cold wet snowed in.... head north lol go spend a week in the artic circle so when you come back its only mildly inconvenient to be where you are. be thankful for what you do have. on that note thanks for the videos.
Be careful of "rated capacity" as it's not always the REAL number (can be 10-20% lower) vs the "continuous capacity";i.e. a 9750 is only 8000 (or less) continuous. "Rated" is usually "peak", dep on the mfg. Load testing will show the real numbers if "continuous" is not in the manual. We find this across the board with many brands, commercial and otherwise. I would step down the plant to about 10k or 9500.11k is pushing it. Also, break-in period. Don't load hard until it's had some break-in time, a few hours. See below about field tech advice.... Oh boy..."Oil in one of the cylinders.." Man, sorry to hear that, but not surprised. I'm real familiar with Kohler, both on a commercial backup level (both stationary and portable at ATT) and residential (long discussions with my genset maintenance contractors who also install and service residential as well). I 'll keep zipped about it, but let's just say I'm hoping the replacement is not a lemon. I'll leave it at that. Oh and avoid Generac if you change brands later. My advice would be to call a comm/res genset service company and talk to one of the field techs for advice on brand dependability first, should you decide to make a change later down the road. Good luck, guys! Love your work!
@@badsanta69 Rocks slide on ice and a bump might push them into the supply line. I would rent an auger for the excavator and put in 6" x 6" posts around the tank.
Don't know if you're aware but as heating engineer, when connecting brass fittings always turn anti clockwise until you hear a click then clockwise to connect without cross threading.
I've posted this very thing countless times. I think they (everyone who burys lines in the ground) prefer digging up the pipe and making a mess of things. WWOG, Trent & Allie, these folks and others.
Each project makes future projects possible. You 3 are a construction crew. "COR Co." Courtney, Oliver, and Riley. Oliver just hangs around now, (literally) but give him 15 years.
Propane is amazing stuff. I bought 160 acres of remote land in 2015. There were 4 campers disbursed on the property that were used as hunting shacks. The campers were junk but each one had 2 - 40 pound propane tanks. Most campers of this size now use 30 pound tanks, but these are older. Nearest I can guess is these tanks were last filled shortly after the property was logged in the early 2000s. So the propane in the tanks was 12-15 years old. So I had 8 nearly full propane tanks. I brought them in to my local propane vendor to see if I could save the tanks. They said they could save them, but I should use the propane in them first. I was surprised the propane would still be good, but it was. For the next 2 years I used that propane for my own hunting camper. As the tanks would empty I'd bring a couple at a time for refurbishing and filling. They had to be refurbished as 30 gallon because 40 gallon valving wasn't available, but now I have 10 - 30 gallon propane tanks (8 old ones, and the 2 that came with my camper) for the camper used on my hunting land. Great video guys! Oliver doesn't know how lucky he is to have you two as parents. You are quickly becoming my favorite channel. Editing and narration are pro quality. Keep it up!
When I first stumbled on to your channel, I got hooked and binged 2 or 3 episodes a day. It was a lot of fun consuming you two at a rapid pace. But after I did get all caught up, I was left with the glacially slow pace of one episode a week. Frankly, I got a little discouraged. I had an Ambition monkey on my back and I needed my fix. But no candy for me. :( After a bit of time passed, I found myself trying to watch a new vid at 9:50am on a Sunday. But it wouldn't play. To my delight, I realized I was going to share in your hijinks live (as it were). That was about two months ago. Now I find myself looking forward to Sunday morning with amusing anticipation. I am a city boy with no skills to do what you do and no plans to learn how to do them, yet I am locked in to your families journey. Thank you for bringing a ray of joy into this old mans life. I pray a blessing of joy and protection over your family. Tim K Charlotte NC
What I love about you two is that even when there is a problem, you take an up-beat look at it and just work to fix it. What a great example for all of us.
Hello from Quebec Canada 🇨🇦 Maybe you should put up a gard rail or fence post to protect the Tank from getting backed into. That's something you do . 1 in each corner just a safety thing. We enjoy your show keep up the good work. You should be proud of what you have done, stay safe and enjoy life. Derrick & Family
I have been watching your channel for a while. I wish I had the energy and youth to do what you two are doing. I am a former propane service tech. Adding a tracer wire is handy to locate the line when you have problems. Raise one end of the propane tanks at a time and install 4" solid concrete blocks. You need clearance under the tank. Order a new flex line and male connector that you machined down. That flare that you machined off is what makes it gas right.
I drive for Ferrell Gas and occasionally help set up tanks. You may want to put on to two inch thick cement blocks under the feet of the tank. Every so often the tank will start to shift as things settle and may want to level out again. If you are going to paint it, do so with a lighter color.
@gregbailey45 ya, I've seen them in crushed rock like this which hardens. But, all have had the small rectangle cement pavers place under the stands or feet.
Started watching your videos when you were building the Overland truck camper, I could tell by the imagination and quality of that build that you 2 were exceptionally talented and driven. Sure enough you have proven my thoughts very valid. I enjoy watching everything y'all do, thanks for the first class entertainment.
Marker tape is a must at all points. I agree with the peanut crew comments below. Y'all are the perfect example of a couple who can do anything with time, ability, and knowledge. Have fun and be well.
Hello from Portugal, you should put the generator's starter battery inside the container as the cold is not good for the batteries and it's easy as the container is right next to the generator
Get your propane supplier to put a liquid out valve and hose on your tank so you can fill your own propane bottles ! A true must have for off grid living !
