Thread: Off grid solar 240Volt for house appliances

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have been on standalone for twenty years. In my case the biggest power users are the Fridge and Freezer, and the NBN satellite modem. Lighting is nearly all CF, but the house is designed so that most of the time you don't need lights in daylight.

Problems arise when the grandkids are here - four laptops add up on the power, and they watch a lot more TV than I do. And they don't switch lights off.

John

I where you're coming from, but don't despair, they can be trained.
My kids are now very efficient power users.
What works is removing their light globes and the aerial connection!

We have been stand alone for over 6 years now using only a very basic solar system and a rather old battery bank .
It has been interesting to say the least .

We have always run a back up generator though , so when ever the power goes out , I just power it up.

The funny thing , although some what frustrating some days , is that the smaller farms over the road have power and the pole for us to connect too is just across the road .. That can be some what of a temptation when our power goes out .
We chose to be stand alone and I even cut the phone line in to the property.

As for the grand kids of which between myself and my partner , we have 17 , they just get told straight up that things are how they are !!! and to suck it in , but nearly every time , my kids ( the parents of all these little monsters crack up ) and I wind up caving and firing the gen up .. lolol

No matter how strange people may think living off the grid may be , personally I would have it no other way .
No dependence on anything out side my property , is just how we love it !


cheers
Steve