I have a Tramontina induction cooker, 1500w, and here's a tip for using pots that are NOT "induction ready". You can buy a ferrous metal plate to put on the burner area, and that gets heated, which then in turn will allow any pot set on it to also become cooking hot. They are sold especially for use on induction cooktops.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 They really help,since single induction cooktops use a 6" coil, and the ferrous heat diffuser does more to keep things from sticking in that middle 6" of the pot. Spreads the heat more evenly across bottom of pots.
I ran into the same problem and bought a specific metal plate. What I like about the one I use is it has pot handle make it easy to remove even while hot.
I love that fridge. I'm 74 and recall my mom's fridge looked similar except her freezer was only 2 cubic feet. She made homemade meals for my family of 8 three times a day.She didnt drive and my Dad took her grocery shopping every Saturday. And that little fridge and freezer were adequate.
You used the phrase, "...and that's OK" several times in this video. I think there is a tremendous lesson to be learned from those simple words. Thank you for making these videos and for showing how good a simple life can be. :)
I am in absolute awe of all the work and effort you put into making this video! So many times people (myself included) make excuses for not learning new technology. Not only have you taken the time to give thorough walk throughs of all the appliances you used but you made sure to use optimal camera angles as well as all the editing that goes with it. Thank you so much for the thorough information. I commend you, Sir, on a wonderful, education video!
A 500 watt solar power station (or inverter) and Dash mini griddle....350w cooking...no propane. Makes huge pan biscuits, 4 inch pancakes, eggs, etc. Eat the pancakes AS you cook them and it works out great. They have a similar waffle maker too if you prefer that. These things are amazing and have non stick 4 inch cooking surfaces. A 600w power station can power the 520w Nostalgia sandwich maker. Makes a grilled cheese in 3 minutes or less and also does amazing crispy corn fritters using precooked Pan cornmeal. Dash also has a 200w rice cooker perfect for one person and there are nice 12v 100w rice cookers that can be used with 10 amp cigarette lighter ports on even the tiny power stations like the Golabs R300 or old Rockpals and Jackery 300w units. These cook one dry cup of rice and much more. Bathing water can be heater in a 5 gal bucket using a 600 watt AC immersion bucket water heater.
Looks like things are coming along. Lots of folks saying, ”hurry up” are forgetting that sometimes the joy comes from the doing, not just the results. I just turned 60 and although I'm fit and stay active, I know I don't move as fast as I used to! Truly enjoy your videos!
Thanks so much for watching things CCRB! Yep I am retired but overwhelmingly busy at times. That said I simply put the brakes on now and then to chill out a bit.
Hi. You're such an inspiration. I just found your channel and am starting from your humble beginnings. I'm 55 and have a small camper with limited funds. I'm renting a room for $600 a month and just only work part time to make up the $600 so I don't use up my savings. It's not easy, to say the least, but I'm guessing you already know that. I'm single with my little dog and am just watching your 1st video. You're a God send!! Keep making these videos. It can literally save a life. For starters, that being mine right now. I'm in Illinois right now and need to soon be getting out to off grid. I'm so excited I found your channel. God is good. He knows my worries and dire straits. I'm hoping to learn a lot, mainly where to find the land and not be snaked talked by a realtor. You have 4 acres? That's amazing and great to hear. Would love to reach out and visit to know more. Will send you this on your recent video. My name is Rose 😊
Hi Rose. My name's Michael. I currently live in Melbourne, Australia, but have had YEARS of experience of the sort of life you describe, and have learned that 'mindset' is the primary consideration, and MUCH can be achieved: particularly if you can make yourself think 'outside the square'. eg. Years ago I found a 4.5-acre bush-block out of toffee-nosed ski-resort Marysville simply because I picked up on a basic anomaly nobody had thought of before.. Needless to say I have no idea about how things work in the US, but here in Oz there are plenty of options if you know HOW to look for them. (and the 'Social Security systems seem to be MUCH more user-friendly). eg. One more or less permanent option is a 'gold-mining' lease for a few HUNDRED dollars per YEAR, with no strings attached. You're welcome to get in touch if you wish to discuss a different-from-the-usual possibilities. Cheers
Router, Computer, Monitor, and Lights: Total draw of 82 watts. Refrigerator Brand: Galanz (retro style) Wattage: Increases total draw to 148 watts. Toaster Cost: $3 from a thrift store. Wattage: Increases total draw to 900 watts when in use. Toaster Oven Brand: Black and Decker Wattage: Around 744 watts for broiling (spec sheet states 1150 watts). Inductive Cooktop Wattage: Low setting: 878 watts. High setting: 1100 watts. Power Management Solar Generator: Titan with 4000 watts of power, charged to 100% by 9:30 AM. Solar Panels: Eight 340-watt panels. Battery Storage: Two 2000-watt lithium-ion batteries.
