Setting Up an Off-Grid Retreat in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
So one of the things I am starting to despise is maintaining finicky small gas engines and doing maintenance on them. However, when I first started this land project, there just was not that great of DIY electrical options. Now, that is changing. Solar, Battery, and Electrical is becoming much more practical, and can do... Continue Reading →
Working off candles, flashlights, and kerosene works for a while, but eventually, you want to just have a working light switch. Well, I finally did it and didn't kill myself in the process. Eventually, the lighting will be ripped out when I install insulation and drywall in the future, but I am happy to have... Continue Reading →
While I have done a few day trips out to West Virginia, I have also been staying the night in the makeshift cabin/shack despite winter approaching. With the weather dropping into temps where snow is possible, there were a few things that needed to happen to get ready for winter. The first was cold prep.... Continue Reading →
I know this sounds crazy, but its finally time to build the first wireless network and server out on the mountain! However, with this being off-grid, there needs to be some special considerations. First, why, especially if there is no Internet out there???? Simple reason, I would like to get some measurements and automation out... Continue Reading →
In the last post, I covered the parts that are required to build a micro-grid solar system. In this post, the focus is on my first attempts at assembly and generating the first kilowatt hour of power. Of note: this is still in an experimentation phase and not permanently setup. I still need to learn... Continue Reading →
Despite being off-grid, there are certain luxuries that only come with fossil fuels or electric power. Consider the time required to chop a tree down vs using a chain saw, or building a fire to cook versus an electric kettle. Lamp oil versus bright LED bulbs; the list goes on. For me, the off-grid retreat... Continue Reading →
So, quick post and rant. The problem with buying big and heavy items from Amazon is that they often the items don't arrive without damage. Amazon itself does a pretty good job of customer service, but sometimes FedEx has been pretty rough with my stuff. Case in point, a recent battery purchase and a generator.... Continue Reading →
Vantages From Vandalia 