OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
The best plan will be to appear to others to be a have-not, while being a have.
How long can you (and your family) survive if the grid went down for an extended period?
- Thread starter Solarcabin Channel
- Start date
Hogheavenfarm
Regulation Stifles Innovation
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2022
- Messages
- 440
Just prior to superstorm Sandy, we had a derecho blow through which actually took down my utility pole with the meters on it. Since it was a "private pole", it was my responsibility to repair it. This was in July sometime, if I remember right, We were without electricity for 3 weeks. I did have a small Honda generator (2200 watts) which ran the lights and TV in the LR, and the internet, but wouldnt power anything else unless I unplugged the LR and put the chest freezer on it, which we did every day for 6 hours and every night for 6 hours. It was in a heat wave as well, so no AC at night. We showered at the swimming pool every morning, standing alongside it and dipping water out. We also took 5 gallon buckets of water from it to flush toilets. Food was from the rapidly defrosting refrig, cooked on the propane grill outside. And we both still had to go to work every day.
Fun times.
Right after that Sandy hit, we were out again for a week. After that I decided we need good reliable backup for at least some of those inconveniences, so I put in the solar. Now I add to the system every year. We still dont have the power to run the well pump so water is still an issue (but I keep the pool just for that reason). I think I have enough power to plug in the furnace (hot air) if I have to, but I have a wood stove and two fireplaces so thats not a big concern. I really would rather concentrate on the water issue now. BTW, after Sandy everything was shut down and most roads were not passable, so security was a big concern as there were looting incidents in the area.
Fun times.
Right after that Sandy hit, we were out again for a week. After that I decided we need good reliable backup for at least some of those inconveniences, so I put in the solar. Now I add to the system every year. We still dont have the power to run the well pump so water is still an issue (but I keep the pool just for that reason). I think I have enough power to plug in the furnace (hot air) if I have to, but I have a wood stove and two fireplaces so thats not a big concern. I really would rather concentrate on the water issue now. BTW, after Sandy everything was shut down and most roads were not passable, so security was a big concern as there were looting incidents in the area.
Daddy Tanuki
Solar Wizard
like skinning a dead squirrel maybe?
Daddy Tanuki
Solar Wizard
this is the most likely scenario... 2-3 weeks without power or fuel... a 200 gallon LPG tank feeding a genset takes care of 95% of this... its cheaper and easier than solar... brut solar is more fun.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
and a storm like Sandy is more likely to either damage the PV or result in poor solar potential days, where as the genset is likely to be unaffected and ready to go. ESS and inverters inside will also be less likely damaged, so the genset can just run a few hours at peak efficiency to charge ESS, then shut-down to conserve fuel, and not draw too much attention to itself...
Hogheavenfarm
Regulation Stifles Innovation
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2022
- Messages
- 440
But when at work the genny has to be running, and they were disappearing all over the area overnight. I had a 5/16" diameter chain on mine padlocked to the inside garage door rails. At night you can hear the quietest genset! Not so much in the day. LPG getting to hard to get around here, lots of regulation on them. My array is bolted to my small barn, on the south side, probably take a tornado to tear that down (or up!), big hail could be an issue though, luckily it is setup for winter panel angles, 62 degrees off horizontal. Should help some.
SilverbackMP
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2022
- Messages
- 988
I got one 60 miles away. The internet says the exclusion zone for Chenobal is 18.6 miles but that was just a partial meltdown and then it was encapsulated.
I was wrong… there is only 4…
But I’m between the
two VERY close together on the left…
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
or flying debris, tree branches, 'stuff' - the panels are pretty tough I noticed, but not indestructable.
With an exhaust line (used for running cars in a shop) you could run your genset inside a garage more descretely and less chance of it 'growing legs'
My motor home genset is inside my 1700sqft shop with wood walls… even with a resonator and muffler attached… it is LOUD… my neighbors aren’t very close, and I have a LOT of trees… but even still during long power outages, I get… visitors.
Q-Dog
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That's the story of my life.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
I have run mine 8k inside one winter - just the seasonal exercise for the back-up genny and I thought it would be interesting to try it connected to the exhaust port on the shop, but like yours, inside the shop this is LOUD. I live pretty far from my neighbours, but this sound will carry especially in winter with the leaves down and nice crisp air. Luckily my neighbours are like-minded and we cooperate together.
Well… this map shows there are a lot more around me… 
SilverbackMP
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2022
- Messages
- 988
Maybe find a military generator with a “quiet pack?” Search for MEP on FB. They are a hell of a lot bigger for the wattage than comparable civilian models…a lot of that is in the frame and panels. Some of it is in the electronics (can pretty much match any phase or frequency depending on model for use wherever).
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
For most people just a small "suitcase" generator and an EG4 Chareverter connected to their ESS - charge up slowly during the day or whenever it is best for you, if the sun isn't cooperative.
Correct…multi layers of skills ,supply’s and “tools” for any event foreseeable, operational independently or in concert with other assets . Whatever problems or threats one face's,be it a natural event or the man- created scenario , the more options available ,the easier the job.. but as stated earlier , while always retaining the the skill and art of the chameleon….a non-target if possible,is a safer target.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
That is rather disconcerting...!
My area is 800 miles from the closest Canadian plant, 400+miles from MN plants... hopefully the prevailing winds don't change!
Edit: Guess you have four months to pack up and head NWest
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My Netflix account was disabled for a week due to a billing issue and my 16 and 17 yo practically divorced us.
The old house is sitting in the perfect place with 3 mountains boxing it in. Worst storms were mere breezes at best.
New homes are in town with no real wind breaks and I'm living in a two story house so wind worries me at times but we do have a storm pit if needed.
The main thing I really love about being in town has to to with the power going out. At the other place I couldn't even get the propane tank refilled since the driveway was so bad. At the new home I have natural gas. When the powers out from storms the natural gas has always worked and I bought the kit for the generator to make it tri-fuel so no matter how long the powers out I can run it. Last bad storms we had I had to drive 60 miles one way to buy gas for the generator at the old house. Never again since I have natural gas now
When I get around to adding 2 more batteries and some more panels I won't even need the generator at that point. The new house has a 2 acre flat field beside the house that I plan on filling up with panels over time.
New homes are in town with no real wind breaks and I'm living in a two story house so wind worries me at times but we do have a storm pit if needed.
The main thing I really love about being in town has to to with the power going out. At the other place I couldn't even get the propane tank refilled since the driveway was so bad. At the new home I have natural gas. When the powers out from storms the natural gas has always worked and I bought the kit for the generator to make it tri-fuel so no matter how long the powers out I can run it. Last bad storms we had I had to drive 60 miles one way to buy gas for the generator at the old house. Never again since I have natural gas now
When I get around to adding 2 more batteries and some more panels I won't even need the generator at that point. The new house has a 2 acre flat field beside the house that I plan on filling up with panels over time.
