Everything Off the Grid

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/BigSail4062 on 2025-01-30 13:54:17+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/EasyAcresPaul on 2025-01-29 06:35:07+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Similar-Huckleberry8 on 2025-01-28 18:54:08+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/ForTheLoveOfBugs on 2025-01-25 23:53:59+00:00.

We’re building a conventional house semi-off-grid, and are trying to decide whether we reasonably need a whole-home generator. We will have solar panels on the roof that should receive sunlight pretty much all day (facing SSW with no obstructions), but will still be hooked up to the grid for backup power and to hopefully sell back some of the power generated by the solar panels. We will hopefully also have batteries for the solar to store some excess power. We cannot be 100% off-grid because of serious health issues, and because we are in a somewhat remote area, we need to be reasonably independent in the event of an emergency.

Our main concern is that we cannot be without our HVAC (will either be a combo of radiant heating and AC or both radiant heating AND cooling, still deciding) or running water from the well for too long due to previously mentioned health issues. Obviously, we’re hoping the solar panels and batteries will be enough to power the entire house (or at least the HVAC and well) in the event of a longterm grid outage, but of course there’s always a chance that the solar won’t be able to keep up if the weather isn’t conducive. We also plan on using high-efficiency appliances and other electronics to further cut down on energy usage.

Considering all this, would a whole-home generator be a reasonable addition? It’s a big expense, but if there’s a reasonable chance the solar might not always keep up when the grid is down, it’s one we’ll have to deal with. Are there other options like a small, easy-to-use generator that could just power the absolute essentials (well, HVAC, and maybe fridge)?

I’d appreciate any insight!

ETA: We will be having everything installed by someone who knows what they’re doing, but obviously we want to have a good understanding of how everything works so we can run and maintain the system. As such, any recommendations for helpful beginner’s guides on solar and electrical systems in general would be really helpful as well!

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Hashtag_777 on 2025-01-26 17:01:27+00:00.

so i’ve been experimenting with off-grid living, and one thing i didn’t anticipate was how draining it would be to handle everything manually. i’ve started keeping snacks like trail mix handy, drinking more water, and trying out these transdermal energy patches (nectar patches were one i tested). they’re super lightweight, so they’re easy to pack when i’m away from the main cabin.

anyone else have tips for maintaining energy while working off-grid? i’m still figuring this whole thing out.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Taxevaderfishing on 2025-01-25 16:57:24+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/EasyAcresPaul on 2025-01-24 17:40:36+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/MlordJFS on 2025-01-23 18:27:44+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/BallsOutKrunked on 2025-01-23 15:39:48+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Bucketalinko on 2025-01-22 22:12:54+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Next_Insurance_9226 on 2025-01-22 09:14:49+00:00.

I’ve been wondering about it and how you do laundry also side question if anyone knows is it a good idea to buy property with a nearby pond or lake for fishing? And also if said property has a pond or lake how can you know if the water is safe to swim in. Sorry if that’s a lot of questions,thanks

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/ColinCancer on 2025-01-21 20:38:50+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/IndividualLazy4764 on 2025-01-20 17:19:04+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Creative_Doula on 2025-01-19 21:20:49+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Agreeable_Pumpkin658 on 2025-01-13 22:02:54+00:00.

My husband and I just sold our 3,500+ sq foot home on acreage and are in the in-between to our next home (end of Feb closing). A friend has graciously offered for us to stay in her 200 sq foot off-grid cabin until we figure out where we want to go next. We live in Northern Canada, so it's not abnormal to have daily highs of -35 C or colder still in March. We are selling off lots of stuff and packing the belongings that we're keeping to a 40' sea can, but are trying to have just the essentials in the cabin along with an enclosed trailer for easy access to things like tools, extra clothes etc.

We have solar panels and lithium batteries, as well as a generator. The cabin has a wood stove for heat, which we are no strangers to. Water will have to be jug water, and we'll have to shower in-town or by outdoor bucket shower depending on temperatures.

A couple questions:

1. What are your laundry solutions (other than laundromat)?
2. Tips for living in a tiny space with a partner and a large dog?
3. What are your "must haves" for off-grid/tiny living?
4. What did you think you needed before off-grid/tiny living that you didn't really need

Any other helpful tips are appreciated! :)

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/OkAgency2591 on 2025-01-18 23:48:01+00:00.

We have a rainwater-collection setup for our place, and we truck in some town water in 5-gal jugs to supplement that. I’m eternally grateful to whoever came up with the idea to use a spray bottle to rinse dishes (I’ve since upgraded to a garden sprayer). Last week I used a silicone measuring cup to make pancake mix and the dried-on gunk just fell off when I went to wash up…so I immediately ordered a set of silicone bowls from Amazon and they clean up with way less water. Does anyone have any other tips to share on small changes they made to save water?

