elnav, Author at Living Off the Grid: Free Yourself

Data management and other off-grid technologies

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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March 23, 2010 2 Comments

Emergency Power: engine-driven generators

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.

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February 25, 2010 11 Comments

Where have all the engineers gone?

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.

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February 15, 2010 No Comments

Community

Must simplicity be minimalist?

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.…

February 14, 2010 28 Comments

All you need to go off-grid

elnav

Data management and other off-grid technologies

Emergency Power: engine-driven generators

Where have all the engineers gone?

Must simplicity be minimalist?

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