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Are those the batteries you use to power your off grid home? How long have you been using them? In 2020 when we built our system, no company had been making them for 10 years. Congratulations to Battle Born for reaching 10 years this year.

@@LoveOffGrid we've been using them since 2020 as well. We also use other batteries in addition to Battleborn. We did have AGM batteries that died in the cold, so we made the change. I wish you well on your continued endeavors.

@@rogue0921 good to know. Ours are in the cellar so cold isn’t a big issue, although it dips to -25F here. We’ll keep those in mind when that time comes. Thanks!

We're learning that, too. Two type A personalities on this end. :-) Life is teaching us to bend (without bending over!).

Thank you so much! I have a Substack, too: Love Off Grid. More details there about the whats and whys. Thanks so much for watching and for your comments!

Adding that hardware cloth to the bottom of the raised beds in the greenhouse has really helped. I don't know much about ground squirrels, but it stopped the moles.

In the moment, things might not be fun but just remember these are the times you'll laugh about later! If you live to tell the tale....

A lot of people argue that it's too much maintenance (MX), but living off grid is full of MX! If you don't stay on top of every system you can get blind sighted quickly. Think about it: on grid, whole teams are working 24/7 to keep your system going. They're repairing issues you never even know happened. Off grid, YOU are the utility company!

We have the Primus Windpower Air40. When we tried to buy it from their website a couple years ago, it was backordered with no restock date. We found it on Ebay! We've been happy with it. It's supplemental power, but it seems to make a difference since we tend to get evening breezes after the sun goes down.

I'd love to see that! I've never built with cob or haybales but it looks interesting. What are you going to use?

It's a lot of work living off grid, period! :-) We might make the switch when it's time but another concern of ours is just simple availability. Everyone has their own reasons for going off grid but when your reasons include SHTF scenarios, you want batteries that are easy to come by. In those situations, the best battery is the one you can get.

@@modquad18 four years ago when we built our system, LA was a lot more expensive, not to mention all the supply chain issues in 2020. LA is a lot more accessible in those situations (SHTF). When we need to replace it eventually we may go with lithium - who knows. Everyone has their own unique situation. Thanks!

Thanks for that suggestion. Sorry you went through that! I'll look into it.

Well, thank you very much!

@@LoveOffGrid youre welcome my love

Phineas will eat anything! And does. :-)

@@LoveOffGrid 😂

We bought a small one for the bedroom in case we need it to sleep. So far, it's been cool enough in the evenings that a fan is enough. Hopefully, it won't last too long! Stay cool yourself!

We're trying! Having water makes a huge difference where, in years past, we didn't have as much. How are your beans doing (or was it peas?) I get them confused.

@@LoveOffGrid Our field peas have not appreciated the rapid change from cold weather to blisteringly hot 🥵 Eesh, farmers will always have something to complain about though 😂

I'm sure eventually we'll be replacing our battery bank, and who knows what will be available by then! Everyone has their own personal experiment going and it's interesting to hear what's working. Thanks!

@@LoveOffGrid In 2023 1 state only had 58 deaths due to lithium fires, NYC had 13, I can sleep soundly knowing my batteries can't burn me to death.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you so much! It's been getting better now that it's warmer. Thanks for your support!

Good morning! I'm going to ask John to respond to your details later today. For now, I just wanted to mention that we built our system in 2020 during lockdowns and while a number of things were getting harder to find and, if you could find them, it was a challenge to have them delivered. We didn't feel secure enough with the state of things to wait, if that makes sense. There will always be a new technology, a better efficiency - but every system is better than the one you don't have. :-) That said, I'm still not totally confident in the supply chain but you don't realize where the holes are until you actually try to buy things. We discovered a lot of issues once we moved from looking to purchasing. Just something to keep in mind. Bifacials seem like they'd be useful, but we've already tripped our system twice just from light bouncing off the snow! We'd have to scale up on everything to use bifacials. For you still designing, they might be worth it. Anyway, I think you have to look at your system as an evolving entity - not a static one-and-done. Build bigger than you think you need, within reason, and go for it!