Hello Don. Just watched your refrigerator video. Looks like a pretty good setup with the toaster oven but I noticed that you had two screws sticking down under the wood of the wall mounting brackets. I blame my grandfather for this tendency to notice these things as he always used to drill it into my head that if you left a screw or nail sticking out on the underside of something then you were bound to end up getting hurt by it. Fast forward several decades and I can say from my own experience that he was dead nuts right on that! I just don't like the idea of you or anybody catching a hand, cloths, leg, pants, head, skirt, boa (you are secluded and all alone out in the desert and are free to wear anything you want. I won't judge!) and having to deal with the ensuing wound. Two squeezes with the wire cutters and a few licks of a file will solve that issue right, fast and quick. ;-) Just my two cents for the day. Carry on!
Wow Matthew you had me going over to my toaster oven shelf and peering under it. Sure enough there are 2 protruding screws I have to deal with. So far they are in the position my hands are never near them so no injuries so far. But if you watch enough of my videos you will see I bleed a lot LOL.
Hi Don. I think what you mean when you say you have 4000 watts of battery storage is really 4000 watt-hours. A watt is an instantaneous measure of power being dissipated by your appliance load. A watt-hour is the amount of stored energy in your batteries. In other words, a 4000 watt-hour charge will power a 4000 watt load for one hour before it is depleted or, for example, a 200 watt load for 20 hours.
Where are you storing your eggs on the door is where I believe your store small bottle waters water. Also, you could put your vegetables in the broiler tray underneath your chicken with some water and that might work well! Thanks for sharing :-)
Thanks Tim. For the most part the eggs get stored in a carton on a shelf in the fridge. So far all of that I have done to store stuff seems to be working okay overall. Appreciate you watching.
A slow cooker crock pot might be a good deal for you you can buy Crock-Pot liners and then use the liners and you won't have to fight to wash out the Crock-Pot part of it also you can set it and don't have to monitor it so much and it's not going to use up a lot of energy
@@affordabledesertliving3487 you're welcome another good thing about the Crock-Pot is the fact that you can cook a whole lot of meals in there there are so many recipes and different things out there that you can find that Crock-Pot related it's unbelievable
Nice review! I have some Kill-A-Watt meters around the house and have marked everything that draws electrical load with painter's tape and a magic marker. I used to do an Apollo 13 load review every time the power went out, I tried to make the batteries last the longest. We are on the outskirts of a city at the end of power lines up a steep canyon. We lose power all too often. 4 hours with no power yesterday evening. I noticed that you have solar panel overkill. That is always a good thing. There is no doubt in my mind that you had your panels disconnected for this video. That panel meter should have been going bright/dim/bright showing charge. Its the same model that Renogy sells. I have several and love how it recalculates everything, battery %, voltage, run time left, etc. I am building solar generator #9 at the moment and already have that meter functioning. I wish it had bluetooth to read battery conditions off my phone. Lasko makes a $20 box fan that is sold at Walmart. I keep mine on low...56 watts... to blow air out one window and have cool air coming in at me from another window. It helps a lot especially at night. Moving air feels cooler. Another item that I use daily on my battery/inverter pack is the smaller version of the Instapot. It runs 680 watts for about 10 minutes, then zero watts while steam pressure cooks the food inside. Its the fastest way to cook carrots and potatoes. It will also turn a poor quality cut of meat into soft shredded beef or pork on the 30 minute cycle. The heating element cycles like a fridge but is mostly off after steam pressure builds up. I also use an air fryer but at 1700 watts, it kicks the battery's butt. The heating element cycles as well saving some power. But it makes crispy fish sticks and french fries in about 10 minutes even when they come right out of the freezer. Best of luck out there!
What a nice setup. When you cook vegetables on the induction cooktop, it might be better to steam them rather than boil. Steaming allows you to heat less water so it will be more efficient. just put a 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the pan with the vegetables and let them steam for a few minutes until they are done.
Don, if you get a cheap metal steamer basket, it will fit in your pan, and with only an inch of water you can steam your veggies. Healthier and less energy use.
I got rid of my stove/range when I remodeled my kitchen a few years ago. I intended to replace it when the kitchen was finished but I've just been using a convection toaster, slow cooker, some electric frying pans ever since and I love it. I also have the portable induction cooktop but that just stays in the cupboard. I cook all of my own meals, make my own bread. I rarely go to any restaurants. If I were you, I would think twice before investing in a propane range.
