Thread: Self Sufficient Living

Most off the grid sheds have either 3 phase generators or pnuematic tools.

Although underground water is a good idea why not build the Queenslander styled house with shipping containers on stilts, have the tanks below the floor. The airflow and tanks combined should assist in the cooling of the house.

Dispite what the propaganda states, photovoltaics are not the answer to everything, I'd look at a hybrid system or some kind.

Grid connected solar is the most robust 99% of the time, but there are good methods of combining solar and battery backup, e.g.

SP Plus Energy Centre

That way you don't run the batteries down every night, use solar during the day regardless and have battery backup integrated.

Tracking solar is cool, I have one on a 1.5kW system which gives about 30% more harvested energy than plain north facing panels.

I often wonder whether solar pumping of water during the day to a header tank, then using the hydro to run a hydro generator at night to a tank at the bottom of a hill etc etc would be a possible answer . Diruing the day the solar pump would also work so the generator could go full time if needed.

The tanks could be big ones that only use a portion of the water pumped as a backup for cloudy days.

This gets around the expensive battery bank problem , and you need water anyway. The lower tank could be rainwater fed and maybe from a creek pump as well. You need water anyway and big tanks are pretty cheap compared to batteries.
I don't know the scale needed but that would bdepend ofn your need for high demand appliances like washing machines , microwaves etc.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I often wonder whether solar pumping of water during the day to a header tank, then using the hydro to run a hydro generator at night to a tank at the bottom of a hill etc etc would be a possible answer . Diruing the day the solar pump would also work so the generator could go full time if needed.

The tanks could be big ones that only use a portion of the water pumped as a backup for cloudy days.

This gets around the expensive battery bank problem , and you need water anyway. The lower tank could be rainwater fed and maybe from a creek pump as well. You need water anyway and big tanks are pretty cheap compared to batteries.
I don't know the scale needed but that would depend on your need for high demand appliances like washing machines , microwaves etc.
Regards Philip A

That is just heaping inefficiency on inefficiency. Too many steps in the energy conversion process. You want to build a mini-Snowy scheme?

If you insist on energy storage a biomass powered steam generator would be my choice. Your own firewood is your storage medium. Hot water for free all winter too.

Stand alone solar is only really viable if you have to buy a transformer and do a long underground, spending 10-15k

Looks like a great spot and a good idea.

Stephen

Originally Posted by rovercare

Stand alone solar is only really viable if you have to buy a transformer and do a long underground, spending 10-15k

$15k + just for the tranny, then cost of underground, any where from $1000-$20,000

I would stay away from cattle and large animals. Expensive fencing and yards. They have to be ear tagged now too. Cost of tick and fly control,
Cost of mobile butcher. Keep to smaller animals and butcher them yourself. Rabbits and Guinea pigs are good.
[ Keep quiet about the rabbits ]
Didiman