Hi, John here. The system you're designing sounds awesome. I am also running a 220v well so I understand the need to have plenty of power. When we built our system, bifacial panels weren't on the market yet but I might have considered them if they had been. I struggled with pulling the trigger too because I didn't want to make a mistake. But technology changes quickly and the newest thing isn't always a better thing. The company you buy from is important. Are they a flash in the pan? Will they be around to honor a warranty if the product fails? These are important considerations. At my previous job, upper level management always wanted the latest and greatest - all the way to wanting airport urinals that used a handheld and software to repair and maintain! Looking at it from a MX standpoint, it was laughable. It sounds like you've done your research. Don't let analysis paralysis hang you up! Get your base system set up sooner rather than later and if the prices on batteries come down, buy them then. Keep me posted!

My new 3.3kw array was $2000 for everything even screws, will make over 800w in overcast, more data to help your decision.

32v is very high but it was high because I was equalizing. Your float and absorb numbers are very similar to mine on a regular basis. Thanks for watching!

@@LoveOffGrid Ah yes,my apologies,i have gel bateries on my first little system,those doesnt need/not allowed to make equalization,but flooded bateries with the liquid acid does need(like those trojans :)) i refreshed my knowledge quickly about them xD

When I had a similar Trojan lead acid system I found some literature that indicated they are designed to run a bit above industry norms. If I remember correctly I used to float around 28 volts, they used a bit more water but the SG stayed up around the 1270 mark when charged. Then we did a lifestyle change along with location and completely off grid (was partial previously) and went to 48 volt system with sealed Lead Carbon batteries. No maintenance, coming up 5 years now and no hiccups. Also self designed system, 4kw solar, 400AH batts and 5kw inverter / charger Lead Carbons float at 14.1 (56.4)

@@brettmat8868 Lifestyle changes are great, aren't they?! :-)

Makes sense!

Wow! That's a huge system, especially for 12K euros. Good job! My system is not that big so I divide the appliances between electric (solar run) and propane. We have a lot of extreme cold and snow here and sometimes smoke from wildfires in the summer so it works for us to have the generator, just in case.

Both lithium ion and lithium iron phosphate can be used in solar. Lithium ion is more expensive and lighter and more people seem to be going for them lately - despite the risk of explosion ;-) Another reason to avoid them! Thanks for watching!

I believe you are confused. Almost everyone is going to LiFePo4. They are safer than the lead acid batteries that are putting off toxic fumes. Solid state batteries are just around the corner. Thank you for the video I enjoyed watching it!

Thanks for watching!

Hi from the wife :-) I'll never understand it like he does, but it's slowly starting to make sense to me. I keep a notebook of important things to know just in case I need to solve an issue... Like, "Step One, turn the Control knob; Step Two...". We both have totally different skill sets, but we're cross-training. Thanks for watching!

I'll take a look at that, thanks! $50 for 100 watts is a good deal. They usually run about $100 per watt. Thanks for watching!

@@LoveOffGrid @LoveOffGrid Also they have 24v lifepo4 200amp hour EG4 batteries for around $1150 and ones with screens for $1300. Would be less maintenance and they have pre charge systems( resistor) to help protect the capacitors in the inverter. I think we are about to hit very hard times and prices may go down for a few months. When California changed their net metering may have caused the drop in solar panels some as low as 20's cent range per watt. They also have a 6000 watt all in one inverter for $1500 that allows up in the 400 volt input to the charger control where you could expand solar panels without running new wire. Just thinks to think about. Maybe see how reliable they are over time.

@@JR-xw5dk Good tips! Thank you.

That's a great solution! We were concerned about low temps here, too (temps fell to -25F last winter for several days in a row) but our system is in the cellar so it's not an issue. The propane tanks, on the other hand.... Thanks for watching!

@@LoveOffGrid the big long tanks are best for cold weather, sometimes it's the regulator that gets iced, rag with hot water or hand warmer on it, to diagnose.

