The #1 Biggest Off Grid Mistake You Can Make

In this video, I will explain why going off grid and expecting to use all of your usual devices and appliances in the same way won't work. There are many sacrifices and compromises to be made with such a radical change but it can be done more easily by switching to direct current devices or more efficient ones. #offthegrid #biggestmistake #goingoffgrid

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[jimmycorkhill]

I live off grid, have done so for about six years. I use inverted 220v for pretty much all appliances. Works fine and I havent experienced anything like the costs, issues you identified here. You are correct in that it is a different life style living off grid, you have to become smart and careful in how and when you use stuff. I am still able to use most of what I did before including power tools, just must think first. My system appears quite inexpensive compared to many others ive seen. Best wishes.

[cuteone]

I thought I knew a little bit about solar.... I learned a ton from this video. Thanks LDSR

[Michael_Mears]

9:50 "...jumob-sized solar panel system..." Hahaha, that's us. I had a delivery the other day and the driver looked at our 54 solar panels, and he joked, "I wondered why it was getting cold." I'm with you for the DC devices and appliances for smaller and/or mobile off-grid, and we do this for our other projects, but for the house with 18.8kW of panels, 8kW of inverter and a 48V system, I'll stick to AC appliances. The house was already wired for 240VAC 15 years ago when we started with solar. The first we had was 7 panels and a 3kW inverter.

The DC wiring becomes a larger cost, though, as cable sizes go up in diameter to handle current, so I do like to head to 24V systems. It's a good in-between place to be. Cuts current by half for the same wattage compared to 12V nominal systems, and there is still a lot of appliances available. Not so much for 48VDC appliances, but you can tap into the bank in two places for 2 x 24V out, assuming loads can be balanced well enough. There's always a way to work these things out.

Another good video. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts on these matters. Cheers, from Australia.

[landonferguson]

The Dc version is even more efficient than what you showed, because you didn't mention the idle draw of the inverter, which can make a big difference in total watt hours consumed per day, compared to being 100% Dc powered.

[swagonman]

You are spot on. I’m an electrical engineer and specialize in power electronics. I’m currently building a DIY camper van, and using it already. My system is built around a small Jackery 500. It’s DC output goes to a small fuse panel that powers the ICECO VL45 refrigerator, MaxxAir fan, LED ceiling lights, and USB charging ports at each side of the bed. Cooking takes huge amounts of power, so I use two butane burners. The kitchen sink will use a marine foot pump (and not be pressurized to avoid leakage problems). Charging is via two 80W CIGS solar panels on the roof, which is over-spec for the Jackery, but needed for cloudy days. I also charge from the van’s cigarette lighter socket while driving (and for 40 additional minutes after driving via the automatic 40min timer that Ford puts on that socket.) I’m building my own 3-input “ideal diode-OR” circuit to automatically select/combine the two solar panels and cigarette lighter charging sources. This is a very modest system. I’m always amazed at the massive battery banks and huge AC power systems that people install in DIY vans. You don’t need all that. But people are a bit nuts. Also, I see a lot of vans with $4000 roof racks to mount a few hundred dollars of solar panels. I guess it “looks” cool. You can save money and be more environmental if you build smart.

[swagonman]

BTW, I have the ICECO VL45 refrigerator that runs on DC or AC. It is very efficient. Consumes less than 200Whr/day using DC at ambient temperature in the 70s. Price is decent. The compressor is efficient German one. The insulation is pretty thick.

[brucelee]

I remember in the late 1960's-70's staying with a friend's grandparents at their 'off grid' home. In those days it was all 1.2 volt lead-acid batteries, a windmill generator and a 'light oil' (Kerosene) single cylinder motor generator if there wasn't enough wind. All the lighting was 12 volt, the fridges ran on kerosene, a wood and a gas stove/oven. 12 volt appliances were available then but they had picked up most of the gear when people were junking it in favor of getting on the grid. Recently I had been looking for various appliances that would run without 240 volts and found that most manufacturers had stopped supplying them around 2015 - things like gas stoves now demand 110/240 volts as well as gas! Even 3-way (gas, 12 & 110/240 volts) fridges & freezers have largely disappeared, replaced by electric only models.

[jmr]

I've been on the DC first bandwagon for years because of conversion losses. Very few devices can use AC directly anyway. Even power delivery is more efficient with DC.

I'll go over a few things to deter trolls that will likely jump on my last statement.

DC is more efficient then AC in virtually every way. Converting AC between voltages is cheap and easy. Higher voltage is always more efficient when it travels across power lines but it's basically unusable (dangerous) in the home. We still use AC because that was the way the grid was built. When the grid was designed AC was more "cost effective" to deliver because there was no DC equivalent of a cheap transformer. DC can be stepped up to high voltage and down to low voltages. It can now be done more cheaply then in the late 1800s. All new transcontinental power lines will be DC going forward because DC transmission is more efficient and finally cost effective given the components. Eventually shorter transmission lines should follow suit.

[MichiganPeatMoss]

...remembering to keep DC lead lengths as short as possible (of course). :)

[ValleyMustang]

I mean I've been RV living in my 40 foot for the past 3 years and as of just 9 months ago I upgraded everything with a 14 kwh LiFePO4 battery and 2, 000 w inverter with full solar on my entire roof and I can run my fridge and my AC and pop a TV dinner in the microwave and wait for it to cook for 9 minutes while I'm watching DC Legends of Tomorrow on my big screen! The system is Stout I have no issues and I'm pretty damn comfy and so are my two cats! And I have to run my AC 24/7 in the summertime because I live in the desert where it gets to 120° days.
Sure I paid a lot of money for my system but now It feels like I'm getting electricity for free!

[DuncanCunningham]

A comment right before you get started, you have got be the only youtuber that has a nice intro. thank you. now on the with the show.

So, if you wanted to Off-grid proof your house, how do you do that? add outlets that are 12v, 24v and 48V around the home? Can you wire those up like you would a AC breaker box and run the DC over the same wires that you do for 15a and 20a AC power?

[AB-tsxd]

I am waiting for DC appliances prices to come down

[mekuranda]

Are inverter fridges and freezers becoming popular in the US....there seems to be more appearing in Australia every time I look as well as several other appliances that use motors or high surge loads?

[AB-tsxd]

Do you need a AC inverter to charge your lithium batteries from solar?
Or maybe it’s possible to keep the whole system DC from the solar panels. charger .batteries. appliances.?

[daniels]

Ever seen a 3 phase inverter ? Well all washing machines have them and they only need a dc rectifier and boom you have a generator. No solar required only motion. Water, wind, gravity, tides, perpetual. You can do anything. I want to see a magnet motor that actually drives a flywheel