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.
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.
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…)
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.
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.
Creative Commons
license, which allows you to utilise all the information on this site for non-commercial purposes, providing you credit the information with the word 'off-grid.net', which should be written as one word and accompanied by a link to our web site.
View our creative commons license.
View our
Privacy Policy.
Off-Grid.net is investigating the Utility companies --power, water and waste.
Do the water companies conceal their knowledge of the pollution of the water supply? Do the power companies conceal the wasted energy inside the system, and their excessive profits?
We need help to find the smoking guns: memos, SEC filings,confidential legal advice internal emails..... send to news@off-grid.net. Anonymity guaranteed
Do you rely on your own healing powers when you are ill? Or is there an unqualified nurse in your local community?
We want to hear from people who do their own doctoring - using their own herbs and remedies, setting their own broken bones, dealing with their own bodies.
Why do you do it? How do you do it? Contact news@off-grid.net
We are preparing a TV series for possible broadcast next year. Can you write up your experiences ? Or handle a video camera?
We are looking for people who currently live off-grid anywhere in the world, and for people who want to live off-grid but do not yet do so. This might be in a community or an individual situation. Please send us your videos and photos - or feel free to write about yourself for the web site. Contact nick@off-grid.net
An interactive map showing who wants to go off-grid , and where they are, and who has land on offer.
How it works
Creative Commons
license, which allows you to utilise all the information on this site for non-commercial purposes, providing you credit the information with the word 'off-grid.net', which should be written as one word and accompanied by a link to our web site.
What is Ashton Kutcher’s off-grid secret?
Will and Kate to visit N.W.T. ‘bush
Top Gear presenter says living off-grid can make
Ted Nugent declares himself off-grid…
New York Times journalist sullies off-grid
