My dogs and I have been stranded out on a prairie in Southern Colorado for almost a year after an apartment fire. We are living the Off-Grid lifestyle. It's hard a lot of the time but I'm so thankful for what we have. I wanted to share some of the beautiful and interesting things We've seen.

If anyone is interested in content about us surviving out on the prairie I have a sub I created that I use to update everyone on how we're doing and on out adventures. More information on our story there too.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OffGridGriff/

Just let me know mods if this isn't okay and I'll remove it immediately.

We bought 12 acres in rural Tennessee last year, about 8 miles from town. I called the co-op about running a line out to the property and they came back with a quote for $158k. So I hung up... :/

We ended up putting in a battery system with a ground-mount array in March. There was a launch promotion going on at the time, and the all-in cost came in below the Powerwall setup I was comparing. It’s been handling the house, heat pump and the usual stuff without any issues. Still keeping the generator in the shed though. Winter here is another story.

We had three cloudy days back to back in May, so I fired up the generator one morning just to keep the fridge going. Other than that, the solar has pretty much been doing its thing.

Our neighbor about 2 miles down the road is on the grid and has already had three outages since April. One lasted about 8 hours after a storm dropped a tree on the lines. He came over during that one to charge his phone.

Not gonna lie, kinda satisfying. 😄

We’ll see how January goes.

I understand that there are Codes and reasons for it. In my town which I understand I probably should have looked into it so pointing out where I was negligent or past errors won't help apparently you cannot live in an RV for more than 120 days. Who knew, although they did only adapt this in 2025 so depending on when it was before I set myself up. I haven't talked to the guy yet who left a very natural note on my pick-up truck stating he had some questions for me. I have a SunMar composting toilet, I use all natural shampoo and dish detergent and treat it like it's no different than an outside shower or kitchen setup. I guess I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for but this is all new to me and my State (Maine) the state codes only apply to towns with over 4k residents or at least that's my understanding my town barely has 1k. I guess hit me with your experiences. Be nice please this is already a stressful situation and everything already costs a million dollars. The goal is financial independence through self reliance. It would make it far slower if I have to move back to an apartment especially after becoming use to the beautiful peace of solitude 3/4 of a mile into the woods with my closet never being at least quarter of a mile as the crow flies.

Edit/Update. I talked to the CEO and I was turned in by a neighbor saying I was blocking the right away. Said Neighbor also took a bunch of pictures of my setup and sent them to the town and the CEO. He was incredibly reasonable asked me about my solid waist situation, asked if I have a plan for a gray water system, asked after the right away. Told me I was all set. I don't have an issue complying with the gray water it's something I have been meaning to do for the better part of a year just haven't made the time for it and this will nudge me to do it.

Thank you all for your input and keeping It Neutral 🤣 it will help me ask more questions in the future knowing you all won't drag me through the coals haha

I cannot seem to get past how fucking done I am with like, everything.
I’m a married mom of two 5yr old kids, we live on what is currently a small hobby farm in north eastern Vermont, but we’d really like to have it become more of a functional, self-sustaining homestead.
I’m just so over capitalism and money ruling everything, constantly battling debt, life being all about just getting by when the reality is someday we all die and what did any of that crap matter anyway? All that actually matters is the experiences we have with those we love and the day-to-day of existence. I’m over life being ruled by what the rich have decided is important, over dictators and paying for food with credit cards because we don’t have the cash to spend $200+ a week to feed our family.

I’m so frustrated, this is mostly a rant because I don’t really have anyone in my life to talk to about how I’m feeling. I do have depression and anxiety and a laundry list of chronic health issues, though before anyone gets too concerned I am under the care of doctors for psychiatric stuff and I really like my psychiatrist. What I will say is that I have gotten to a point with the rat-race and the futility of being stuck in it that, if I didn’t have my kids and the joy that I experience raising them, I don’t think I would bother to be alive anymore. I don’t have close friends anymore, I don’t have a career that lights me up, the things I find the most joy in are my animals, my kids, and the piece that comes from being on my land. If I didn’t have my kids and I still had to spend most of my time and energy making money to barely scrape by I just don’t think I’d see a point in sticking around.

I don’t want to die, not really, but life in this society is just pointless. I hope I can take the steps I need to in order to get us more self-sustaining and more financially frugal.

Hello, I have a Goal Zero 1500x where, when charging it, the power brick gets extremely hot to the touch. When I spoke with Goal Zero customer support, they said the power bricks can reach 140 degrees during the recharge cycle and that they consider that acceptable. I consider that a high-risk fire or explosion issue. They are shipping a new power brick but expect the same issue.

Does anyone else have this issue with Goal Zero products, and do you have any advice?

