H i from West Texas

csteel · 09-02-12, 07:30 PM

New to group, I am in Terlingua Texas AKA be-ond the middle of now where. We are very remote, we make our own electric, use rain water 20,000 gals of storage, solar hot water and heat. I am in the high desert so we have lots of sun. Our PV is 18 shott 235 watt pv, 24 T105 Trojan batteries, Outback Flex Power one 48 volt system. Joined to share and learn. Chuck

Daox · 09-03-12, 08:24 AM

Welcome to the site Chuck. What project(s) do you have going on?

Xringer · 09-03-12, 12:36 PM

Welcome Chuck! I'll bet it's hot up there today!
I once had a job offer up there in Big Bend country, (We lived in Del Rio then) but, it didn't pan out.

I'm using a small 48v off-grid backup system, for those times when the grid fails.
Today I was loading up that system a little with my new A7 AirTap hotwater heater.
Seems like it works okay on my cheapo MSW inverter.

I Googled Terlingua Texas and saw they have 20.0 acre lots selling for peanuts.. Amazing!!

The google satellite map is low res, so I could hardly make out car-sized objects, much less roof top PV..

Looking forward to seeing some pics of your setup..

csteel · 09-03-12, 12:40 PM

Currently we are adding 6 more panels to the PV system and that will max out our FX 80 then a new solar air heater before winter gets here ( most likely a downspout collector) then a movable PV rack or a earth tube air system. I just replaced our solar hot water system and all our plumbing with a new home built collector all PEX. Old system froze and self destructed last winter when it got unusually cold. I have been building out here in the desert since 2006 and have no shortage of projects just a shortage of cash. Being very remote makes getting materials difficult and costly, nearest real city with big box stores is 250 miles away. Chuck

csteel · 09-03-12, 01:03 PM

Hi Xringer yes it seems like it has been in the 100s forever, we have had some rain lately and that was good as my tanks were getting low. Now they are full due to having plenty of roof area. We have 60 acres, that is not large at all in this area. Land for sale is plentiful but local knowledge is needed for a wise purchase. County tax sales is the best way there is usually many tracts available. We have no one living near us for miles in any direction, Goggle Earth coverage of this area was last done in 2008 my building was not even complete then. My location is one of the few that has grid power, due to quality and outages I am working to pull the plug. Unless the lines cross your land (Rare) it is almost imposable to get power, other than phone service there are no other utilities. Only a few paved roads. No building restrictions, people live in all sorts of ways that would not work anywhere else. Let me know if you are interested I will send you the next tax sale. Chuck

Xringer · 09-03-12, 03:13 PM

Yeah, that's out in the sticks fer sure. About 5 hours from my Mom's house in Junction.
I WAS thinking of dropping by to see your setup.. Nope, that's a tad too far.

I've been thinking of heading down to Texas when it cools off a bit.
I'm too old for the heat now. Have not been to the family reunion for years. (August)!

If my wife ever kicks me out, I might return to Texas, but I want to live where
there's a good creek nearby. I like catfish.

The grid here is very reliable lately. But, that's mostly luck.
Just 30 miles away, some folks lost power for a full month after an ice storm.
December 2008 New England and Upstate New York ice storm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
That could have been us!

theworldtrekker · 10-25-12, 01:59 PM

Small world or a popular site... Grew up in the area and now look back fondly on the heat and sun you get there. I've found that UV damage is not a common issue in the PNW.

09-02-12, 07:30 PM	#1
csteel Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Terlingua, Texas Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	H i from West Texas New to group, I am in Terlingua Texas AKA be-ond the middle of now where. We are very remote, we make our own electric, use rain water 20,000 gals of storage, solar hot water and heat. I am in the high desert so we have lots of sun. Our PV is 18 shott 235 watt pv, 24 T105 Trojan batteries, Outback Flex Power one 48 volt system. Joined to share and learn. Chuck

09-03-12, 08:24 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site Chuck. What project(s) do you have going on? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-03-12, 12:36 PM	#3
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Welcome Chuck! I'll bet it's hot up there today! I once had a job offer up there in Big Bend country, (We lived in Del Rio then) but, it didn't pan out. I'm using a small 48v off-grid backup system, for those times when the grid fails. Today I was loading up that system a little with my new A7 AirTap hotwater heater. Seems like it works okay on my cheapo MSW inverter. I Googled Terlingua Texas and saw they have 20.0 acre lots selling for peanuts.. Amazing!! The google satellite map is low res, so I could hardly make out car-sized objects, much less roof top PV.. Looking forward to seeing some pics of your setup.. __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

09-03-12, 03:13 PM	#6
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Yeah, that's out in the sticks fer sure. About 5 hours from my Mom's house in Junction. I WAS thinking of dropping by to see your setup.. Nope, that's a tad too far. I've been thinking of heading down to Texas when it cools off a bit. I'm too old for the heat now. Have not been to the family reunion for years. (August)! If my wife ever kicks me out, I might return to Texas, but I want to live where there's a good creek nearby. I like catfish. The grid here is very reliable lately. But, that's mostly luck. Just 30 miles away, some folks lost power for a full month after an ice storm. December 2008 New England and Upstate New York ice storm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia That could have been us! __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

09-03-12, 12:40 PM	#4
csteel Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Terlingua, Texas Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Currently we are adding 6 more panels to the PV system and that will max out our FX 80 then a new solar air heater before winter gets here ( most likely a downspout collector) then a movable PV rack or a earth tube air system. I just replaced our solar hot water system and all our plumbing with a new home built collector all PEX. Old system froze and self destructed last winter when it got unusually cold. I have been building out here in the desert since 2006 and have no shortage of projects just a shortage of cash. Being very remote makes getting materials difficult and costly, nearest real city with big box stores is 250 miles away. Chuck

09-03-12, 01:03 PM	#5
csteel Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Terlingua, Texas Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Xringer yes it seems like it has been in the 100s forever, we have had some rain lately and that was good as my tanks were getting low. Now they are full due to having plenty of roof area. We have 60 acres, that is not large at all in this area. Land for sale is plentiful but local knowledge is needed for a wise purchase. County tax sales is the best way there is usually many tracts available. We have no one living near us for miles in any direction, Goggle Earth coverage of this area was last done in 2008 my building was not even complete then. My location is one of the few that has grid power, due to quality and outages I am working to pull the plug. Unless the lines cross your land (Rare) it is almost imposable to get power, other than phone service there are no other utilities. Only a few paved roads. No building restrictions, people live in all sorts of ways that would not work anywhere else. Let me know if you are interested I will send you the next tax sale. Chuck

10-25-12, 01:59 PM	#7
theworldtrekker Lurking Renovator Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Corvallis, Oregon Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Small world or a popular site... Grew up in the area and now look back fondly on the heat and sun you get there. I've found that UV damage is not a common issue in the PNW.