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Signal-Assumption-86 on 2025-01-17 23:45:58+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/spruceofalltrades on 2025-01-18 02:12:41+00:00.

We’ve been living off grid for two years, liked it, learned a lot, saved a lot, but now we’re through. Anyone know of off grid buy/sell communities where niche items would be successful? As in..

Recirculating shower

Jackeries

Solar panel equipment that don’t fit any other electrical uses

Tumbling Compost machine

Amongst other weird outdoor one-off things that don’t get used any other way

Tyia

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/JacobZivotic on 2025-01-17 21:54:48+00:00.

Basically I’m planning my home build, and I’m looking for resources or maybe advice from people knowledgeable in home heating and plumbing.

My property has electricity but it does not have natural gas. I live in a very cold climate zone.

I’m wanting to use copper coils around my wood stove/exhaust, and either feed that into a water or sand battery to store the extra heat from the stove.

The sand or water battery is just a large vessel of mass that’s heavily insulated, I want to heat it to about 200 f maybe? If water is mixed with glycol.

Then I would run another loop from the in floor/radiant heat through the thermal battery to heat up the floor.

Any thoughts? Think this is just over complicating things?

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/rodsrwilson on 2025-01-16 17:32:20+00:00.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/Responsible-Ant9364 on 2025-01-16 02:58:33+00:00.

Hey guys I plan on building a 2000 sqft for myself my wife and kids , we will be completely off grid when it comes to utilities, I am going to drill a well, get a 1000 gallon propane tank to run the water heater, range , oven, dryer and duel fuel generator. Luckily I live in New Mexico where we get 300+ days of sun a year so I plan on going full solar, I plan on running my refrigerator ,TVs , washer, dishwasher,microwave, lights, and 3 energy efficient mini splits off the solar. I want to have a solar system that can easily keep up with that especially in summer those mini splits will be running at least 14 hours a day, I’m thinking a 20kw system and if I need to I can tap into generator to charge batteries at night. What do you guys recommend for my solar system/ generator? Thank you for your help And my well/pump is going to be ran off its own separate mini solar system.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/OverlordFanNUMBER1 on 2025-01-15 07:35:33+00:00.

I am gonna have a heater, stove/oven, and water heater all running propane. I have never used propane before so how much should I expect to have this cost me a month, I cook daily and it only gets cold enough to use the heater in the winter, I know no one will be able to give me a accurate answer but just give me a educated guess please. Thank you

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/kb0qqw on 2025-01-13 13:09:32+00:00.

Looking at a property that is more rural in the upper Midwest (northern Great Lakes region) and likely to have issues with utility power during the more severe winter weather season.

Many neighbors have propane heating systems (along with wood stoves and wood fireplaces backup) a long with small to medium size generators to provide power for the heating system and essential appliances when the solar & wind generators are not keeping up with the load depleting the battery bank during longer term situations.

One neighbor has a very large propane tank to serve both the generator and the heating system.

Another who has been living in the area for longer has three tanks that are each about half the size of the one larger tank of the neighbor so there is alarger overall total capacity. They are plumbed into a distribution system so he can pull propane for the generator and/or heating system out of any one of the three depending on the situation.

Other than the initial expenses of building out an onsite system with multiple tanks, what advantages and concerns should we weigh when looking at these types of systems?

Edit: added more details to location - not getting ultra specific as we haven't totally decided beyond region.

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/National_Message_917 on 2025-01-12 03:57:15+00:00.

I’ve spent hours doing internet research and I’m having a hard time figuring out what kind of a wood stove I should buy for my home. I have access to plenty of wood and would like to 1) reduce my propane usage in the winter and 2) have a no/low electricity heating option because we often lose power. 3) nice to have: my spouse likes to see flames so something with a glass viewer would help me sell the idea.

Can anyone help me to narrow the choices down a bit? Or maybe just help me understand the most important factors to consider?

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The original was posted on /r/offgrid by /u/4-aminobenzaldehyde on 2025-01-10 20:03:35+00:00.

I am currently a college student and recently found out about off-grid living. I also heard that it is possible to buy some land, set up a wall tent, and live in that so as to minimize expenses (since rent is obscenely expensive nowadays). Is this actually a feasible idea? I am genuinely willing to do this, if it would work. Will it? What are some major drawbacks or some things to consider? This would of course only be temporary until I have enough money saved up to live in more ideal conditions.