Posts by — elnav

Off-Grid Assistance
by ELNAV on JUNE 22, 2010 - 12 Comments in I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE OFF-GRID

I design power systems for off grid situations and I have lived on a boat and in an RV; both of which are off grid. My wife grew up on an off grid homestead. She was 14 before she saw her first light bulb in a home.
There is more to living off-grid than knowing how to make electricity.

Data management and other off grid technologies
by ELNAV on MARCH 23, 2010 - 2 Comments in WORK

Going off grid sounds exciting.

Many people approach it with a sense of adventure as if they were living in a camper van, trailer or small cabin. The high tech aspect consist of adding a small solar photo voltaic panel to power a set of LED lights and maybe a laptop computer.

I have seen people express the sentiment that going off grid was a way to get away from other people, society and the evils of modern technology.

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Emergency Power: engine-driven generators
by ELNAV on FEBRUARY 25, 2010 - 10 Comments in OFF-GRID 101

when it breaks down....

Living off the grid, generators have a place. There comes a time when some backup power is needed. In most cases this means using an engine to turn some form of generator.

People living in Vans, camping trailers or small cabins tend to view a seperate engine driven generator as a nuisance to be tolerated and usually do not wish to spend much money. Various alternatives present themselves.

Running the Van motor to charge up the battery is among the first solutions that comes to mind. Next is a small stand alone portable genset and a typical automotive charger that plugs into the mains. (more…)

Where have all the engineers gone?
by ELNAV on FEBRUARY 15, 2010 - 0 Comments in EVENTS

A common theme running through many if not most if the current crop of discussion threads dealing with alternative lifestyle and off-grid living is a lack of solid engineering know how.

Many posters ask basic questions about the technology involved. All the major green and alternate energy projects we hear about in the news are mega projects involving huge amounts of money and aimed at creating megawatts of power to feed the existing grid.

These projects do employ engineers but very few of these engineers seem to get involved with low tech small scale energy projects.

I began wondering why. (more…)

Must simplicity be minimalist?
by ELNAV on FEBRUARY 14, 2010 - 28 Comments in COMMUNITY

minimal enough for you?

To date most efforts at living the simple life, off the grid seem to be an exercise in minimalism — doing without amenities most people take for granted.

No wonder the off-grid movement has trouble attracting adherents. The biggest appeal seems to be to those who want a simple life away from the restrictions imposed by living in communities.

Freedom is the keynote in many of the articles and books dealing with going off-grid.

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