Solar Power – Our Journey Part 1

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jeremiah

Hello Everyone,

I have discussed our life off grid with many people and everyone seems interested in the solar part.  I’m going to handle this subject in two postings.  In this one I’m going to discuss what we have and how we decided what to do.  The second part I’ll discuss what we did wrong or would do differently if we did it all over again.

I want to start by explaining that we moved to a “three season” cabin in the Northwoods back in August.  We owned the property for over a year and I would visit on weekends and changed it into a super insulated “all season” home.  The property is so remote that it would cost around $60,000 to run grid power out here.  For us that was just out of reach.   Most people with these type cabins use generators for the electric needs during summer vacations or hunting season.  I thought that the cost to run a generator would be pretty high also. Our solution…….

First we had to identify how much power we needed.  Sounds easy right? Wrong.  There are lots of sites that will help you with this and we spent some time working with the folks at www.backwoodssoloar.com.  Now we didn’t end up buying anything from them, they were very helpful and in part 2 I’ll discuss what we should have done.  I’ll be getting with them when we upgrade in the future.

There are two ways to approach this, the first is to evaluate your electrical needs based on a normal life.  What I mean is you can continue live like your on the grid.  Microwave, washing machine, refrigerator, etc., but you soon find out that it will cost you a lot.  You also have to consider how much sun/wind potential you have in your area.  The second way to look at electrical needs is based on what you need to survive or live a simpler life.  This is the direction we decided to go.

OK, your going to make your life simpler, right!  We went propane on our fridge, cooking stove and hot water heater, no washing machine(makes for family time going to the laundry mat).  So our largest need for it is our well.  When we bought  the place it had an old pump that drew lots of power and we decided we could replace it with a more efficient model and reduce our power needs.

So our final needs were less than 2000 watts to run everything.  If you don’t know what that means relative to a grid home, it’s about a quarter of a normal home.

Now we had a target amount and could start shopping.  I had several quotes around $10,000 and included all kinds of nice mounting gear, switch boxes, etc, ………well I couldn’t pull that mouse out of my pocket either, so plan B.  Make my own!

So we got out the Northern Tool catalog and ordered a Xantrex Power Hub 1800.  It came with 2 110w solar panels, power hub, 2 sealed AGM 12v batteries and a 30 amp charge controller.  So to complete the project, we had to buy the following: 2 more AGM batteries, battery case for power hub, 100′ 8-2 wire, automotive 12 v fuse blocks (used in amplifier installations), AC cut off switch for air conditioning unit, and outside weather proof box(panel combiner).  All in total we put around $3500 in the system and it works!  I’ve posted some pictures below.

I’ll talk about our supplemental power from a generator tomorrow…..

 

Xantrex Powerhub 1800 with extra battery storage

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Thoughts

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Jeremiah

Here in the Northwoods we have a pretty simple life.  It is more difficult and physically demanding, but it is good.  One benefit to our lives here is the absence of a TV.  It really gives you time to read and contemplate things.  The post below is some things I’ve been thinking about alot.  I got part of the list from an internet show on gbtv.com.  This list encompasses personal reflection and how you might prepare for hard times that might be ahead.

 

Thoughts

  • Where does my heart lie?
  • Where am I getting my direction from?
  • Who am I following?
  • Am I proud of today’s effort?
  • Am I comfortable with myself?
  • What Skills do I have?

 

The List

  • Gold, food, cig, liquor, ammo, seeds, sugar, guns
  • Skills-Barter-Alliances
  • 30 days cash on hand
  • Knowledge
  • Buy a house – Farmland
  • Stop all excess spending
  • Quality – Durable over fade & fashion
  • Do not waste, measure twice and cut once, do not waste
  • Fuel efficient
  • Truck-SUV (pre 1979)

 

Location

  • No safe place that is untouchable
  • Texas, Mountains, Still God fearing
  • If cannot move – form alliances

 

Traditions

  • Preserve Truth
  • Shed Commercial

Electronics

  • Paper Docs – Take a copy of deed
  • Reduce/Remove

Life

  • Plan-Pray-Obey
  • Don’t plan your life
  • Practice Franklin’s Religion
  • Honor all obligations-be honorable
  • Draw your children close to you
  • Teach/Live your values
  • Do with less now
  • Serve/share
  • Link up-9.12-Freedom Works
  • Meeting Place
  • Read the Bible daily
  • Resolve inner conflicts
  • Have a gun-know how to shoot it
  • Stop all behavior that doesn’t make you better
  • Make amends
  • Teach children work ethic
  • Tolerate nothing wrong by remaining silent
  • Never feed anger

Education

  • Apprenticeships
  • Discuss value/earn
  • No labels
  • Other options (on line)
  • Faith in education
  • College not a given
  • Demand merit or remove
  • Always read/educate yourself
  • Hard copy of books – classics-founding documents
  • Learn old and lost practices
  • Mending/Canning/Farming
  • Relearn/teach maps
  • Learn to fix an engine
  • Stay up on true news
  • Know the other side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Jobs

