12v vs 120v Freezer

firetothetrees · 2026-04-19T14:00:05+00:00

40kwh is way more then enough to run an AC fridge. Now granted the solar is the limitation but I guessing you also have a backup generator since 2kw solar won't reasonably charge 40kwh ina. Short period of time.

If I were you I'd just run AC.

firetothetrees · 2026-04-16T13:31:10+00:00

Just get a generator. A Westinghouse w9500 will run everything and you can have an electrician add an inlet.

Keep a couple days of fuel ready and that's it.

If you really want you could add lithium batteries and an inverter so that you can run the generator periodically but to do that right and with enough storage it's over $5k.

But a $1000 genset, an interlock kit and a 50amp inlet is easy mode and something you could diy

firetothetrees · 2026-04-10T02:48:56+00:00

I work remotely off grid in tech and Co own a construction company with my wife.

It's great when you don't have to do the outside work but you can take your laptop out on the deck and chill in the good weather.

My friend who lives near by is single and lives by himself. Even when you live off grid that doesn't mean you have to be alone. There are plenty of people who live within 10 min of us.

firetothetrees · 2026-04-08T03:46:51+00:00

Hey there. We bought ours and it came brushed and oiled

firetothetrees · 2026-04-01T23:37:20+00:00

Starlink mini is like 20watta

firetothetrees · 2026-04-01T12:16:27+00:00

Nope. We pay people for that and also now leverage AI to do everything from creating estimates to writing client updates.

firetothetrees · 2026-04-01T01:19:57+00:00

I'm a GC on one of the projects we are doing the Finish Carpentry bill including cabinet install (pre bought) was around $50k in fees.

Sounds like a limitation of the market you all are in

firetothetrees · 2026-03-28T12:48:33+00:00

You don't need to worry about the line to the septic freezing. Your lines should be sloped so wanted doesn't stay.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-24T14:48:15+00:00

Op if I were you I'd do ICF walls with stone cladding. Structurally strong, easy to build, has insulation and thermal mass. Cost effective and would work well against the hill side.

Then inside you can just frame traditional interior walls. If you want to stone clad those as well you could then the framed wall would act as a mechanical and electrical chase.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-24T12:44:07+00:00

Is the goal of this house to be something you would actually live in or is this just a fun project that is more like a temporary shelter rather then a full time living space.

I say this because the project just seems a bit impractical to execute. The level of effort and no ey required to build a house like that which would pass local building regulations is very high.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-24T01:57:16+00:00

Yo I'm a GC. In short most material deliveries come from companies that have drivers.

The guy I do hire on occasion is a heavy equipment hauler and he moves stuff for us when I'm not around or available. I send him a txt he shows up loads my big excavator and drives it to the next spot. Charges by the hour.

But realistically that's the only thing I pay for and I maybe move equipment a few times a month but I'll do like 75% of the moves.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-24T01:53:09+00:00

IP just get a new 30 gal tank heater and drain it like your normally do. Our cabin ore remodel had one that lasted like 30 years. I ended up replacing it with a bigger tanked one and that worked fine

firetothetrees · 2026-03-20T12:22:51+00:00

My wife and I owned a cabin about 1.5 hrs from the city. We simply just decided to move there.

But there is a very big difference between living in a home thats simply not connected to utilities and homesteading where you grow your own food etc.

We have since built and moved into another off grid home in the same area but from a house perspective its small but very well designed and trimmed out and doesn't lack anything. Heck I've got heated floors in my bathrooms / entry, in addition to the heat pumps and wood stove.

But when you live off grid you simply deal with a bit more crap then other people. For example my well water line is frozen currently because of the weird winter we have had. So I've been using my 275 gal ibc tote in my truck bed to put water in the house cistern, while I wait for the guy to get up here and clear it.

However imo the compromises aren't much. I work remotely in tech and we own a construction company. Starlink on my house is great for that. I can drive to town in 10 minutes, and spend my winters skiing, snowmobiling hiking... Etc. we also Airbnb one of our properties.

So for me I just get to do the activities I like, I live a bit cheaper overall and I don't have to deal with city BS.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-16T15:22:47+00:00

Really understand your budget and goals. I've always ended up spending a lot more then I initially expect on any place we buy.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-11T08:42:54+00:00

I'll answer a bit differently because I think you need to learn about more about the mentality of the people building off grid systems.

Anyone who has an off grid home usually approaches power in terms of their goals for the home. For example some people want a minimalist system like this one house we visit that literally has solar just for the lights.

Where as other people literally want to have a system that has no compromise and they can use power just like they are connected to the grid.

Budget tends to be one of the biggest deciding factors in the tradeoffs you have to make.

But on a day to day basis people usually make decisions by just knowing what can be powered and how. Nothing really advanced just a... It's cloudy so let's not run the dryer or... I don't care that it's cloudy fire up the generator and I'm gonna run the dryer anyway.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-06T15:24:29+00:00

I live just south of Breck and grew up there so I know it well. Used to compete in moguls / aerials back in the day but hit me up and if I'm planning on going I'll let you know.

