Is a solar panel really "off-grid" if you gotta make recourse to the grid when it breaks??? I dunno, seems more like a dingy that you sometimes get brave enough to untie from the big ship but imemdiately re-fasten as soon as dark clouds show up on the horizon. It's technically "off-grid" but maybe not in spirit.

6 months ago

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@b00ty4breakfast Yes, that is correct, and the same happens with the hammer that you use to construct your off grid hut, with your clothes, with your bank account, with your internet connection...

Off grid life as you are imagining doesn't exist and it never existed at all. Not even Neanderthal were off grid as they were dependant on each others' services and goods. Basically, be resourceful and independent, buy only local and reduce your carbon footprint to a minimum. That is maybe the idea behind off grid life. You can live in central Tokyo and still be off grid. It is not about living isolated in the bush. · 6 months ago

I don't really understand what you're trying to say here. Are you frustrated that you can't get out a Minecraft crafting table and make 64 solar cells? Do you want to be an independent steampunk man who lives entirely upon his own inventions? · 6 months ago

@ruby that's just filling up the proverbial gourd with water...if you are in the desert long enough, you gotta get more eventually. Those things will eventually wear down and break. You have postponed but not averted. · 6 months ago

@yamato but those parts were produced "on-grid" and they will be delivered to you, either directly or thru a retailer using on-grid techniques and technologies. You have maybe added a layer of indirection, but you are still reliant on The Grid (TM). · 6 months ago

As I see it, being off grid doesn't mean that you reject services/products from others. It means that you don't become dependant on services and items from large scale grid systems all the time (i.e. Electric companies, supermarkets, gas company, etc). But you will always need resources from others such as certain food, clothes, even help from neighbours, etc. You will always depend on society and your local community. Temporarily connecting to the grid while you repair the broken pannel is still off grid because you are not creating a dependency, rather you are using a resource that will help you become independent again. · 6 months ago

My panel is off-grid. It's a portable, foldable solar panel and I have two powerbanks. When one is charged, plug in the other one. Powerbanks are off-grid. You cannot power a dishwasher, but a cellphone, an mp3 player or wireless headphones yes. · 6 months ago

I mean, maybe that's how you use solar panels if you're some kind of little baby. With enough panels and batteries, you don't have to be grid-tied at all.

But having panels even if you're on the grid still generates a bit of electricity where there was none being generated before. It's just not really off-grid...because words have meanings. :D · 6 months ago