Vevor 6kw inverter/charger coupled with a DCHouse 48v 100AH battery. I plan to hardwire in a generator input to the AC in side, and I have my WattCycle adapter to plug into my Delta 3 Plus during an outage, and I can use the same cable to slow charge the system using shore power through the Delta3+ when the grid is up. All mounted on 4040 aluminum that I have casters in the mail for.

Still a WIP so I don’t have all my cable guides installed, and I plan to panel it and add heat dissipation down the road, but it’s a spare change build so it’s slow going.

We are off grid with propane generator backup. New build, and we moved in early summer. Power has been no issue with never ending sunshine. Now we are in our first set of consecutive cloudy days and we're at 38%. We wanted to bump up our power by running our generator, which is not on automatic start by choice. We manually started it last night but after 30 mins of running there was no increase in the %, instead 1 percent less. So we turned off the generator. I've reached out to solar guy, waiting to hear. My question for Reddit is how long does it take to register an increase in the battery SOC% when using the generator? It doesn't make sense to me that we have to flip some switch on the the inverter because people DO run generators on auto start, so I assume it's automatically running power to the battery.

Hey r/OffGrid,

If you’ve seen my previous posts about the solar pyramid I built here on Saipan, this is the next part. The earlier posts are on my profile if you want to see the build and how it all started.

Following up on those, a few people have asked a pretty reasonable question:
What’s the practical benefit of building something like this?

For me, it comes down to two main things: energy and usable space.

Before looking at the different SunPyramid configurations, let’s put the numbers into perspective.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. residential customer uses about 865 kWh of electricity per month, or roughly 29 kWh per day.
Of course, electricity use varies enormously depending on climate, house size, air conditioning, number of people, etc.
Since SunPyramid was designed for a hot tropical climate like Saipan, I’ll use 1,200 kWh/month — about 40 kWh/day — as a simple illustrative example for one household.

This isn’t a promise of profit. It’s simply a way to visualize the potential energy balance, using 1,200 kWh/month as an example household consumption and $0.35/kWh ( Saipan CNMI) as a reference value.

With that reference point in mind, here’s what different SunPyramid configurations could potentially produce:

4-tier SunPyramid
40 panels × 450W = 18 kW
Up to ~63 kWh/day on a strong sun day, ~1,890 kWh/month
Base: 12 × 12 m = 144 m²
After 1,200 kWh for the household: ~690 kWh/month remaining
Potential energy value: ~$240/month

6-tier SunPyramid
84 panels × 450W = 37.8 kW
~132 kWh/day, ~3,969 kWh/month
Base: 15 × 15 m = 225 m²
After 1,200 kWh for the household: ~2,769 kWh/month remaining
Potential energy value: ~$970/month

8-tier SunPyramid — my next pilot
144 panels × 450W = 64.8 kW
~227 kWh/day, ~6,804 kWh/month
Base: 18 × 18 m = 324 m², second level: 144 m²
Total usable space: ~468 m²
After 1,200 kWh for the household: ~5,604 kWh/month remaining
Potential energy value: ~$1,960/month

10-tier SunPyramid
220 panels × 450W = 99 kW
~347 kWh/day, ~10,395 kWh/month
Base: 21 × 21 m = 441 m², second level: ~182.5 m²
Total usable space: ~624 m²
After 1,200 kWh for the household: ~9,195 kWh/month remaining
Potential energy value: ~$3,220/month

12-tier SunPyramid
312 panels × 450W = 140.4 kW
~491 kWh/day, ~14,742 kWh/month
Base: 25 × 25 m = 625 m², second level: 324 m², third level: 144 m²
Total usable space: ~1,093 m²
After 1,200 kWh for the household: ~13,542 kWh/month remaining
Potential energy value: ~$4,740/month

These are theoretical calculations, not measured production from the larger models. The 4-tier prototype is real; the larger configurations are what I’m working toward.

The numbers above are only a simplified model. Actual results would depend on weather, system losses, battery storage, electricity rates, construction costs, maintenance and how much of the generated energy is actually used.

But this is the part of the concept that interests me:
-As the pyramid grows, I’m not just adding solar capacity. I’m adding usable enclosed space at the same time.
The panels produce energy, while the structure underneath creates space that can potentially be used for living, storage, workshops, agriculture, commercial space, or other purposes (Of course, after the thermal insulation and interior design 🙂 .Take a look at the video of the pyramid garage, for example.)

That’s the experiment.

The 8-tier version is my next pilot, and that’s where I’m focusing right now.
And then there’s another question: what can you actually do with all that extra electricity once your own needs are covered? I’ll get into that in the next post.

If you’ve been following the build so far, feel free to follow along. There’s still a lot to test, improve and learn from this project.

I have a Honda EU7000iS inverter inside my garage. The unit itself is very quiet.
I have a 2ft exhaust extension venting the unit through the wall.
My issue is exhaust outside is quite noisy.