Those emergency generators work great. My parents were buried in over 6 ft of snow in Orchard Park NY a few years back. The power line going up their street was damaged by a falling tree. Since the utility poles ran along the back yard, the utility company wasn’t able to get to it quickly or easily, they ran on natural gas for a couple of days. Central heat just kept on going, they had lights, etc. Great units. Regarding travel suggestions with a “little one”: honestly keep it simple. Find a place with surf and sand and modest temperatures. Just being on a beach with an umbrella to keep worst sun off, they kan be happy for hours just playing in the sand. No need for fancy outings … save if for when he is bigger. It willen stress free for everyone. Since you are West of the Continental divide, Southern California is probably easier to get to than Florida. The other option are looking for an off-week deal at a family friendly all-inclusive somewhere Caribbean, Mexico or one of the stable Central American counties. Sometime there are packaged deals with charter flights that amazing value. Since your aren’t tied to any sort of academic calendar there can be deals found when it’s now school or college vacation times.
Consider adding an empty duct for electrics to the tank? Add level monitoring, or even a light at the isolating valves? Also a "no dig" tape 200mm above the pipe, just in case someone goes fishing with the excavator in the future.
i love that your channel has as large variety of sponsors...ALL of the other channels I watch ONLY have these 3 sponsors: better help, surf shark and AG one. Thanks for the educational variety of your sponsorships that you also personally use!!
Great video, you guys can do anything! You went from living in the camper to now having all the electricity you need. I really like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which is at the end of the Baja peninsula straight south of California.
Let's all have a moment of sympathy for all the couples that struggle just to paint a simple room, fight all the way through and still have it look terrible! You guys are awesome!! DD
You should consider putting some deep rods at the base of the generator pad, so it does not move due to vibration of the unit running. Because of that short gas line you have.
A few things to maybe consider.... Pound some stakes into the ground to secure the new generator & gas regulator. Order a new gas hose as a backup to the hose you damaged/fixed. Add some bollards around the new propane tank. Test for leaks. Soapy water. Close the valves when not in use.
Definitely put some identification for the gas line, so nobody digs up your line. I'm assuming you tested your gas line connections with soapy water. Great job Courtney, you excavator skills are excellent. Quick thinking on the fitting Riley. You two are amazing. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
I got so excited for you then with the lead in for the next video crash! I hope you are able to get it fixed quickly. Probably need to test its reliability before some place tropical. Well today Deb let me sleep in and brought me coffee to watch your video. We both agree we especially enjoy the videos when all 3 of you are in them. Oliver is getting so big. You guys are so much more than a how you have done it channel, for Deb and I we love getting to know you through your videos. I wish more people would treat each other like you two do. Love you guys!
Courtney and the mini excavator are both so very cute and beautiful. Courtney running the mini excavator is artistry at the highest level. I love her energy, her love of creativity, her ability to overcome fear using a step by step process. I love that both of you are passing these processes into Oliver. Bless you both. Hugs to you both
Impressive work by both of you to make this happen. Having an automated system with another backup system is ideal for off-grid. You inspire us to automate more and ensure backups to automation.
Riley, you should put a couple of 24" patio stones under the legs of the propane tank. The crushed stone and dirt base is not enough. The weight of a full tank combined with the freeze thaw cycles will cause the legs to sink and the tank will rest on it belly and corrode or rust or worst case get punctured by a sharp stone. Just lift up one end at a time an slide a couple of patio blocks underneath the legs. What about Oliver's bedroom?? Regards Wayne Paddock
Courtney & Riley, what an absolute awesome addition to your power grid and creature comfort. Courtney, you have such a gentle touch with that excavator. Inherent not learned. You guys ROCK!❤
Congratulations on the upgrade. I would suggest if you are going to keep burying stuff around the property get a roll of metalic tape (burried conduit tape) and a metal detector so you can really find those lines in the future vs somewhere around here. Also might want to build a shifting screen with some fence and lumber (or go all out metal that is your specialty) so you can shift the rocks from the dirt.
You guys are marvelous! Compulsive viewing! Another great episode. It must be sometimes a pain to have to concern yourself with getting good video shots, when all you want to do it get on with the project. I can not imagine the hundreds of thousands of dollars you have spent getting where you are today. But you have bought a quality of life. Cheers from Calgary/Canada
We love our Auto transfer and auto start Generac that also auto turns off and auto transfers back. So nice to not have to dress up in the cold to flip some switches. We have a 1K gal propane tank as it's for the generator and central heat.
Bury it : 1. You can store more Propane in a buried tank. 2: Propane can run into supply at low outside temperatures as pressure drops. Burying it helps keep the tank warmer.
I’ve used scrap lumber/wood (without nails!), which will become humus sooner or later when laying plastic pipe or plastic conduit.. ❤🎉. You guys are a joy to watch!
Hi folks in the begining I looked at you and said this boy not going to make ,,so I watched and to my surprise you came through time after time ,,so I said this z lad he’s a goer and very smart man ,,and as I watched you came through with flying colours ..Now I have confidence for you to do any jog ,,I’m so proud of you ,,to me you are on top of your game I’ll give you a96.5 in my opinion you are true Tradie cheers God bless you and Family Champion ❤️❤️🙏🙏💪💪👍👍🦘🇦🇺🇺🇸😁😁
Riley - I'd recommend not totally draining nor totally filling your battery packs, leave a buffer at the bottom as well as near the top. Say it's 5-8% at the upper and lower end, to maximize the cycle life. You lose a bit of capacity, but stay away from the boundaries. It's a "best practice" to use a little margin.
Your videos somehow manage to inspire me to create my environment with my hand and yet crush me when I realize I do not have an iota of your combined abilities!!! lol I love the snow and I am not a beach person so…no clue. 🙂
when starting a tapered fitting like the gas line push it on and turn it backwards till you feel a slight click. that is when the thread lines up. then carefully turn the correct way.
