[JRP3]

There may be more DC stuff than you realize:
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/12volap.html

[Sunking]

Before you go all out DC, think before you do that. If you are talking 12 or 24 volt dc over any kind of distance you are going to get eat up with wiring losses using low voltage. Only way around that is very large expensive wire, not to mention higher cost gadgets. You can literally waste 30 to 50% of your power just heating up copper wire.

[dreamer]

Originally Posted by JRP3

There may be more DC stuff than you realize:
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/12volap.html

Yikes ! That is even worse than I thought. All those appliances cost four times as much as their 110V AC equivalents.

[order99]

Assuming I have the courage to actually make the transition, I'll need to keep the wiring as short as possible then. Considering the fact that my (theoretical) new home would have such low power requirements, a single Inverter box would actually be pretty cheap, so AC is still an option. Watch out if you have a Laser Printer though-it(and some Computers as well) are VERY fussy about Inverted AC power. The Sine has to be dead on...DC-made components of course have no problems with straight DC oddly enough.

I'll admit i'm torn-I could double my effective income by designing a super-efficient Off-grid dwelling from scratch-not counting roughly $30k immediate profits after costs and taxes-but finding the right neighbors to live next to Mom would be a pain. The most painful thing though would be to give up the barn on my property which i've just converted to a workshop. It's the last tobacco barn my late Grandfather built, back in 1956, and giving it up would be giving up a link to my Blood...Sigh, decisions, decisions...

Meanwhile though, i've shaved roughly 20% off my heating and cooling bills this year with...package-grade bubble wrap! Cut the wrap to fit each pane, sponge the pane wet but not dripping and stick it right on-taping the corners is optional. It adds a layer of Thermal Mass, does not interfere with light or normal window movement-it's like getting those double-paned Thermal windows that run about $5-10k per house...except for $11.00.

Only slightly off-topic I hope!

[ClintK]

Originally Posted by order99

Only slightly off-topic I hope!

All these discussions / ideas sound good to me!

[JRP3]

Bubble wrap is a great idea! I've got one wall of windows that I might have to try that on.

[Amberwolf]

As an aside regarding DC operation: Many switching power supplies, including those of most laptops and desktop computers I have played with recently in my stuff piles, will run on DC input. Some go as low as 24-28VDC, some require 48-60VDC. The lower the input voltage, usually the current draw goes up proportionally.

So there's another option for powering things that otherwise require "perfect" inverters.

I haven't checked my laser printer for DC operation, but it's an older HP OfficeJet (big stackable tray kind), and IIRC it uses the 110VAC for the fuser lamp.

[ClintK]

I probably won't mess with separate 12V DC and 120V AC lines. Now if I have a couple items (water pump for example) that can take a 48V DC input, I might do that.

I got a call back from the Environmental Office saying I'm in not just a flood plain, but also a flood way. So now I have to get an engineer to review my culvert design and obtain a "No Rise" certificate. For some reason they don't want me changing the size of the flood zone and ruin my neighbors houses!

Small delay (hopefully not too expensive) and then the road will commence!

[ClintK]

The house / solar panels will go somewhere around here...

We're also trying to decide on exterior wall construction... ideas are:
1. 6" studs with lots of insulation
2. 8" CMU (concrete) blocks with 4" studs inside with insulation
3. Insulated CMU blocks like http://www.nltbuildingproducts.com/Q...reteBlock.html

[Buckster]

Have you thought about ground source energy solutions as well?