BrandedX
Power Conserver
I'm considering buying an inverter when tax return time comes, but I'm admitting upfront a shortage of knowledge of the subject.
Ideally, I'd want something that could run a couple of 75watt bulbs, a mini-fridge, a 1500-2500 watt coil heater and a few outlet for charging phones/radio/low draw appliances. I'd like to link it to a paralleled car battery bank or (eventually) solar/wind outputs for a sustainable, long-term usage rate.
Anyone have any recommendations?
The idea is to buy some undeveloped land and build a miniaturized prairie cabin and generate our own power 'on-demand' as we develop, farm and eventually build a permanent home on the acreage on weekends and holidays. At least until the girls are out of HS and off to college and out of the way.
Then we could probably get by with just the cabin and just keep adding outbuildings as we need them.
Ideally, I'd want something that could run a couple of 75watt bulbs, a mini-fridge, a 1500-2500 watt coil heater and a few outlet for charging phones/radio/low draw appliances. I'd like to link it to a paralleled car battery bank or (eventually) solar/wind outputs for a sustainable, long-term usage rate.
Anyone have any recommendations?
The idea is to buy some undeveloped land and build a miniaturized prairie cabin and generate our own power 'on-demand' as we develop, farm and eventually build a permanent home on the acreage on weekends and holidays. At least until the girls are out of HS and off to college and out of the way.
Then we could probably get by with just the cabin and just keep adding outbuildings as we need them.
. I think you will enjoy using solar power for your lighting and entertainment in your cabin, but you might want to reconsider the electric heater. Electric heating is probably the most wasteful use of electricity. Only the electricity that can not overcome the resistance of the wire gets converted into heat energy. The rest of the electricity just goes into the ground. A 1200 watt space heater uses 10 amps. A 100 amphour battery will drop from 12 to 10 volts in about an hour and a half. This will trigger the low voltage protection on your inverter and it will shut down to protect your battery from getting burned up. Also, the more current you drain from your battery bank on a daily basis, the quicker you will kill them. I'm not saying that you cant do it, only that it will require a very large battery bank. You might want to consider geothermal, direct solar heating with a thermal mass, or a small Vogelzang, cast-iron box stove to heat your cabin. I use wood heat in my off-grid solar home, and i love it. Wood is cheap (usually free if you want to work for it), it's very effective, and it creates a romantic atmosphere. There is something primal and relaxing about staring at some burning logs. Another option is to use a 2,500 watt or larger generator to run the electric heat. Not exactly very environmentally friendly, though.
