How much electricity do you use?

OP...
If you have grid power now, stick with it. If you live in a handful of states that heavily subsidize alternative energy, like Florida or Louisiana, it might make sense. Otherwise, the economics will never add up. To do a whole house system off grid, your going to probably spend more money than the house costs. Most whole house off grid systems are off grid because there's no grid power available.

It IS a noble idea, going off grid, but no economically sound. For emergency backup power, you're going to spend several thousand for a very basic system. Running things like washing machines will require more expensive inverters....

When I was off grid, I used less than a kilowatt a day... now I rarely use less than 30kw/day. It's a luxury having grid power... I can leave lights on all night in the goat barn, have electronic equipment running around the clock, freezers, refrigerators, etc.

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Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

Thanks for the detailed reply forerunner, we plan on using some sort of similar setup for our barn and maybe some other applications around the homestead and its good to hear from someone with practical experience.

We are also looking at a non-integrated system to start; i.e., solar panel outdoor lights, a battery bank system with a diesel charging system like you describe for the barn and probably solar panels for the garden shed. I am also building a windmill to aerate the pond and pump water and my own solar panels....lots to learn.

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www.salmonslayer-simplelife.blogspot.com

I guess I am going to be the weirdo here ... I wouldn't mind living with no electricity whatsoever.

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I LOVE DONUT BALLS

i dont like to think tooo much before i speak ... heehee ... i like to be just as surprised as you are.

We have been off-grid since 1991. We do have natural gas, though. I have to say when we have a low-power day I kind of like to rely on the skylights and non-electric ways of doing. EXCEPT for washing laundry. It will dry quickly in the house in the winter if need be. Just walk by and swish at it a few times like the wind. In those few hours I take a candlelight bath in the evening, stretch exercies, read a book, lots of things are possible, or clean the bedrooms where the skylights are or go outside and work during through the morning. Another thing I can't live without permanently would be my blender. DH would take issue with his power tools.