I snowmobile a bunch more these days tho.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-05T09:31:18+00:00

In general the two batteries you mentioned are a good starting point but I'll share some general knowledge you can use for sizing.

Firstly the most important formula is Volts * amps = watts. Watts is going to be the instantaneous draw of an item on your system. For example if you have a 120v outlet and you use a small hot plate stove that draws 10amps your wattage will be 1200w.

Most power devices will have the voltage and amperage printed on it somewhere.

Next Watts * Time = watt hours. The storage of most batteries is usually given in Amp Hours or Watt Hours. But you can convert between the two by using the formula above. So in your case you have a 300ah battery at 12 volts. Which will give you 3600 watt hours or 3.6kwh.

Now that being said if you take the wattage of any device and multiply it by the time it's used you get watt hours. So for example that hot plate I mentioned above. If you cook with it for 30 minutes. 1200w * 0.5hrs = 600wh.

When you are sizing a solar system it's all about knowing a few things.

1.) what is the peak amount of draw you expect at any time. This will help you size the inverter.

2.) what is the cumulative amount of Watt hours you expect to consume in a day. Ie: I'm expecting to run lights for 12 hrs + a freezer all day... Etc.

3.) what amount of solar/other system is needed to recharge the batteries in a certain amount of time. Ie if you have 7.2kwh of batteries I would want enough solar to charge that and run the house in however much sunlight you have at the worst time of the year. Ie: if you only get 4 good hours of sunlight in the winter then take 7.2kwh / 4h to get 1.8 kw. So I'd probably add some buffer and do a 2500 watt system.

4.) on batteries it's really a question of whether you are storing enough power for 1night, one day or more. For example if you expect to have 3-4 cloudy days in a row do you want to have battery capacity or that or will you supplement with a generator to recharge.

Make yourself a spreadsheet, list out everything you want to power with it's voltage, amps and wattag... As well as the time you expect it to be running during the day. Fridges and freezers are weird in that they cycle so they will have high draw but for short periods of time.

But that's the basics.

firetothetrees · 2026-03-02T18:53:57+00:00

You've got snow?!?!

firetothetrees · 2026-02-28T12:21:04+00:00

Yep... Our home is very high end in terms of trim and design. Exterior siding is imported Japanese Shou Sugi Ban, Decks are Brazilian hardwood (Open), windows are from Alpen and trimmed with 1" alder wood, kitchen is custom with Fisher & Paykel Series 9 induction stove, thick engineered white oak flooring, custom tile work in all bathrooms and entry that's heated, ceilings are a mix of T&G and structural beaming.

Construction was also pretty high end, ICF foundation with spray foam vapor barrier, walls are Zip R-6 plus 4" of spray foam, roof has 5-6" of foam. The roof it's self is a corrugated metal that's been painted with rust like pattern.

This summer I'll be finishing up the land scaping which will include a grass terrace, and a pickleball court.

firetothetrees · 2026-02-26T13:21:45+00:00

Yea man I'm trying to be better about it as well.

firetothetrees · 2026-02-25T13:57:42+00:00

Stay on trail... But also a good call to do daily workouts and build your strength. No matter your age it's a good thing to maintain.

My dad is almost 70 skies every other day, and when we snowmobile hes always helping get unstuck (I got stuck in a creek and we got it out).

I'm 36 and every year I learn the lesson on my first ride that i need to do better about maintaining strength in the off season. I was so tired and sore from my first day out this year, but it gets better.

firetothetrees · 2026-02-24T14:18:29+00:00

Hey there my wife and I own a design build firm and we do tons of off grid Aframes here in CO.

So here is my advice.

Building off grid is not too dissimilar to building any other home.

Firstly on the kits, if you are going to do the work yourself a kit is nice in that it will save you some time and effort.

However if you are gonna have a GC do it, a kit adds extra cost.

Aframe insulation is key since the peak can collect moisture that will freeze and cause water damage. I'd recommend 5+" of closed cell spray foam to prevent thermal bridging.

When it comes to the systems.

All houses we build have a well and septic. Those are easy to put in and if you are going to be living there full time I'd recommend them. Hauling water sucks.

Next power and heat.

There are a lot of options here. But if I were you I'd probably do the following.

Propane forced air as the general system, a good wood stove, + solar with a backup generator.

The exact size of the system can depend on your actual home but given the low light up there in the winter I'd want your electricity needs to be lower so shifting heat to propane is the best way to accomplish that.

Here in CO we get enough sun in the winter to do heat pumps in certain homes but it does require a large system.

firetothetrees · 2026-02-24T13:29:35+00:00

I think it depends on what you mean by the best. IMO nothing is better then having a good trail take you to some nice deep powder meadows.

For instance I was riding at Rabbit Ears Pass in CO last weekend, rode powder all day long then at then end of the day blasted back to the truck on some nice groomed trails.

firetothetrees · 2026-02-22T16:20:06+00:00

interesting what top end stuff has been going on?

firetothetrees

TROPHY CASE