Seeing you use a pick brought back memories , on a construction team in the 70s we dug footers with a pick axe , up north! I was 13 . Let's see kids today do it... Ps gray work y'all! You can do anything together ! 😊
Pro tip - make sure you use marking tape to identify services in the future. After the loose dirt ontop of the pipe before backfill throw the marking tape ontop then fill in the trench. You never know when you want to do more work. Make a map also of services you have run on the property is handy for the future. Love the content and keep up the good work!!
I think this temporary & the are likely going to move the tank as well extend gas line to the home. The just wanted to get something done fast for the winter season.
For future projects where you have to move heavy objects and cannot lift with the machines try using some heavy thick walled pipe and roll your items over it. You will find life much easier without hurting your backs. Perhaps in the winter when there is downtime you could make some screeds out of lumber and desired steel mesh to sift out any Rock You all are definitely blessed to have all of this support and a good friend who is willing to lend you his brand new excavator!
Riley, Court; look around the "neighborhood"; somebody has a "Grizzly"; it's a big strong box you pour mixed rock and dirt into and through sieves that help separate the rock from the gravel and the dirt. Or find some plans- you have the cutting table up and at the ready!
I made one of those for use on our property. I used an old mine shaft door someone gave me. It's 5 x 10 woven mesh so I mounted it long way up. With the excavator being able to lift higher it does a fantastic job. All the rock slides down the grate and the dirt falls through. It works awesome without any shaker or spring system required.
You should always bury some caution tape when covering any cable, gas line or water line. This will help locate any buried lines if you forget where they are or someone else is digging. Also, if you bury some scrap cable along with plastic lines, they can be located with metal detector. Are you guys putting up some barriers in front of the tank? Everything is looking really good there.
Nice video. You may want to check the install manual for the proper way to use the flex connector from the 2nd regulator to the gen. I don't know about the Kohler. Brigs and generac both want that flex connector installed in straight line. It's for vibration absorption. That bend can cause premature failure. Due to stress on the bend. Also should have a drip leg on the generator.
Hello from Ukraine! All this equipment that provides autonomy is so good that I am simply delighted. Everything is so professionally installed. It's a pleasure to watch you and your wife work together. Good luck to you, your wife and baby. I also became interested in solar power, first out of necessity, and then became so interested that I built a tracker to track the sun. True, everything is modest, but it helps a lot when the lights go out.
The 14RCA is a great unit and and will serve you well for years of use. Don't forget to install a cold weather kit! I'd recommend at least a carb heater and breather tube heater. Thanks for choosing a Kohler!
I’ve had the same generator on our property for the past 3 years working flawlessly. Oil and filter changes are every 100 operating hours. Mine is hooked up to a 12 kW Sol-Ark inverter/charge controller that also is a good combination. We power a well pump too. I’ve been told that the 14 kW unit is the largest that Kohler will warranty for off-grid use. The local Kohler dealer will only honor that warranty if they do the installation, FWIW.
I wonder if Riley and Casey considered driving in some rebar (or other) to anchor the generator platform in the case that hastily constructed retaining wall wants to shift down-hill over time. Also a fan of the underground marking tape so that buried wires and pipe can be found (as memories fade).
I'm glad yall went with propane,I have a 500 gallon tank and I used it with a family of 7,did great,never have I filled it to 450 gallons,I fill it up now,only 2 of us to 175 which will last 9 months. I use it for cooking and water heater,I use my blower system from my fireplace for heating the house,1700 Sq ft,which works find. Good choice. Riley u have magic fingers,u can fix electrical to mechanical, u have learned alot of knowledge! As for travel I'd go into the tropical areas,mexico,Caribbean, etc.
Just watched this episode and absolutely amazed and thank you for sharing this portion of your life off grid. 5 ⭐️ and 👍’s up. !!! I shall take time to watch your videos especially video #1 if it exists on your decision to go off grid. 👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️😎
Would you guys be willing to do a video discussing the cost of all the parts used in your entire electrical system, including the solar, batteries, inverters, controllers, generator, propane tank, etc? I know it's a lot of info and that there are a lot of variables involved, but I'm trying to figure out if a no compromise off grid electrical system like yours is within reach for me. Great job installing the new generator!
Great imporovement to your property. You have done so much this past year to get things in order. I know you both are excited! It has been a long time coming.
I work with slightly bigger generators in datacenters, and we also run them at around 80 percent load when testing them as it’s optimal for the generators. See if you can configure a no load cool down period after the Victron commands it off, as that’s really good for the longevity of the generator, we usually let them idle for 3 minutes after the load disconnects. Also remember to regularly run the generator even if you don’t need to, half an hour monthly is usually good.
I understand Aruba (One happy Island) is pretty nice this time of year (Jan - May). Nice job on the generator installation. Back up plans are good to have, two are better!
I was eagerly waiting to see the closing shot with the solar panels set to winter, to see the fit and the exhaust positioning to get an idea of how well it'll do as under panel heater? Nice work.
You should have ran a wire alongside the propane line so it could be traced if you (or anyone else) needs to dig in that area. Should have set tank on some concrete blocks as it will get HEAVY when full and those little feet will sink into the gravel. A "wet leg" would have been a handy addition. It would allow you to fill BBQ tanks at home. If that's a 1000gal tank it should hold 800gal when full, not 500.