Love it! Pass through solar (charging at the same time you are utilizing the battery) is one thing for folks to consider when buying a system. Thanks for sharing yours. My set up is similar.
Good morning Don!! Enjoy your videos and your Channel. You seem like such a kind soul. Please tell me, where do I send you a gift? I have something for your home that I think that you will enjoy. Keep up the good work!
Just wanted to make sure you knew, there are a lot of pans you can use on induction cooktop, if a magnet sticks to the pan you can use it. Cast iron is awesome for it. Also, remember that pretty much any gas range can be refit to run on propane. I think one of those 24" ones if you can find a deal on it would be perfect for your kitchen. But of course cooking for 1 I would probable get a Camp Chef, small propane cooktop with oven, it can run on little green bottle or the big ones. Also, someone suggested a small 5kw AC, I second that! You can mount it through a wall and they tank very little power for the comfort they provide, average 450 watts, run it for an hour or 2 before bed and sleep so nice. If you ever get to the point you have excess water, you can diy a very efficient swamp cooler, they work great in dry climates, we've made several for our tent going to Burning Man in Nevada.
I would up the AC unit to 8000 BTU. Get an energy star model I have 3. I bought the 6000 BTU but it's runs more than the others so I see no benefit in the smaller units. If off grid for the ones that need to know a 3000 watt inverter would be just right to run an 8000 BTU AC unit. With watts to spare. 73
I would love to get my hands on another 24 inch gas range. I had one in the past but putting it on the porch in Florida ruined the knobs they would not turn anymore. I junked the range. Maybe someone can tell me if I can run the range on a gas grill regulator. Maybe two burners at once. I know one can run with no problems. I doubt the oven could run. I guess an RV regulator would run everything. 73
Don, you might consider getting one of the cheap ($149) GE Window AC units. They only put out 5000 BTU of cooling but draw only 143 watts. I run one day and night supplementing my home central air and the central air only kicks on if it gets above 94 degrees outside since the little unit is more than enough to keep the house cool. It would freeze you out of your cabin! Also, when you get the larger cabin you could certainly run a washer and dryer off the Titan. The washing machine would use 120v but the dryer uses 240v! What to do? Actually only the heating elements in the dryer use 240v, the tumbling motor only uses 120v so with your low humidity you could simply air dry the laundry and not even need the heating elements. Something to consider! Keep up the great videos 😀
I doubt I will ever own a dryer. Even heavy jeans in this climate dry in a short time. So I dont see myself ever doing anything other than putting clothes outside.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 The desert IS a dryer! You've already got one, you'll just be glad to have a washing machine. Great work and achievements, Don. New subscriber...
Yes, so true! It's so hot and dry here in the desert we definitely don't need to spend power on a dryer! Thank you for your videos! I just found you and subscribed. I'm in the far east Phoenix Valley. I'm trying to learn as much as I can being a single mom of two daughters. I'm looking into a quiet generator. The titan looks to be a great choice! I'm looking for other like minded people to meet and band together with when shtf.
You are on grid obviously. For his electric setup, that AC unit would need a hard or easy start capacitor to handle the surge power needed to get the compressor running. Once it's running, then the power draw drops back around 150w. After Hurricane Michael and no power, I rented a 2200w generator, but only the fan on my GE 5K would run, until I returned it for a 3300w generator which could handle that initial compressor surge.
Hi from Gilbert Arizona!! I also bought the Titan with 2 batteries so it sounds like I have the same set up. I'm not used it yet. I have it for emergencies to come. I bought enough solar panels to charge it in 2 hours they told me. I bought a little hot pot on Amazon that only draws 600 W to use with it and cook. It's one you can keep things up as a pot or you can cook with it as a skillet. I have a few fridge and freezers I thought I would alternate the charging if there's a power outage.
I was thinking about your upcoming cabin grounding project. Jim and Jes have a small electric "jackhammer" that may help dig down in your yard. God bless.
We heat 100% with our wood stove. We insulated our house very, very well, my wife sewed insulated curtains, etc. I look forward to winter because I get to cook on the wood stove and not draw electricity. My wife found a decorative, cast iron trivet with 3/4” legs. So a pot directly over a roaring fire is on high and the same pot on the trivet is on simmer.