I see the L16G AC batteries online they run about $400, last for 1200 cycles according to Trojans website, have about 2.6 kWh of storage. Since its lead acid you don't want to discharge beyond 50% according to Trojans website. So your only going to get 1.3 ish kWh. You mentioned you only like to discharge to 60%, 1.04 kWh or 70%, 0.78 kWh so that's even less usable kWhs. By comparison a Siekon 100Ah Deep-Cycle LiFePO4 Lithium 12 Volt Battery is $230 online and has about 1.2Kwhs. LiFePO4 typically last over 5000 cycles so over 4 times the cycle life of the lead acid. They also have built in BMS for balancing the cells, Over charge / discharge protection, overcurrent protection, High and low temp cutoff. Also LiFePO4 can be discharged to 0% so you get all that usable battery not the 30 to 40 % you are getting on the lead acid. So for the lead acid L16g AC to make sense in the long run with the cycle life being a forth of the LifePO4 battery you need to be buying them for a forth of cost of the Siekon. So under $58 a battery. That plus you don't have to be messing around hand balancing the cells every month and also no maintenance / off gassing. And the Siekon have more usable Kwhs per battery. You can be lazy without having to unhook and shuffle them and all the notes taking and hand balancing. How much did you pay for the L16g AC batteries? I see at 8 mins John says a new battery would cost between $3500 to $4000 so for 12 batteries that i can see in your battery box. That puts your cost at $290 to $333 a battery and about 12 kWh of usable battery power? Or do you have more then 12 batteries? Personally I'm looking at a 14.3 kWh 48V EG4 LiFePO4 battery is $3300 online. Has a rated cycle life of 8000 cycles and a 10 year warranty. Even if it only lives for a forth of that expected warranty cycle life it would give me more usable kWh then lead acid, more cycle life then lead acid, and be cheaper up front cost then those lead acid. I'm really interested in where he got the today cost $11,000 price for lithium equivalent kWh battery at 8 minutes in.

@@Alexdiaz727 Hello. Yes, we have 12 L16G-Ac's and we paid about $290 each 4 years ago. As for the Lead Acid only having 1200 cycles, that's about 3 years and we are on year 4 and they are still going strong. Some of the information and costs in the video were from 4 years ago. When designing it 4 years ago, we based our design on cost, availability, reliability, and our perceived needs. Our set up isn't for everyone, but it's working for us. Bi-facial solar panels weren't really a thing then, also, Lithium batteries were way more expensive. The Lithium's have really come down in price in the last year or so. Our current set up is 1170 AH, halve that for the 50% and we have 585 available AH. To get an equivalent AH today in lithium would be $7,200.00 which is 3 Eclipse 28v 200AH LiFePo4 @ $2,400 each. I have been told if you completely discharge a lithium battery to 0 you will shorten it's life. Conversely, you shouldn't fully charge them either. Have you heard of the 40-80 rule? According to this rule, it's best to charge the battery when it reaches around 40% SOC and stop charging when it reaches around 80% SOC. I think this is to get them to make the 10 years, maybe. I'd like to talk to someone who has had them 10 years to see. Another downside to all batteries is the shipping costs. We avoided all that with the Lead Acid because we were able to drive to a local warehouse and pick them up. They are common and readily available. If/when we have to get new batteries, we may switch to a different type, but in the mean time LA have been working well for us. The system you're designing sounds great and well thought out. One word of caution - when we were ordering equipment all seemed fine until we entered the our payment info - suddenly equipment was unavailable, had crazy shipping costs, was back ordered, etc. That was in 2020 when so much was hard to get.

8kw split phase, 12+kw pv next month, 48kw battery, vertical mount BF panels, I make my max pv per hour at winter solstice. If you get snow, vertical mount works really good, no snow to clear, panels rinse off with rain. My 465w panel 76w heavy rain, overcast 105, overcast snow 140w, summer no white rock 300w 50kw a day possible, the shortest days with snow 569w from a 465w panel. My pv totals are now x 18, next month x27. Except for smoke over 2kw in any weather, I use 14.6 kw a day with electric heat or 22kw with AC

I've got 100kWh of LiFePO4 battery powering my off-grid house, entering the 6th year now. I started with 28kWh and kept expanding as needed. Zero maintenance, and you can DIY a pack for under $100 per kWh now.