Couple critiques, 1( replace that fitting that you altered and the hose, you have it on film that you did it, huge liability if there ends up being a problem. 2) as a Kohler tech, when we do start ups on these gens, we generally prime the oil pump in a dew different ways, take out oil sender and pour some oil down the hole, reinstall, turn off gas’s, and crank a cycle or two. Could have been the engine issue, also good reason to pay the extra for an official Kohler start up. 3) make sure you stay up on your updates, not necessarily installing them, but check and make sure they didn’t fix a bug. Otherwise, great choice on a Kohler, and great install for a homeowner. Didn’t see the 110vac hook up for the battery charger built into your controller, but I’m sure you did it, as your battery wasn’t dead. 😂😂
Amazing job on another project upgrade/completion! It really cool how you both work very well together! A wife that run equipment is a real advantage nice job Courtney 👏 FYI:Not sure how bad they are,but don't forget to clean out the tracks on your skid steer tracks before freezing weather! As always awesome videos looking forward to more👍
You should pressure test the entire system now to ensure there are no leaks. The driver probably closed the fill valve and just pressure tested the tank fittings only and nothing beyond the 1st stage regulator. You may also need to adjust the flow of gas.
@@guytech7310I doubt it. They have to have the equipment to do a test and doubt they have that. Didn’t see them do a bubble test with soapy water which is the cheap and easy way to test for leaks.
Assuming your old military generator is in good shape you’ll go through half a dozen of those high speed backup generators before you wear out the diesel generator. They’re kinda like the old ugly farm truck you use to go buy parts for the new farm truck that’s always broken. Really glad you decided to keep it. From your drone shots there’s some potential to install more panels on your equipment garage. Not an ideal sun angel but still usable.
Concrete block under tank feet Locator wire and no dig tape in trench It would be nice if you put an oil filter heater on the generator that could be triggered when your batteries reach a certain level so it doesn’t cold start to 3500 RPM immediately with thick frozen oil. My philosophy is not to exercise a generator in the winter either just because I think the wear and tear exceeds the benefit.
My 14 KW Generac generator comes equipped with an oil heater as well as a battery heater, which is activated automatically depending on the season. It is even equipped with a charge maintainer for the battery, to extend its lifespan. Kohler and Generac probably have the same options depending on the geographic location of installation. Exercise mode is still recommended to maintain lubrication and prevent corrosion caused by moisture accumulation. My installer set it for a 15 minute start every 14 days.
Always live watching you guys do a project. Here’s an idea for your next winter: I recently moved to Italy in a beautiful but less known area of the country by the Adriatic Sea. I am looking to buy a country property here. Be my guests for the winter or as long as you like, whilst helping me with projects.
I don't know what your temperatures get down to in the winter but if it gets below -5 you may need to put a heater on the tank to keep enough pressure to the generator in those really cold days.
I use to get a D8 stuck up to its belly pan . Get a 10 foot long by 4 or 6 inch scrap pipe , a chain with hooks on both ends 1/2 inch or so. Lay pipe in front of dozer with chain through pipe . Hook to tracks . Now you have one giant cleat to drive up on drive out, it works . Be careful not to go to far and pull pipe into the back of the dozer
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MY FAVORITE RUSH QUOTE IS "Our society is swimming in a SEA of information,yet drowning in IGNORANCE [6 april 2002 (3rd hour)
cold wet snowed in.... head north lol go spend a week in the artic circle so when you come back its only mildly inconvenient to be where you are. be thankful for what you do have. on that note thanks for the videos.
RFID wallet? Really? With most of the credit cards out there now using chip technology, RFID is useless. Doesn't work on chip cards.....
Be careful of "rated capacity" as it's not always the REAL number (can be 10-20% lower) vs the "continuous capacity";i.e. a 9750 is only 8000 (or less) continuous. "Rated" is usually "peak", dep on the mfg. Load testing will show the real numbers if "continuous" is not in the manual. We find this across the board with many brands, commercial and otherwise. I would step down the plant to about 10k or 9500.11k is pushing it. Also, break-in period. Don't load hard until it's had some break-in time, a few hours. See below about field tech advice....
Oh boy..."Oil in one of the cylinders.." Man, sorry to hear that, but not surprised. I'm real familiar with Kohler, both on a commercial backup level (both stationary and portable at ATT) and residential (long discussions with my genset maintenance contractors who also install and service residential as well). I 'll keep zipped about it, but let's just say I'm hoping the replacement is not a lemon. I'll leave it at that. Oh and avoid Generac if you change brands later. My advice would be to call a comm/res genset service company and talk to one of the field techs for advice on brand dependability first, should you decide to make a change later down the road. Good luck, guys! Love your work!
Looks like I might be buying myself an early Christmas present 😊
I suggest installing a few safety bollards on the sides and in front of the propane tank. I can see Riley backing the snowblower truck into the tank!
Or a big rock wall! :)
@@badsanta69 Rocks slide on ice and a bump might push them into the supply line. I would rent an auger for the excavator and put in 6" x 6" posts around the tank.
It's never a bad idea to put up safety poles around a 500 gal tank of extremely flammable gas.
@@markmitchell457 Especially with the winters they get. Easy for a machine to slide sideways.
Or Oliver when he starts riding a 4-wheeler. 😂
Don't know if you're aware but as heating engineer, when connecting brass fittings always turn anti clockwise until you hear a click then clockwise to connect without cross threading.
Consider installing "NO DIG" caution tape in the trench above the gas line.
👍
Amen!
Excellent call.
I've posted this very thing countless times. I think they (everyone who burys lines in the ground) prefer digging up the pipe and making a mess of things. WWOG, Trent & Allie, these folks and others.
AND A TRACE WIRE! Sometime, in the future, you're going to want to know where that propane line is buried.
The beauty of your new propane generator system is that from all your hard work improving your road, it allows for propane delivery with no problems.
Each project makes future projects possible. You 3 are a construction crew. "COR Co." Courtney, Oliver, and Riley.
Oliver just hangs around now, (literally) but give him 15 years.
@@markmitchell457he’ll be contributing to the build soon enough.
Nice job looks great good luck 👍 oh Hawaii sounds good huh!?