  • Do your best
  • Be irreplaceable
  • Have the product/service no one can cancel
  • Learn from the depression, conserve/preserve, advertise (Chevy vs. Ford), and downsize to help
  • George Bailey
  • Honesty, integrity, charity
  • Spit yourself out of the system –innovate-turn up side down
  • Put your money where your heart is
  • Do business in symbiotic ways
  • Do not try to put others out of business
  • Gimbles/Macy’s
  • Never be the smartest in the room
  • Take care of employee’s best you can
  • Give more/take less
  • Read Franklin/Washington

 

Final thoughts

  • Never the first look, it’s the second that will get you into trouble
  • Never be the best guy in the room, surround yourself with others better than yourself
  • Be happy and optimistic
  • Life goes on
  • Sing songs
Categories: Daily Details, God stuff, News of the Day | Leave a comment

Sorry I’ve been away!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Jeremiah

Hello to all my friends out there, I have been away for awhile.  I honestly am trying to learn about blogging and find myself almost scared to open up and post, I keep getting requests for this or that and have to go research it.  Strange isn’t it?  If you don’t know I’m of an age that kinda understands our technology, but not fully or able to keep up with it.  OK enough groveling for forgiveness – onward!

We here in the Nothwoods have had a really mild winter according to the locals.  It seems that we should have had several feet of snow by now and a normal temp of -25. Well I really appreciate the mild winter -18 mornings are cold enough. We also have only had a few snows of 2 to 6 inches with melting in between, so we have ground cover, but not much.

Stay tuned this week and I’ll tell you about my solar power system!

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Celebration!

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Jeremiah

Greetings and Merry Christmas!  Many people today are gathering around their new flat screen TV, firing up the new Xbox for a day of oblivion.  Eating and drinking, looking at the twinkling lights on their Christmas Tree and have no clue as to what today really is.

First off let me say that I am thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for everything, with out Him I am nothing!  Today many people are gathered together and are indulging in everything this world has to offer, but why?  The way I see it this day (originally a pagan holiday) was picked by the early church to co-op the pagan holiday and try to introduce Christianity to the pagan world.  I’m not trying to start an argument, just looking at the facts of when Christ’s birth really took place and the best bet would have been early spring.  So I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to celebrate Christ’s birth as long as we remember, that is what we are doing and we as a group just picked this day to do it.

Many years ago Daisy and I decided that Christmas was all about commerce and not about Christ so we really toned it down and did more of a Jesus birthday party than the whole Santa Claus thing.  If you want to do some research into it just Google it and you will find the links about the origins and also look at Coke a Cola in the 1930′s, that is when this first was commercialized.  Point being is that the world which is at enmity with God and has done everything it can to twist it from the truth.  Another issue we had was lying to our children, think about it, you tell them that there is this guy you can’t see, but he brings you gifts(physical) and then the children find out it is a lie.  Not only a lie but an adult conspiracy to lie to children.  Then comes Jesus Christ, a real person, who has rose from the dead to be our payment to God for our sins (spiritual gift), yet you can’t see him and all the adults tell you he is there, would you trust them?  Well as I said we walked away from the Christmas celebrations and focused on God.  This doesn’t mean you have to do anything different, remember I’m sharing about our life, I’m not in charge of yours, but did want to share some things that may make you think about what you are doing and why.

I do want to let each and every person who reads this know that God is real!  Jesus Christ is real! That God does tell us in Luke 2 about the birth of His only begotten son and that there is only one way to reconcile to God and that is through Jesus Christ!  So please take a moment during this time and remember, unto us this day a child was born and He became the Savior of all that would believe on him.

in Christ

Jeremiah

Categories: God stuff | 1 Comment

Recipes from Daisy’s cupboard

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Daisy

Hi ya’ll! This is Daisy and this is my first posting on the Blog. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I have ever posted on any Blog. Jeremiah and Ellie May joke that there are high tech people, low tech people and then there are people like me … no tech! So here goes nothin! Wish me luck. I plan to share some of my favorite recipes and some of my favorite books here. I may even share some funny, but true, stories from our life here in Hillbilly Land.

Food has always been a way for me to show my family that I love them. I enjoy experimenting with different recipes and often I try to incorporate some ethnic flavors into the menus. When we moved to the Northwoods we left behind just about everything that had an electrical plug including my beloved crockpot, mixer, blender, food processor, etc. Most recipes don’t require any special tools.  The ingredients in most recipes are readily available in regular grocery stores. Nothing too exotic.

Ellie May spotted a mix for pumpkin pancakes on a recent shopping trip and thought they sounded good. So I came home and tried my hand at making them from scratch (I try to avoid mixes since they seem to cost a lot). I had leftover pumpkin from making a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and needed to come up with some different uses for it. So here is what I came up with. And may I say the family really enjoyed them.

