We have been living off-grid
for over three years now. During that
time, our only source of power has been our Honda EU 2000i generator. Want to make a piece of toast...go turn on
the generator. Want to use the
computer...go turn on the generator.
Want to charge the cell phones, turn on the lights, use a power
tool...go turn on the generator. We’re
not any kind of generator experts; we’re just users and HUGE fans of what these
machines have allowed us to do over the years.
We’re also not rich, we don’t
have boatloads of cash, and we are not able to buy everything brand new. We are just an average single income
family. And honestly, it’s expensive to
set up your own power system from scratch, which is why we have been slowly
piecing together our off-grid power system one piece at a time.
Several months
ago we were able to purchase the battery bank {click here}. Battery banks are the best choice for
renewable energy storage. By using
batteries to deliver energy captured from the sun and the wind (aka the power
source) in a consistent and reliable form, you will not be left dependent on the
whims of nature as you attempt to leave the electrical grid behind.
This month we
are able to check off the last large item on our ‘Off-Grid Power Check List’ –
the “power source” a Honda EM3500S generator.
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The “power
source” is whatever system will be creating the electricity – this can be
anything from solar, wind, hydro or a generator {click here}. Since we are still in the process of building
our home, we are going to be using the new generator as our main power
source. Once our home is closer to
completion then we will switch our main power source over to wind and hydro.
Now all we have
to do is build the ‘power house’ and get all the wiring to hook everything
together. Our power system is almost
done!
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OUR OFF-GRID POWER CHECK LIST:
(A basic off-grid system is
made up of nine components.)
X Power
Source --- Solar, Wind, Hydro, and Generator – whatever system will be creating
your electricity.
X DC Disconnect --- this is a
breaker between the power source and the inverter. This allows you to disconnect from the power
source to troubleshoot errors. (Housed
in the Power Center – click here)
X Charge Controller --- this
keeps the batteries from overcharging and from being discharged by the power
source. (Housed in the Power Center)
X Battery Bank --- stores excess
electricity.
X System Meter --- this is like a
small computer. It describes how the
various components in your system are behaving and allows you to program
virtually every aspect of the system.
(Housed in the Power Center)
X Main DC Disconnect --- this is
the breaker between the battery bank and the inverter. (Housed in the Power Center)
X Pure Sine Wave Inverter ---this
is the component that transforms the DC (direct current) electricity, which is
yielded by the power source and stored in the battery bank, into the AC
(alternating current) electricity that can be used on your appliances in the
home. (Housed in the Power Center)
X AC Breaker Panel --- this is
the same breaker panel that is found in any home that is tied to the grid.
X Backup Generator --- an
important source of backup power when the power system is insufficient for the
demand.
Hidden
Expense --- all the wiring that is needed to connect everything together;
conduit and fittings; small insulated shed aka ‘power house’ with two rooms,
one room for the battery bank and one room for all the other electrical
components.