Propane is amazing stuff. I bought 160 acres of remote land in 2015. There were 4 campers disbursed on the property that were used as hunting shacks. The campers were junk but each one had 2 - 40 pound propane tanks. Most campers of this size now use 30 pound tanks, but these are older. Nearest I can guess is these tanks were last filled shortly after the property was logged in the early 2000s. So the propane in the tanks was 12-15 years old. So I had 8 nearly full propane tanks. I brought them in to my local propane vendor to see if I could save the tanks. They said they could save them, but I should use the propane in them first. I was surprised the propane would still be good, but it was. For the next 2 years I used that propane for my own hunting camper. As the tanks would empty I'd bring a couple at a time for refurbishing and filling. They had to be refurbished as 30 gallon because 40 gallon valving wasn't available, but now I have 10 - 30 gallon propane tanks (8 old ones, and the 2 that came with my camper) for the camper used on my hunting land.
Great video guys! Oliver doesn't know how lucky he is to have you two as parents. You are quickly becoming my favorite channel. Editing and narration are pro quality. Keep it up!
When I first stumbled on to your channel, I got hooked and binged 2 or 3 episodes a day. It was a lot of fun consuming you two at a rapid pace. But after I did get all caught up, I was left with the glacially slow pace of one episode a week. Frankly, I got a little discouraged. I had an Ambition monkey on my back and I needed my fix. But no candy for me. :( After a bit of time passed, I found myself trying to watch a new vid at 9:50am on a Sunday. But it wouldn't play. To my delight, I realized I was going to share in your hijinks live (as it were). That was about two months ago. Now I find myself looking forward to Sunday morning with amusing anticipation. I am a city boy with no skills to do what you do and no plans to learn how to do them, yet I am locked in to your families journey. Thank you for bringing a ray of joy into this old mans life.
I pray a blessing of joy and protection over your family.
Tim K Charlotte NC
What I love about you two is that even when there is a problem, you take an up-beat look at it and just work to fix it. What a great example for all of us.
Hadn't seen Bailey dog for quite some time. It was reassuring to see her again. Love your pups.
Hello from Quebec Canada 🇨🇦 Maybe you should put up a gard rail or fence post to protect the Tank from getting backed into. That's something you do . 1 in each corner just a safety thing. We enjoy your show keep up the good work. You should be proud of what you have done, stay safe and enjoy life. Derrick & Family
I have been watching your channel for a while. I wish I had the energy and youth to do what you two are doing. I am a former propane service tech. Adding a tracer wire is handy to locate the line when you have problems. Raise one end of the propane tanks at a time and install 4" solid concrete blocks. You need clearance under the tank. Order a new flex line and male connector that you machined down. That flare that you machined off is what makes it gas right.
*gas "tight".
I think your electrical set up (Main: Solar, with both fuel and gas as back ups) is PERFECT
It amazes me to see how much technology is involved in living off grid
not to mention the cost
LOL these guys have $$$ and chase it. Not so much about the lifestyle for them
Only as involved as you want it. Some just like all the comforts from city life.
You bet , you have to have a lot of money to save a little.
Lol! And money! Not for 90% of the population, too much $$$$$$$
Courtney is one of the best drivers of an excavator I have seen on the task in hand. Her accuracy and precise work is fantastic.
Landscape looks great always like the contrast of gravel and wood chips
I drive for Ferrell Gas and occasionally help set up tanks. You may want to put on to two inch thick cement blocks under the feet of the tank. Every so often the tank will start to shift as things settle and may want to level out again. If you are going to paint it, do so with a lighter color.
As, I'm surprised they didn't put it on a slab.
@gregbailey45 ya, I've seen them in crushed rock like this which hardens. But, all have had the small rectangle cement pavers place under the stands or feet.
Better yet, PT 6x6, like the generator pad.
@@jackpatteeuw9244 agreed 👍
I'm an LP inspector, the concrete pads are a legal requirement.
Started watching your videos when you were building the Overland truck camper, I could tell by the imagination and quality of that build that you 2 were exceptionally talented and driven.
Sure enough you have proven my thoughts very valid. I enjoy watching everything y'all do, thanks for the first class entertainment.
Marker tape is a must at all points. I agree with the peanut crew comments below. Y'all are the perfect example of a couple who can do anything with time, ability, and knowledge. Have fun and be well.
Hello from Portugal, you should put the generator's starter battery inside the container as the cold is not good for the batteries and it's easy as the container is right next to the generator
Your explaining the basics of how propane works and your solar/battery setup basics is very useful and enjoyable to watch
Get your propane supplier to put a liquid out valve and hose on your tank so you can fill your own propane bottles ! A true must have for off grid living !
Had one installed on 1000 gal tank 25 years ago. They called it a wet leg back then. Saves trips to town.
Those emergency generators work great. My parents were buried in over 6 ft of snow in Orchard Park NY a few years back. The power line going up their street was damaged by a falling tree. Since the utility poles ran along the back yard, the utility company wasn’t able to get to it quickly or easily, they ran on natural gas for a couple of days. Central heat just kept on going, they had lights, etc. Great units. Regarding travel suggestions with a “little one”: honestly keep it simple. Find a place with surf and sand and modest temperatures. Just being on a beach with an umbrella to keep worst sun off, they kan be happy for hours just playing in the sand. No need for fancy outings … save if for when he is bigger. It willen stress free for everyone. Since you are West of the Continental divide, Southern California is probably easier to get to than Florida. The other option are looking for an off-week deal at a family friendly all-inclusive somewhere Caribbean, Mexico or one of the stable Central American counties. Sometime there are packaged deals with charter flights that amazing value. Since your aren’t tied to any sort of academic calendar there can be deals found when it’s now school or college vacation times.