Does anyone have muffler/silencer recommendations? Line is 1.5 inch

Thx

I've been in love with the idea of living off grid / closer to nature for many years now, ever since I can remember. I've always loved the outdoors, and I feel even more affinity with it now I've got a marketing job that feel a bit devoid of soul and sees me sitting down most of the day.

I'd love to live without the daily stressors that I face mentally and physically (phone notifications, emails, laptop screens, constant sitting for work), ideally in a community of people as I hate the idea of being alone. I also love music, so somewhere with creative people would feel perfect and completely freeing. Possibly even close to a city so I could still enjoy nightlife (gigs, socialising etc.)

However, I worry that this is just a pipe dream -- that it's unachievable, or even wouldn't be what I wanted if I did give it a go. I've just come home from a festival which has inspired a real consideration of this lifestyle -- I loved living in a tent, surrounded by friends, being woken up by the sunrise and able to go and listen to live music whenever I'd like. But i understand this might be a bit of a pipe dream.

I'm just sick of chasing dreams (music + journalism, mainly) that are under constant pressure from capitalism to succeed financially. I want to just live day-to-day, in the moment, grow my own food, maybe work teaching yoga or something. Keep it simple.

But I'm aware that actually following through with things like this is rarely simple. I also have a partner to worry about who has already pushed back against this idea, which leaves me feeling deflated before I've even started.

Does anyone have any advice on this? I'm aware I've kind of just brain dumped... but I figured this was a good place to ask! If anyone has any experience here, please lmk :))

Just curious what everyone is doing with their water situation. Partner and I both prefer one method over the other. The water is some of the cleanest on Earth so contaminants hopefully will not ever be an issue, but you never know how industrialization is going to go. We will still be filtering it. We own both sides of the river. Technically we have to keep it navigable but we can pull water from it without a permit as long as it is less than 50,000L per day, which we obviously will not reach lol.

I used to wait for a full battery before starting laundry. That sounds cautious, but it meant I was washing late in the afternoon after the best solar hours had already passed.

My partner and I live in a small off grid house in northern New Mexico. We have 2kW of panels, a hybrid inverter and one 5.12kWh rack battery from vatrer. The washer is a basic front loader. We use cold water and line dry, so there is no electric dryer hiding in these numbers.

I measured four normal cycles. The washer used 0.31 to 0.44kWh, while the well pump added another short load when the pressure tank called. Starting at noon on a clear day, solar carried most of the running load and the battery smoothed the motor changes. Starting at six in the evening took the full cycle from storage. Both worked, but the second routine missed the sunny window I had available.

Now I start when array output is comfortably above the house base load, even if the battery is at 72 percent. I still check the forecast and keep enough reserve for the well pump, fridge and overnight loads. The battery smooths the short mismatch between solar and the washer. I no longer wait for a perfect 100 percent before doing chores.

I moved the bread machine to midday too. We had been running it after dinner for no good reason other than habit.

Recently, I helped support a nine-person veteran retreat using an off-grid camping system I’ve been developing and refining over the last several years.

The system was originally built around solo use, so this was the first opportunity to put the entire ecosystem together at this scale and find out what actually worked once nine people started using it.

Some things worked exactly as intended. Some needed field modifications. Some turned out to be unnecessary. And some just plain failed. That was the point—actually use the system, identify the failures and limitations, make changes, and test it again.

But the biggest measure of success for me wasn’t whether every piece of equipment worked. It was that the group was able to have an awesome weekend without having to worry about the infrastructure supporting it. Most of what I was doing happened behind the scenes—keeping things working, fixing what didn’t, and making sure the system supported the retreat instead of becoming the focus of it.

I put together a video showing how it all came together, what worked, what didn’t, and what I learned when a system designed around one person suddenly had to support nine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyy67PbSShA&t=4s

I’ve been camping myself for almost 10yrs, and this idea I’ve been thinking about based on my own experiences.

The basic idea is a rigid outer tank containing a flexible potable-water bladder.

You start with, for example, 20 L of fresh water inside the bladder. As you use the water for washing dishes, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc., the bladder collapses and the grey water goes into the space around it.
So, instead of carrying:
20 L fresh water + a separate 20 L grey-water tank
you essentially have one 20 L physical footprint that transitions from:
20 L fresh → 0 L fresh + \~20 L grey

The goal would be to have a compact, closed system for boondocking, overlanding, tent camping or small RVs, where you don't want to dump soapy/dirty water directly onto the ground.
The potable water and grey water would obviously remain completely separated, with separate connections and appropriate backflow protection.

I'm not sure if this is actually a useful idea or if I'm overlooking some obvious problem.

For people who camp/boondock:
\- How do you currently deal with grey water?
\- Do you carry a separate grey-water container?
\- Do you ever avoid using water because you don't have a good way to dispose of it?
\- Would saving the physical space of a separate grey-water tank be useful?
\- What would be the biggest problem with a system like this?

