Making your own power

After starting this off the grid project about a year ago, we have learned quite a bit about the actual workings of a good system. Nearly everything you buy is going to be overrated; solar panels and wind generators are rated at peak watts, which when used in conjunction with batteries at ~13 volts is unattainable. We have just gotten accustomed to looking through the performance data and deducing a more accurate rating from that.

Yesterday we picked up two 105 lbs, 12 volt AGM 165 AH batteries from Ron for a solar job we have.  Personally, we would love to use these type of batteries in our system when ever possible. Making good 12 volt connections can be difficult, and we have found that many fuse holders have high resistance. Automotive style DC outlets are good for about 2 amps -- if you're not careful it's easy to waste power.  

We are making good progress on our house; the bathroom addition is almost all dug out (over 24 wheelbarrow loads so far) and now we are gathering gravel to make concrete. We already bought about half the Portland cement -- seven 94 lbs bags. As for the inside, we just got a dozen space blankets to use as reflective heat and vapor barrier.  We'll use these in addition to fiberglass insulation. These extra steps should make for a cool house in the summer and a warm house in the winter.

Six "strongly worded letters" that we sent to Toshiba Co. explaining our ordeal.

The most beautiful sunrise we have ever seen in either of our lives.   If any other may surpass it, it will probably be another Terlingua sunrise.