Off-Grid Power System: Building a 20kVA Setup in North Idaho
Off-Grid Power System: Building a 20kVA Setup in North Idaho Riley and Courtney had a problem. They built a 30×40 foot pole barn on 20 acres in North Idaho, fully off the grid. Their woodworking, welding, and fabricating tools needed reliable power, something other than the noisy generator they’d used for over a year. It […]
Consider This Before Going Off Grid
It’s hard to know what you don’t know. Sometimes you need information, but you don’t know where to find it or what to ask. Here are some ideas that will help you approach your projects with clarity and confidence. Whether this is a refresher, new information, or just a spark of inspiration, there is something […]
How to Wake a Sleeping LiFePO4 Battery | Charge a Fully Depleted Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery
It’s easier to kill your battery than you might think. Especially a lithium battery. Even small drains on the battery can deplete it to the point where the BMS (Battery Management System) cuts off all discharging, and the terminals have no voltage. Once here, the battery does not accept a charge, and it may seem […]
Don’t Skip the BMS: What Every DIY System Builder Needs to Know
Sometimes the most expensive bill we pay is the cost of experience: making mistakes. Failure is an integral part of learning, and in the DIY energy world, there is a LOT of failure. As we learn together, we grow together, and we are safer for it. For instance, it may be tempting to cut costs […]
How Many Watts Do My Appliances Use?
How many Watts Do My Appliances Use? They exist in every home. Most people never consider their power consumption, but what if the power went out and you had an alternative energy system like solar panels or a generator? How many watts would it take to run your appliances? It’s an important consideration in any […]