The Cheapest Solar Powered Escape Around
I’m willing to bet everybody reading my missives would love to simplify their lives and get back to basics. Our lives have become overwhelmed with electronics, material goods, the nanny state, crime, and people that demand our time and money. Wouldn’t it be nice to just let go of 90% of that and get back to what really matters?
That is often what motivates the folks that adopt the tiny house lifestyle. I personally know several people that are doing this with great success. Its shockingly easy once you get over your attachment to material things and your rat race lifestyle.
Here are a few things I’ve learned from these folks that I try to incorporate into my lifestyle:
- You need less than you think. There is a rule written somewhere that says possessions will eventually fill the space they are given. If you have an empty room, eventually it will be full. If you simply start with far less space, you end up with less stuff.
- Let go. Letting go of your rat race lifestyle will free you of so much guilt and anger. If you could quit your job, live on a fraction of what you make now – wouldn’t you be happier? It can be done with a little simplification.
- We use stuff the wrong way. So much of the stuff we have is supposed to save us time. Well what if we had more time to devote to our simple life? Wouldn’t we need less stuff? What if you just stopped watching T.V. for a month? I’m guessing you would be shocked at how much time you had to dedicate to family, hobbies, and making your simple life dreams to come true.
The folks I know that are doing this have families, and they are all living in about 500-900 square feet. A single fellow I know is living in 125 square feet. They don’t have television. They make up for that with an incredible view of a natural landscape. They wash their clothes in tiny washing machines and hang dry them. They spend their time mending clothes, growing vegetables, tending to animals, and teaching their children. Its very similar to what homesteaders did in the old times.
And they all did it with a stunning lack of funding. One family accomplished everything, including 3 acres, tiny house, furnishings, and solar/wind setup for less than $20,000. And they have never been happier (they are very private folks so I am not using their name or photos). They have plenty of friends and fun too. Their life is not lacking in the entertainment department. They have learned to play games and musical instruments. They are in better health than have been in decades.
Of course, this isn’t possible for everyone. But you can build yourself a little retreat where you can practice this lifestyle for a few weeks a year. You can buy a travel trailer or small manufactured home for a few thousand dollars. All you need inside is a small fridge, a little gas burner for cooking, and some lighting. One 130W solar panel, a little charger, and a battery could power the whole thing. You’ll have to leave the iPad and smart phone at home, but that’s the point.
So what are you waiting for? Maybe it’s time to give it a try. Go out into the wild, get wild while you’re at it, and get back to basics.
John, sorry I didn’t really answer your question. AIMS inverters are available in 300 Watt with 4500 Watt surge and in 5000 Watt with 8000 Watt surge. These are good even for medical equipment.
Price is $699 for 3000/4500 unit and $999 for 5000/8000 unit on ebay NEW. I went 12 volt so I ran wires from panels to a copper bus plate and larger wire to handle the current to the charger and on to batteries. My American made panels produce 15 amps each so 4 of them produces 60 amps. No 10 wire from panels to bundle plate and No 6 copper wire to charger / batteries.
AIMS has inverters in a lot of sizes but 3000 watt is I think the smallest one to use for primary power. The above mentioned inverters are 12 volt. Think 24 volt is better if a lot of current is in the picture. I jumped in too fast before I knew enough to make best decisions.
Hello:
I was amazed when my oldest daughter told me to check out this website. i just completed a course in college for photovoltaics and I took this class because I want just this. To be off grid, NO tv which I don”t have now. I LOVE the land, I LOVE nature not society entertainments.
But I could NOT view your behind the scene home hooked up off grid with solar etc…
Rose
Life is really amazing..The expression that goes- birds of the same feather flocks together.. or any sayings of that sort..–are really founded ideas. My co workers finds my idea weird when I tell them that my retirement plan is to go back to basics, live a simple farm life, grow my own food and raise my own farm animals, and been so interested on solar power ideas for years now and I am a nurse by profession but personally I get away from prescribed drugs and look for natural cures , proper foods than bottled vitamins. My friends looks at me like a “weirdo” and smiles on my “freak” ideas. Talking about sola flares and and survival ideas to my close friends is taken like a surreal idea. My son who is finishing up with his Computer Science course is surprisingly up with me since he follows up infowars.com news which was surprising to me ..my second son is not on it fully yet but I keep up with sharing ideas with him since he is also in his freshman year in Comp Scie and my daughter tolerates my survival preparations.
Anyway I am very thankful I found this web.. i get more infos.. I really thought it was because i grew up in the farm and had my happiest chidhood memories was in the farm life that this personal retirement plan instinctively came to me when I started considering retirement. I am 57 years old now and I am now working on my plans and i have gladness and excitement in my heart that it is on the way. It is wonderful that there is a confirmation on what i had in mind and I have more helpful tips and info. Thanks so much for being there and for sharing your great minds…
Our Ontario government has put us on the hook, the tax payer’s of Ontario $900 million CDN dollars, for not installing gas turbines in the greater Toronto area. I will look forward to getting this programs of material as grass-roots builder’s of solar panels, and wind turbines, harnessing free sun and wind. We have huge wind turbines, such as the likes of those from the state of California, and currently the Ontario government is burying the excessive power back into Mother Earth. I guess, government’s of all size’s and with no boundaries, always find ways to continue screw thy neighbour, but thinking they’re offering us deals from the tax monies that we continue to give year after year.
So my packages should be here in a few more days, can’t wait to see what opportunities await us, thanks Mr Bates!
Where do we get some real time, basic resources, and help guides to become independent? I am convinced that independancs is important but all i can find is how important it is. Where do I start to find parts and basic information? Thank you Barry.
John, on your inverter sizing be sure to buy a pure sine wave (PSW) inverter or your motors will run hoter than normal & not last as long. I bought the AIMS inverter on Ebay and satisfied with it.
I have seen the vidoe of illustrating how to build pv solar panels from my P4P DVD. The presenter uses plate glass for the supporting surface, but recommends using tempered glass. However, on another P4P site, the person recommends using “plexiglass” instead, for impact resistence from hail and other objects. Will plexiglass fog up or become less transparent over time? If it is preferred over glass, what thickness is recommended? I have received my shipment of pv cells and hope to start the assembly process in a few days. I have also purchased two large deep cycle batteries from Interstate Battery for $40 each. (They were part of a leasing program which allows them to be used for two weeks for the summer. They are essentially brand new batteries and are larger than most cars could ever use.) How do I determine how many of these batteries to purchase to assemble a complete system for my home?
Orlan,
Check out my technical FAQ. http://www.power4patriots.com/support_technical.php
Need source on small solar panels or construction of same To power 4’x6′ single face sign lighted with LED s
Also battery to hold power for night time illumination.
This is true. My wife and 2 yr old live in a 29 ft wheel and have had for 3 yrs going on 4.. I just having problems with installing wind power because I have 2 30 amp power supplies that run my trailer. How big of an inverter do I need to run everything I have, how do I calculate that. Help lost in Washington
You are so right, we have too much stuff and I am in the middle of that Going solar and efficient appliances, well in back yard plus a good sewer system off grid type. A lot we can do to not be owned by our things.