Consider adding an empty duct for electrics to the tank? Add level monitoring, or even a light at the isolating valves? Also a "no dig" tape 200mm above the pipe, just in case someone goes fishing with the excavator in the future.
I learned many moons ago the Rule of Thumb for threads is to rotate backwards until the click of the threads aligned.
i love that your channel has as large variety of sponsors...ALL of the other channels I watch ONLY have these 3 sponsors: better help, surf shark and AG one. Thanks for the educational variety of your sponsorships that you also personally use!!
Yes, a tribute to Courtney's online and personal skills, I suspect!
Great video, you guys can do anything! You went from living in the camper to now having all the electricity you need. I really like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which is at the end of the Baja peninsula straight south of California.
Well done Courtney she is a wife in a million xx❤
Let's all have a moment of sympathy for all the couples that struggle just to paint a simple room, fight all the way through and still have it look terrible! You guys are awesome!! DD
You should consider putting some deep rods at the base of the generator pad, so it does not move due to vibration of the unit running. Because of that short gas line you have.
Man, you’re becoming an electrical genius! I can’t follow any of the technical stuff you are doing, but it’s amazing. Great job!
A few things to maybe consider....
Pound some stakes into the ground to secure the new generator & gas regulator.
Order a new gas hose as a backup to the hose you damaged/fixed.
Add some bollards around the new propane tank.
Test for leaks. Soapy water.
Close the valves when not in use.
I love you guys. It makes my old heart smile to see the love between you. ❤️🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
That was a lot of fun and Ridge is making a good choice in supporting you. Thank you.
Definitely put some identification for the gas line, so nobody digs up your line. I'm assuming you tested your gas line connections with soapy water. Great job Courtney, you excavator skills are excellent. Quick thinking on the fitting Riley. You two are amazing. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
I got so excited for you then with the lead in for the next video crash! I hope you are able to get it fixed quickly. Probably need to test its reliability before some place tropical. Well today Deb let me sleep in and brought me coffee to watch your video. We both agree we especially enjoy the videos when all 3 of you are in them. Oliver is getting so big. You guys are so much more than a how you have done it channel, for Deb and I we love getting to know you through your videos. I wish more people would treat each other like you two do. Love you guys!
Nice save with the mini lathe , they are a good tool for a small shop..
Courtney and the mini excavator are both so very cute and beautiful. Courtney running the mini excavator is artistry at the highest level. I love her energy, her love of creativity, her ability to overcome fear using a step by step process. I love that both of you are passing these processes into Oliver. Bless you both. Hugs to you both
Impressive work by both of you to make this happen. Having an automated system with another backup system is ideal for off-grid. You inspire us to automate more and ensure backups to automation.
We’re learning we need backup systems for our backup systems up here! 🤪
@@AmbitionStrikes There is an old country maxim that goes " if you have just the one of something, you are just one thing away from out of luck".
Riley, you should put a couple of 24" patio stones under the legs of the propane tank. The crushed stone and dirt base is not enough. The weight of a full tank combined with the freeze thaw cycles will cause the legs to sink and the tank will rest on it belly and corrode or rust or worst case get punctured by a sharp stone. Just lift up one end at a time an slide a couple of patio blocks underneath the legs. What about Oliver's bedroom??
Regards
Wayne Paddock
Courtney & Riley, what an absolute awesome addition to your power grid and creature comfort. Courtney, you have such a gentle touch with that excavator. Inherent not learned. You guys ROCK!❤
Congratulations on the upgrade. I would suggest if you are going to keep burying stuff around the property get a roll of metalic tape (burried conduit tape) and a metal detector so you can really find those lines in the future vs somewhere around here. Also might want to build a shifting screen with some fence and lumber (or go all out metal that is your specialty) so you can shift the rocks from the dirt.
* Sift, not "shift"
They should have buried a tracer wire
Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome You three rock!!!
Did everyone else read that line hearing Clint Eastwood’s voice say it? :-)
Heartbreak Ridge
@@stflaherty63
You guys are marvelous! Compulsive viewing! Another great episode. It must be sometimes a pain to have to concern yourself with getting good video shots, when all you want to do it get on with the project. I can not imagine the hundreds of thousands of dollars you have spent getting where you are today. But you have bought a quality of life. Cheers from Calgary/Canada
We love our Auto transfer and auto start Generac that also auto turns off and auto transfers back. So nice to not have to dress up in the cold to flip some switches. We have a 1K gal propane tank as it's for the generator and central heat.
You can always paint the propane tank to blend in with the background, as we all "know" how much Cortney "loves" to paint.
Watch out for overheating in the summer. Maybe build a cover, and paint it green or brown to blend in.
Bury it : 1. You can store more Propane in a buried tank. 2: Propane can run into supply at low outside temperatures as pressure drops. Burying it helps keep the tank warmer.
Whoa. Thats so cool. As someone who loves things being automated is this so satisfying 😮😇 nice work!
I’ve used scrap lumber/wood (without nails!), which will become humus sooner or later when laying plastic pipe or plastic conduit.. ❤🎉. You guys are a joy to watch!
You two are just amazing, hope Oliver will grow to realize how amazing Mum and Dad are !
Hi folks in the begining I looked at you and said this boy not going to make ,,so I watched and to my surprise you came through time after time ,,so I said this z lad he’s a goer and very smart man ,,and as I watched you came through with flying colours ..Now I have confidence for you to do any jog ,,I’m so proud of you ,,to me you are on top of your game I’ll give you a96.5 in my opinion you are true Tradie cheers God bless you and Family Champion ❤️❤️🙏🙏💪💪👍👍🦘🇦🇺🇺🇸😁😁
What a cliff hanger. Can’t wait until next Sunday. Thanks for sharing.