Pumpkin Pancakes

1 cup flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon ginger
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup pumpkin, mashed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. In another small mixing bowl, mix together eggs, milk, pumpkin, and vegetable oil. Then pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Fry in lightly oiled pan over medium heat until lightly browned. Enjoy with butter and syrup. Make about 12 – 5 inch pancakes.

We are all learning how to Blog here in the Northwoods. So join us in our adventures!

Categories: Daisy, Reciepes | Tags: , , , | 6 Comments

Work Continues Here

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Jeremiah

Well, we got done all the big stuff out side late last week and guess what? The snow hit, we only got six inches, but the locals tell me that the average is around 72 inches. Wait a minute, that is six feet of snow! That wasn’t in the brochure. I think the most snow we ever got down south was around 18″ over a week and that shut everything down for weeks (this was in the early 80′s) most of the time it was around 6 to 10 inches for the year. I’m not complaining it’s just gonna be an adjustment for all of us .

Well we did get the following things done since we got up here in August:

Bought and installed our solar power system
Replaced the well pump with a more efficient model
Built a green house
Built a covered area for Elle May’s critters
Built a covered porch area
A little paint’n
Lots of excavating
Put a Hillbilly Hilton in for Slim and our middle daughter
Put out our tree stands (Slim did the best hunt’n with his Dakota down the road)
Updated water heating and well water storage
Put in our propane refrigerator (they ain’t cheap, but well worth it)
Put in our Amish Sun (big ol propane light that mounts on the wall) We joke that it can give you a sun burn if it’s on high.
Built an ATV shed for the big green monster (our plowing machine)

I’m sure that I’ve missed a bunch, but stay tuned for more………..

 

Remember, if you need great food storage email KR at info@gotgreatfood.com for more details.

Categories: Daily Details | 3 Comments

Interesting Story

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Jeremiah

I know a lot of you are like me and have friends that send you these emails that discuss all kinds of things from politics to religion, but some of them you just gotta stop and read.  Kinda makes you think.  I’m not sure who wrote this and I’m stealing it from a friend of my, but it still makes the point.

“SOME IDEAS ARE SO STUPID ONLY INTELLECTUALS BELIEVE THEM.”
George Orwell
When the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Is this man truly a genius?

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A…. (substituting grades for dollars – something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
It could not be any simpler than that.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Can you think of a reason for not sharing this? Neither could I.

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Why they make duct tape!

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Jeremiah

You know as I read through the news of the day I often wonder how people handle some of the most trying times in my lifetime. I was reading through a few of them and told Daisy that I thought my head was gonna explode, she just looks up from her book and says “You want me to get the duct tape, I don’t feel like cleaning up a mess today”. Well you get the point. Below are some of the links to stuff that causes me to wrap my head in duct tape. I’d like to know your thoughts!

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/covert-op-suspected-as-second-iranian-nuke-site-goes-up-in-flames_12012011

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-lawyers-citizens-targeted-war-us-154313473.html

http://nation.foxnews.com/homelessness/2011/12/01/homeless-lady-15-kids-somebody-needs-pay-all-my-children

More examples of ?

Well for me its time to take a quiet walk in the woods.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments

Work at the Homestead

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Jeremiah

Hello All,

Its been a little nutty around here the last two days. We have been trying to get the last of the outdoor projects done before the weather starts getting bad. Now you may say what is bad, well we have already had a couple of snows with a light one last night and more forecast for the weekend. We have also seen numbers in the negatives already and it has been in the teens and zero several times, so we had two days of 30+ degree sunshine and we had to make the best of them.

We are trying to get the main roofing panels on our “screened in” porch and I’m building a covered area for the 4 Wheeler.

There are so many things to consider when you move from a moderate climate to a true northern environment that you don’t ever seem to get a firm handle on it before your behind or working in the snow. Later this weekend I’ll give everyone a list of the items we have encountered so far and how we have dealt or not with each one.

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Quick Overview

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Jeremiah

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to give you all a quick overview of what I intend on doing with this blog. I started  by having a meeting of the minds with Daisy(she is my helpmate in all things) and we came up with some ideas.

Everyday I’m going to try to give everyone a little bit of history of who we are and where we started, cause without the whole story your missing out on a lot.

Of course I will write about all the unique things that happen to us and we encounter as we learn this new land and wildlife.

I am also going to try to touch on practical things on a regular basis. Like how did I pick out the solar system that we are using or maybe Daisy will tell us about the best types of veggies to grow up here in the Arctic (not really, but to a bunch of southerner’s it feels like it) or one of us might just write about a simple “how to” we find in our readings and want to share with everyone.

I also like to read several news sites everyday and have some crazy friends that send me all kinds of stuff from practical money advise to “conspiracy theory” articles.  I plan on sharing  those links for information and discussion.

Seeing that God plays a central role in our life and marriage, I will  add a section on what we have been reading in the Bible. It isn’t  to go all  preachy on you or tell anyone they gotta believe this or that.  I just want to share how God works in our life everyday.

So stay tuned for more to come……….

Categories: History | Tags: | 1 Comment