span. to just try and wash out uses is not going of the grid IMO.(if that was the plan)

i'd look at natural gas powered everything.

[Gideon35T]

Any resource that you cannot produce is a mistake in my opinion. Off grid solar requires batteries but only needs functional batteries if you need/want power when the sun goes down.

Also, it's very important to remember that it is WAY easier/cheaper to conserve than it is to produce. If you have your heart set on a big screen tv and a dozen other power hungry things that you don't need ... Well ... It's going to be hard to help you unless you have $20k laying around for solar. My house is powered by less than $3k in solar and that includes the batteries.

I use an american made equivilent to the Trojan - T105's. I run 4 of them (series parrallel) but could get by fine with two. The batteries only require complex maintenance (balancing) if you have a large battery bank (8+ to even start to worry). Life span is 10+ years so long as you get batteries that are right for the job. Battery life span is pretty linear so long as you don't damage them. Easy to figure out how much you need and how long they will last.

Natural gas currently looks like an attractive option because of a recent boom due to fracking. However, it is still a nonrewable resource that you must purchase from the outside world.

[Fudge_Brownie]

I'm a little confused, or maybe this topic is a little confused, on direction. It seems like it is missing a description of your current set up or plans. Unless you don't have any and are still researching. If so, I don't get how you can start a thread to answer questions about the set up you haven't decided on. Or is it to debate reasons to go off the grid?

[Mesoam]

Just live in an RV

/thread

[Gideon35T]

I'm sorry, you have a valid point. While my off grid setup is not finished and not yet self sufficient it is already in existance and being utilized.

More importantly, I've spent 7 years researching to get the level of knowledge (and misc equipment) to make me feel comfotable enough to take the leep.

I may not be able to explain every single aspect from experience but it's a wealth of knowledge.

In the end it's as I said in the original post - "answer questions about it, support others who're thinking of doing it (to one degree or another), and share experiences"

- Living in an RV has nothing to do with living off grid. Unless you're on your own land and have spent the time and money for extensive modification. Water doesn't just magically appear because you live in an RV.

[flyfishing3]

what are you doing with GRAY water?

[Burn-E]

Just live in an RV

/thread

Down by the river.

It's easy to live off the grid. The question is how modern do you require your life's conveniences to be?

[Gideon35T]

As per code: Kitchen sink water must be disposed of through a certified septic system (done). All other gray water may be recycled so long as it isn't stored (semi-done). My gray water is used to irrigate native edible plants. Namely, mesquite and pomegranite which are setup as a hedgerow. This creates some difficulties in using soaps and such but it works. If you want details on the irrigation setup just lemme know.

[Fudge_Brownie]

So you have generally planned out what you want. You can't highlight typical topics, or maybe problems that need solutions? This is kind of like saying you're a nuclear physicist and we can ask you questions as non-nuclear physicists. Except we have no knowledge, and therefore, no questions besides "pick a point and start".

Does off the grid mean to you 100% self sufficient, round the clock? Does this include food? Fuel sources for vehicles? Will you eliminate the vehicles all together? You're doing this to be cheap, right? What about insurance, will you carry home owners insurance and/or car insurance?

[Gideon35T]

Down by the river.

It's easy to live off the grid. The question is how modern do you require your life's conveniences to be?

This is a huge point. I wouldn't call it easy, as whatever variation you choose will come with its own difficulties, but it's how we structure our lifestyles that ultimately determine the setup.

For instance; I haven't watched television since 2005. Therefor, I don't need a television or any of the supporting bits.

[Gideon35T]

Fudge - Off grid is defined as having no required connection to municiple utilities. Everything else is really subgenres of that. Self sufficiency is often a compromise (one can make his own clothes but it requires a lot) that boils down to farming which produces the bulk of ones diet. Round the clock is a must or you couldn't define it as off grid or self sufficient. Fuel for vehicles is only required so long as I have vehicles. Vehicles are only required preretirement. Cheap is not really the right word. Initial investment is high (so it's therefor not cheap) it's just that ongoing overhead is low. Homeowners insurance is not required when you own your home outright (I do have it at the moment however) and vehicle insurance wont be needed once vehicles aren't needed. While I don't live on the grid I still participate in the grid. I'm at work right now for example. The transition couldn't be defined as complete until I give up the bulk of the outside world.

You're point about you all not knowing about the topic makes no sense. I just answered a bunch of your questions dispite your knowledge level. You now have the ability to ask questions that dig deeper. We don't learn calculus until afgter we've learned addition ;-)

[survolvo]

As one that has grown up most of my life living off grid and self-sustainably, I am all for this.

[flyfishing3]

For instance; I haven't watched television since 2005.

[Gideon35T]

3 important pieces to the puzzle as a great deal is determined by "value added".

1) I keep smoking and quitting smoking and quitting. Now, I could (in theory) produce eveything I need to continue smoking. However, it is a large amount of time/money/resources to achieve a "value added" of enjoyment. Especially, as the "value added" is mostly negative. Therefor, I should quit smoking.

2) I will not have the animals and equipment required to produce my own dairy. But, I can by massive quantities of dehydrated milk for cheap. There is an initial investment but it gives me the ability to produce milk and cheese without anything special. "Value added" becomes worth it versus the alternatives.

3) I could pull all my water from a well but I have 400' of head. If the pump were to fail I would not be able to produce my own means of collecting water from the well. Therefor, alternative means for water collection are needed. I use rainwater and only need a bit of initial investment for it to work. Again, "value added" becomes worth it versus the alternatives.

Flyfishing - I understand your thought on the whole tv thing. It has become such a huge part of most peoples lives that it appears odd. However, look at my above statement and consider the "value added" arguement. I'd need several thousand more in solar just to power the equipment to watch the "boob tube" instead of doing other things. Also, let me tell you, I don't miss it in the least. After about a year it wasn't even on my mind.