Riley - I'd recommend not totally draining nor totally filling your battery packs, leave a buffer at the bottom as well as near the top. Say it's 5-8% at the upper and lower end, to maximize the cycle life. You lose a bit of capacity, but stay away from the boundaries. It's a "best practice" to use a little margin.
You 3 are So entertaining. I love the content , and how you interact. Keep up the GREAT videos.
I have propane and a backup generator , for the days the grid is down. And a well and gravity septic . Life is good!
Your videos somehow manage to inspire me to create my environment with my hand and yet crush me when I realize I do not have an iota of your combined abilities!!! lol I love the snow and I am not a beach person so…no clue. 🙂
I have a 22kwh propane generator with a kohler motor. It has been a great unit with zero problems, I hope you have the same luck with yours!
Wow! This is your best video in months! Keep them coming 😊
Thank you so much! ☺️
when starting a tapered fitting like the gas line push it on and turn it backwards till you feel a slight click. that is when the thread lines up. then carefully turn the correct way.
Great video and an excellent addition to your property. You never cease to amaze me with your ingenuity. Looking forward to upcoming episodes
Seeing you use a pick brought back memories , on a construction team in the 70s we dug footers with a pick axe , up north! I was 13 . Let's see kids today do it... Ps gray work y'all! You can do anything together ! 😊
You two are amazing great job 👏 thanks for letting me watch ❤
Join us in Baja!! Warm and Sunny and Spearfishy
I just installed a 200w solar panel on our RV and are amazed at what you guys do. For vacation anywhere with warm clear water for snorkeling or scuba.
Great video. I would put some protection in front of your propane tank. Maybe some big boulders, if you can find any around there ;).
Pro tip - make sure you use marking tape to identify services in the future.
After the loose dirt ontop of the pipe before backfill throw the marking tape ontop then fill in the trench. You never know when you want to do more work.
Make a map also of services you have run on the property is handy for the future.
Love the content and keep up the good work!!
I think this temporary & the are likely going to move the tank as well extend gas line to the home. The just wanted to get something done fast for the winter season.
That was a fun episode guys. Great job with the install
Your baby is adorable ❤well done on the tank
For future projects where you have to move heavy objects and cannot lift with the machines try using some heavy thick walled pipe and roll your items over it. You will find life much easier without hurting your backs.
Perhaps in the winter when there is downtime you could make some screeds out of lumber and desired steel mesh to sift out any Rock
You all are definitely blessed to have all of this support and a good friend who is willing to lend you his brand new excavator!
Small diameter pipe does not work well on dirt/gravel.
Riley, Court; look around the "neighborhood"; somebody has a "Grizzly"; it's a big strong box you pour mixed rock and dirt into and through sieves that help separate the rock from the gravel and the dirt. Or find some plans- you have the cutting table up and at the ready!
I made one of those for use on our property. I used an old mine shaft door someone gave me. It's 5 x 10 woven mesh so I mounted it long way up. With the excavator being able to lift higher it does a fantastic job. All the rock slides down the grate and the dirt falls through. It works awesome without any shaker or spring system required.
When it's cold and wet there, Arizona is perfection 60's & 70's throughout winter. Javi G.
You should always bury some caution tape when covering any cable, gas line or water line. This will help locate any buried lines if you forget where they are or someone else is digging. Also, if you bury some scrap cable along with plastic lines, they can be located with metal detector. Are you guys putting up some barriers in front of the tank? Everything is looking really good there.
Recommend putting some concrete barriers in front of and on the ends of the large gas tank. Enjoying the channel. Tks for sharing.
Nice video. You may want to check the install manual for the proper way to use the flex connector from the 2nd regulator to the gen. I don't know about the Kohler. Brigs and generac both want that flex connector installed in straight line. It's for vibration absorption. That bend can cause premature failure. Due to stress on the bend. Also should have a drip leg on the generator.
*absorption, not "abortion"!
@@gregbailey45 thank you my friend. I should have my glasses lol
Hello from Ukraine! All this equipment that provides autonomy is so good that I am simply delighted. Everything is so professionally installed. It's a pleasure to watch you and your wife work together. Good luck to you, your wife and baby. I also became interested in solar power, first out of necessity, and then became so interested that I built a tracker to track the sun. True, everything is modest, but it helps a lot when the lights go out.
The 14RCA is a great unit and and will serve you well for years of use. Don't forget to install a cold weather kit! I'd recommend at least a carb heater and breather tube heater.
Thanks for choosing a Kohler!
I’ve had the same generator on our property for the past 3 years working flawlessly. Oil and filter changes are every 100 operating hours. Mine is hooked up to a 12 kW Sol-Ark inverter/charge controller that also is a good combination. We power a well pump too. I’ve been told that the 14 kW unit is the largest that Kohler will warranty for off-grid use. The local Kohler dealer will only honor that warranty if they do the installation, FWIW.
I wonder if Riley and Casey considered driving in some rebar (or other) to anchor the generator platform in the case that hastily constructed retaining wall wants to shift down-hill over time. Also a fan of the underground marking tape so that buried wires and pipe can be found (as memories fade).
I’ve been to Cancun it’s great! Our next trip to combat the winter time blues will be Costa Rica! We have heard a lot of great things about it!
You both make projects look so easy. I love to watch you move heavy items with ease and care. Keep up the good work.
Great call on the propane backup gen set! This was a very interesting video!
You guys are awesome and what a great family effort to get this next project done!
I'm glad yall went with propane,I have a 500 gallon tank and I used it with a family of 7,did great,never have I filled it to 450 gallons,I fill it up now,only 2 of us to 175 which will last 9 months. I use it for cooking and water heater,I use my blower system from my fireplace for heating the house,1700 Sq ft,which works find. Good choice. Riley u have magic fingers,u can fix electrical to mechanical, u have learned alot of knowledge! As for travel I'd go into the tropical areas,mexico,Caribbean, etc.