@@upnorthandpersonal $100? Where are you getting cells for a pack that cheap?

And it's still not over! hahaha Yesterday I was weeding and got bit by flies. Now my wrist and ankle are swollen. Thank you for watching the journey unfold!

Yes, good idea with the bartering. I'd probably trade them for dairy - at least until we get a cow or sheep. We had a lot of humidity this past winter, then water got into the cellar during an early melt and just made things worse. By that time, I was kind of tired of eating squash anyway LOL. Our plan now is to buy a dehumidifier before winter. Thank you so much for your encouragement!

Thank you so much! It's a beautiful area. Do you guys get plagues of grasshoppers too?

Yes! The wind blew away my mulch in April! But it’s good for our wind turbine.

@@LoveOffGrid Sorry I was referring to windbreaks for your small plants. And, fences made from mesh could be good options

Thanks!

I wonder why your dependable plants aren’t producing. Any ideas? I hope things turn around there!

@@LoveOffGrid it might be because we replaced all the garden beds? The old ones were falling apart. I don’t know if that’s it though. And my starters died and planted from seed?

What did you fill your new beds with (meaning what soil mix)? Also, what did you use to make the beds?

@@LoveOffGrid organic mix from our local garden center. It’s the same stuff we use every year. The Vegega beds,.the old beds were made from scrap wood, that were falling apart.

Sunflowers do really well here! My pole beans are doing nothing though. That’s something to consider! Thanks!

@@LoveOffGrid I planted a “flower fence” around my front garden, with canna lilies and plenty of sunflowers interspersed, and I can personally attest to how much more charming it makes a garden! Plus, privacy! (I live in the suburbs. 😝)

My starters died too. So I planted from seed and things are just not growing well. Still no peppers, cucumbers, or beans. Finally the tomatoes are growing. My basil has been horrendous this year. I usually make 10 batches of pesto each summer. So far zero! But my blueberries and raspberries have done well. We are not off grid but we try to grow our own veggies. We plant our leafy greens by hydroponics so we have tons of salads. Lol!

@@ghoulgoil5029 It's so frustrating when your starters die! It's smart to grow your own veggies, though. Every year is different. Sounds like you make as much pesto as I do! Do you freeze it? I still have some from last year.

@@LoveOffGrid yes I freeze it. I still have some left over from last year but would really like to make more batches for next year.

Gosh, that's hard to do! And thank you! I appreciate you watching and commenting!

Sorry you're going through a rough patch, too. I think about my grandfather who left farming to work in a textile mill because it offered a "steady income", but it also took away so many other great things like independence and autonomy. I still wouldn't trade this life!

@@LoveOffGrid I agree with you! Farming is our main income now & it is very scary-unpredictable-but goodness I want to hold on to it with both hands & not let go. Bring on the land is very special. A textile mill… hard work. Tough decision he had to make. Bless him, he took care of his family.

He told me he was so poor, he didn't know there was a depression! Btw, we've been enjoying your channel, too!

@@LoveOffGrid God bless his soul, times were tough and he must have been tougher. Thanks for watching our channel-that makes me smile. I loved the episode about your husband too-seems like a very good man. Love how you honored him 🙌🏻 Catch you on your next episode!

I think they were closer to 2500 each when we bought them a few years ago - maybe a little more, I don't remember exactly but they've gone up. It's still a lot to spend, though. I agree. We thought about building our own, too, but after considering the double-poly panels we'd need for our climate, all the framing, doors... PLUS back in 2021 a lot of things were hard to get! Anyway, we decided the cost savings was minimal for us. Your situation may be different. Let me know what you do! They're awesome pups, for sure! :-) Thanks.

Thank you!!! 🙂

That's a great piece of advice! I really appreciate the feedback. I'll do that!

Thank you so much! I hope you found it helpful. :-)

3 ft in 36 hours last year. A German Shepherd’s dream!

We put up one then added a second the next year. They make a big difference here but we still can’t grow from Oct - May. A wallipini may be next…

A lifelong aspiration!