Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Installing Solar power

 While trapped inside during storm I started on battery bank rack. As you can can see it is built with main framing posts 6x6 floor to ceiling. 2x6 cross braces & supports legs, First of two shelves. 24 deep cycle 12 volt batteries. 4 parallel tied sets of 6 will give me 48 volts.
 We had a brake in the weather & I did not hesitate I got my tools & supplies & jumped on the roof. I chose galvanized uni strut as my supports being a retired electrician it was my choice for not only for longevity but strength in the supports. I build 13 foot runners. Bottom strut is what I call my safety toe kick run. I can set tools & my foot against for bracing. I will be installing a hand rail off of it in future for safe way to maintain panels safely during all weather conditions.
 Panels are installed a friend came out to house to help me lift onto roof from there it was not to bad to rope up & install my self. Disconnect is mounted & moving forward with piping & wiring. Panels are 250 watt putting out 39 volts. I will series 3 panels into one run to disconnect 20 amp breaker. I have ran 2 #6 wire to  garage for feeds. 1 #6 to a ground rod just for panels & solar power system. I bonded all uni strut & panels to ground system.
 What a beautiful day all panels installed wiring in inside yes blessed with 2 days of sunshine,
 I have three more racks ready for next set of panels as soon as I can afford them. Total count I want is 36. This will give me a 9kw array when completed. More than enough to power entire property needs during the day also giving me surplus to sell back to power company 3kw give or take.
 On left is a outback Rathion 8kw  inverter, panel & disconnect with two flex 80 Pv charge controllers. Small panel in center is AUX panel feed from grid tied solar system. On right is main 200 amp 40 space panel for all house wiring. Gutter below is fed from conduits  form pump house that go all the way through vaults to power pole at top of property. From outback power system out  I ran 1/0's. Mains from pump house I have 4/0 4/0 2/0 service feeders. Main service from power company has its own ground rod & # 6 ground wire. I did not mix systems. Installed a 70 amp manual disconnect from main panel to outback system. Allowing me to by pass power company with on flip of breaker.
 I know this all is allot to digest just excited to be creating my own power.
 Second shelve is completed & 1st battery bank is up on shelve ready to be wired.
 Another view
System is now all wire & installed for what I have so far. All 120 volt out put is wired into outback system. I ran it for 24hrs with power grid not connected. We have all 120 volt lights, appliance's general circuit's feeding from our own source now. Still need more panels & batteries to get 220 volt on outback system to be able to be completely off grid. But it feels good to be able to know we have power with out having to rely on our local provider. That's all for know got to get back to work on insulation & installing walls.
I added 7 more panels to the system its a cloudy day not much sun. Panels are producing 1.2 kilo watts. I was selling some power back to grid today. 12/13/2012. Today is first day that all 120 volt circuits were completely running on system not drawing any power from power company.
Mark & Bev

Winter has arrived

 It has been a while since my last post.
 It was 70* beautiful & next 10* snow.
 Not quite ready for this but it is here so will deal with it.
 I have to say it is peacful but problematic.
Have not finished ceiling insulation about fifty feet to go so about half done. It in the teens when you wake in the morning but as soon as i get tools working it warms right up. 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Insulation

Started to install R19 in walls. We woke up & wow the cold came in the night. We could see our breath in morning. So I decided to move my attention to insulation. I will leave all bays that need plumbing or electrical or any other framing needs. I will try to get in as much as I can. Wow after three days all I could fill in was done. Big difference it is now just chilly in the mornings when we wake up.
As I get more in it is getting better. The cold nights are not so cold.
 Still have a log way to go but moving along.


Working my way around the house. Ladder & stapler in hand.
kitchen is insulated tyvek installed over it. all walls are done ceiling also. Have about half of the house to tyvek & we will stop heating the world outside us.
 Garage is finialy done.
 Cleaning up mess.
Bedroom & living area.
Kitchen & temp sink.
Range & shelving.
Living room & bedroom. 

Framing exterior walls

 As I said in the past I am no carpenter so I sharpened my pencil got out saw,tape measure, level & here we go.

It looks simple enough but going up & down a 10 ft ladder with a nail gun. I have more respect for a professional carpenter.


Bathroom, Laundry, Walkin closet is framed & ready for flooring. Pluming, Electrical, Insulation is installed.
First the exterior walls 302 boards 2x6x12 ft-- 16" on center to fill in all walls. Started Friday night & by Sunday night we had walls. But still have all the doors & windows to go. They are not so simple have to make allot of cuts.

The move to house

 The move is always a chore but this time it was worth it.
Set up pick nick table as temp dinner table. all in all we thank the good lord for all that we have as with out his help we would still be living in a tent.
I had hoped not to till we had all interior framing & at least plumbing, electrical done but things don't always work out as planned. Time is running by fast have not posted do to all the things needed to be don't to survive the up & coming winter. Little things like toilet,shower, you get where I am going.It alittle like in door camping but with out the sleeping bag.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Sawmill fire Started Saturday July 14th seven miles away

 930 AM Monday July 16th

 See my emergency yellow swimming pool if fire gets to road.
This was provide by forest service.


 Around noon getting closer. It is burning neighbor's timber.




 Help is here !!!!

 Hooked up trailer just in case.
 Still watering house smoke is choking me.
It is really taking off now in timber.
If it gets over ridge all that stands between it an me is field grass.

People are pulling out their camp trailers.

Power lines are on my property they turned them off I have no water now to keep house wet.
The sound is unreal it is a loud roar.
 Asking the good lord for help. Running around with shovel putting out small grass fires.
Thirteen hours 250 men, 4 truck tankers,4 small planes, 4 helicopter's, 2 C131 transports, they held fire at other side of the ridge.  The road goes through our property they made there stand on house side of road.I will say that at 7:30 PM the wind changed the fire was coming head on toward  the house. I looked up and asked one more time, I have no water but will fight with all I have. He heard me the sky opened up & it poured rain for over 30 minutes. Thank you to all of the men & women that fought the fire to saved our farm & all of the others.Thank you Lord for your blessings.



Thursday, July 12, 2012

4th of July update

 Forth of July weekend was a clean up period. We spent the entire time organizing & cleaning up entire farm.