Just watched this episode and absolutely amazed and thank you for sharing this portion of your life off grid. 5 ⭐️ and 👍’s up. !!! I shall take time to watch your videos especially video #1 if it exists on your decision to go off grid. 👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️😎
Love this big step in being (auto) selfsufficient. Good job.
Would you guys be willing to do a video discussing the cost of all the parts used in your entire electrical system, including the solar, batteries, inverters, controllers, generator, propane tank, etc? I know it's a lot of info and that there are a lot of variables involved, but I'm trying to figure out if a no compromise off grid electrical system like yours is within reach for me. Great job installing the new generator!
They did a video for the entire system pre-generator, but you should be able to ballpark the additional cost.
Great imporovement to your property. You have done so much this past year to get things in order. I know you both are excited! It has been a long time coming.
Continuing to make your dreams come true… great work you guys.
I work with slightly bigger generators in datacenters, and we also run them at around 80 percent load when testing them as it’s optimal for the generators. See if you can configure a no load cool down period after the Victron commands it off, as that’s really good for the longevity of the generator, we usually let them idle for 3 minutes after the load disconnects. Also remember to regularly run the generator even if you don’t need to, half an hour monthly is usually good.
Great job you guys. Perhaps you should paint your propane tank CAMO!
I understand Aruba (One happy Island) is pretty nice this time of year (Jan - May). Nice job on the generator installation. Back up plans are good to have, two are better!
another good one guys. Keep them coming,👍🇬🇧
I was eagerly waiting to see the closing shot with the solar panels set to winter, to see the fit and the exhaust positioning to get an idea of how well it'll do as under panel heater? Nice work.
You should have ran a wire alongside the propane line so it could be traced if you (or anyone else) needs to dig in that area. Should have set tank on some concrete blocks as it will get HEAVY when full and those little feet will sink into the gravel.
A "wet leg" would have been a handy addition. It would allow you to fill BBQ tanks at home.
If that's a 1000gal tank it should hold 800gal when full, not 500.
they said a 500 gal tank
@@ronblack7870 So they did (I missed that) but in that case 80% of 500 is 400 gallons
Couple critiques, 1( replace that fitting that you altered and the hose, you have it on film that you did it, huge liability if there ends up being a problem. 2) as a Kohler tech, when we do start ups on these gens, we generally prime the oil pump in a dew different ways, take out oil sender and pour some oil down the hole, reinstall, turn off gas’s, and crank a cycle or two. Could have been the engine issue, also good reason to pay the extra for an official Kohler start up. 3) make sure you stay up on your updates, not necessarily installing them, but check and make sure they didn’t fix a bug. Otherwise, great choice on a Kohler, and great install for a homeowner. Didn’t see the 110vac hook up for the battery charger built into your controller, but I’m sure you did it, as your battery wasn’t dead. 😂😂
Amazing job on another project upgrade/completion! It really cool how you both work very well together! A wife that run equipment is a real advantage nice job Courtney 👏
FYI:Not sure how bad they are,but don't forget to clean out the tracks on your skid steer tracks before freezing weather! As always awesome videos looking forward to more👍
Courtney is an epic operator!
You should pressure test the entire system now to ensure there are no leaks. The driver probably closed the fill valve and just pressure tested the tank fittings only and nothing beyond the 1st stage regulator. You may also need to adjust the flow of gas.
I am sure the did, just off camera.
@@guytech7310I doubt it. They have to have the equipment to do a test and doubt they have that. Didn’t see them do a bubble test with soapy water which is the cheap and easy way to test for leaks.
Assuming your old military generator is in good shape you’ll go through half a dozen of those high speed backup generators before you wear out the diesel generator. They’re kinda like the old ugly farm truck you use to go buy parts for the new farm truck that’s always broken. Really glad you decided to keep it. From your drone shots there’s some potential to install more panels on your equipment garage. Not an ideal sun angel but still usable.
Concrete block under tank feet
Locator wire and no dig tape in trench
It would be nice if you put an oil filter heater on the generator that could be triggered when your batteries reach a certain level so it doesn’t cold start to 3500 RPM immediately with thick frozen oil.
My philosophy is not to exercise a generator in the winter either just because I think the wear and tear exceeds the benefit.
My 12 kW Kohler generator has run 10 minutes/day and 10 minutes/day to cool off for 12 years. No problems. Nice to know it will work when needed.
My 14 KW Generac generator comes equipped with an oil heater as well as a battery heater, which is activated automatically depending on the season.
It is even equipped with a charge maintainer for the battery, to extend its lifespan.
Kohler and Generac probably have the same options depending on the geographic location of installation.
Exercise mode is still recommended to maintain lubrication and prevent corrosion caused by moisture accumulation. My installer set it for a 15 minute start every 14 days.
Always live watching you guys do a project. Here’s an idea for your next winter: I recently moved to Italy in a beautiful but less known area of the country by the Adriatic Sea. I am looking to buy a country property here. Be my guests for the winter or as long as you like, whilst helping me with projects.
I don't know what your temperatures get down to in the winter but if it gets below -5 you may need to put a heater on the tank to keep enough pressure to the generator in those really cold days.
yes i was going to say that
Propane boiling point is -44 F so it’s still a vapor at -5 so no problems.
even when it gets down to -4 the pressure reduces quite a lot as the temp drops.@@bigdog2024
I use to get a D8 stuck up to its belly pan . Get a 10 foot long by 4 or 6 inch scrap pipe , a chain with hooks on both ends 1/2 inch or so. Lay pipe in front of dozer with chain through pipe . Hook to tracks . Now you have one giant cleat to drive up on drive out, it works . Be careful not to go to far and pull pipe into the back of the dozer