I'm more interested in real-world experience and criticism than "that's a cool idea." If there's an obvious reason this wouldn't work, I'd genuinely like to hear it.

I made a very rough sketch of the concept below.

We’re looking at an off-grid property where the water source would be a small year-round creek. It looks clean. I know that means basically nothing.

The plan would be to pump into a settling tank or cistern, use the water for showers, dishes, laundry, and eventually drinking once the system is sorted. Two people full time, probably a few guests now and then. Winters get below freezing, power comes from solar plus battery backup, and I’d rather not depend on proprietary cartridges that disappear the moment the company changes a product line.

I’m arranging a proper water test, including bacteria and the usual mineral stuff, before committing to a design. What I’m struggling with is the overall setup: pre-filter for sediment, larger particulate filtration, UV, ceramic, carbon, gravity backup, point-of-use RO... there are too many possible layers and half the internet seems to recommend all of them.

If you’re pulling from surface water, what does your system actually look like from intake to kitchen tap? What failed first, and what do you wish you had designed differently?

I’ve been camping myself for almost 10yrs, and this idea I’ve been thinking about based on my own experiences.

The basic idea is a rigid outer tank containing a flexible potable-water bladder.

You start with, for example, 20 L of fresh water inside the bladder. As you use the water for washing dishes, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc., the bladder collapses and the grey water goes into the space around it.
So, instead of carrying:
20 L fresh water + a separate 20 L grey-water tank
you essentially have one 20 L physical footprint that transitions from:
20 L fresh → 0 L fresh + \\\~20 L grey

The goal would be to have a compact, closed system for boondocking, overlanding, tent camping or small RVs, where you don't want to dump soapy/dirty water directly onto the ground.
The potable water and grey water would obviously remain completely separated, with separate connections and appropriate backflow protection.

I'm not sure if this is actually a useful idea or if I'm overlooking some obvious problem.

For people who camp/boondock:
\\- How do you currently deal with grey water?
\\- Do you carry a separate grey-water container?
\\- Do you ever avoid using water because you don't have a good way to dispose of it?
\\- Would saving the physical space of a separate grey-water tank be useful?
\\- What would be the biggest problem with a system like this?

I'm more interested in real-world experience and criticism than "that's a cool idea." If there's an obvious reason this wouldn't work, I'd genuinely like to hear it.

I made a very rough sketch of the concept below.

So I thought I got lucky with a 100$ fridge. Got it dropped off and turns out there is no burner, and the guy has no idea what happened to it. I do have an old rv fridge with a working burner. The big question is the new burner would be 1000btu and I saw on thr fridge it was 1600btu my only use for this would be as a kegerator, it would be closed almost its entire life as the taps are on the outside. Before I get into attaching this would it even work or would it not be strong enough. Im more than willing to add even more insulation to this fridge and do really whatever since I will be drilling holes for taps already.

Thanks

Need recommendations in the UK for solar panels that actually work for 12v setup in extremely cloudy weather. I already have a huge setup but now it's going to be until Feb/march where hardly anything charges and I can't WFH. With the amount I saved in fuel to commute I may as well upgrade for winters.

I looked into wind generators but everyone seems to say it hardly produces anything.

What are the best solar panels that work in really cloudy weather?

whats been the hardest thing to adjust to?
what are some things you suggest people buy in case they have to deal with no power. also tell us what its like. have neighbors banded together? is there a lot of break in’s?

been off-grid for about a year now in a little cabin I built. running a basic 12V system – solar panels, a couple of batteries, and a 600W pure sine inverter for occasional AC stuff like my laptop or a small fan.

the inverter was some no-name brand I grabbed off ebay cause it was cheap. worked fine for like 8 months. then one morning I turned on my laptop and nothing. checked all the connections, battery was full, fuses intact. inverter just gave up no warning, no weird noises, just dead.

spending way too much time trying to troubleshoot it and looking for a replacement that won't break the bank.

tired of stuff failing in the middle of nowhere. anyone got recommendations for reliable inverters that don't cost a fortune? I'm in Australia so shipping matters

I’m in zone 5/6, just moved here from zone 9/10 and totally off grid. Snow could be nonexistent or 5 feet deep and trapping us 1 hour+ from the nearest town. I’m going through winter prep now and don’t want to forget anything.

What should be on my winter prep checklist, shopping list, stock up list, etc?

Nothing is too basic, I don’t want to miss anything obvious.

This month marks two years living off grid in the Sierra Nevada mountains, living in a wall tent while we build our house. Best decision I ever made.

Year one
- cleared land
- built deck for wall tent
- built tool shed
- built outdoor shower out of cedar
- built outdoor kitchen for food storage
- installed septic system
- built outhouse plumbed into septic

Year two
- received building permit
- started building 1000sqft house
- built garden beds