The absolute best appliances for off grid solar would be dc appliances. There is significant power loss when you have to convert dc to ac for appliances. Of course you do have some things that you need ac for, but not many. I have a 12 vdc chest freezer, which draws very little current and works as well as any 120 vac freezer. The cost is quite a bit more but they have twice as much or more insulation so they don't run as ofted as an ac freezer. You can get the same as a refrigerator.
thank you for the video... I agree with the comment from marthle7... dont leave empty space ln the freezer... fill empty milk jugs or coolwhip bowls... I use milk jugs and ice tea jugs that are real tough... not only does it help save energy... but if something happens and you have to unplug or not run frig for a few hours... the ice will keep things frozen.... stay safe and healthy.... Deb from South Dakota
One low wattage appliance I have discovered is a rice cooker. They cost about $20, are light weight and only use about 350 watts of power. I haven’t used it to cook rice yet but it has worked great for heating up soup and leftovers.
Thank you, sir, for this video. I needed this type of real-world information as I am moving and will be setting up some type of solar backup power. You are a better teacher than many on here that just shout out lots of numbers and statistics on their units without making a lot of common sense.
;-) ❤ The 'TOASTER' oven is (obviously) multi-function. It also renders the dedicated toaster you bought redundant. 😊 Additionally, you made mention that the induction cooktop couldn't be used with a Teflon pan - this isn't actually correct - rather the pan BOTTOM must be of a 'magnetic' material, eg cast iron or stainless steel. The easy way to check if your existing pans will work is to try and stick a fridge magnet on the bottom - if it sticks, you're good to go. Otherwise, getting the metal plate to allow you to use all of your existing cookwear is the option.
I subscribed, and I like to watch your videos since they’re informative and pretty well made. I know you brought up that you thought there were issues however they are overall a lot better than some I’ve seen. I’m 62 and I have some land in remote Wyoming that I am starting to do the same thing you are and I have gotten a lot of tips that I can use, the floor insulation video is great, as rodents can be a problem. My wife’s health is not good so eventually I will probably relocate there. The UA-cam video (on having a UA-cam channel) gave me knowledge on doing that, since I can be technically challenged at times. Keep up the good work and I’ll keep watching.
Thanks so much Eric. I was hoping someone would do this type of thing for me when I was researching years ago. It seemed pretty daunting figuring out all of the electrical draws.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 since your Titan battery is back to full by 9am, is that an indication that you could size your battery bank larger, to take advantage of all that surplus solar?
@@Eric-R Yes I may indeed go that route but at some point I will more than likely drop in a mini split. That was the original plan and heating and cooling are a big big draw. That of course will have to be fine-tuned. As is everything in homesteading you have to figure it out as you go for your own specific situation.
Hi Don.Great deal on the toaster .In Scotland one loaf of gluten free bread costs more than your toaster. It`s good to see that you have taken the time to research all of your electrical needs properly. I`m amazed at the gift bestowed upon you by the sun.The real power to be independent is above all of us.Great wee video Don. ATB
loopk into wonderbag.. it traps a gallon of heat into thermal for 2 hours cooking with no electricty required.. as soon as water goes to boil shut off stove and put into wonderbag. its like the amish haybox idea
Great tips... i always wondered if the inductive top would be a good thing. I'm glad you showed it to us. I believe i will stick with my BBQ i pretty much have it down to a science now.... thanks Don... I like the fridge.. ice is a commodity needed for the deserts life style..
Good information, Don. I have that exact same inductive cooktop and love it. My microwave is an 1100 watt and works great for off grid. I also have a Kuerig coffee maker that draws about 1400 watts. I pretty much can't use other appliances at the same time. I have 5000 kwh of battery storage which suffices as long as days are sunny. Unfortunately in Arkansas, there are a lot of cloudy days. I only have 4 200 watt panels which is insufficient when it's cloudy. Also in summer my panels are shaded a lot. I'm in the process of building a barn with added living space that will see more sun. I'll add more panels and batteries then, as I'll also be installing a 12000 btu mini split.
Click on my channel. Click videos. Depending on how the page comes up for you, you may need to click the arrow ahead button at the bottom of the page. All the vids are there. Just surf through my channel page. Hope that helps and thanks for your support Katie!
Hey Don.. I'm revisiting this video. Mainly for the fridge. I have a cabover kamper that is self contained. Well.. Last week the fridge was cooling down and was getting ready to head down to my AZ property, then had something cause me to delay this trip.. Now that I'm ready, It won't turn back on. It was working on propane and electric.. but now neither of them. Replaced the control board and still nothing. So.. I'm gonna get me one of these Galanz units. I've got a couple of Ecoflow Deltas and solar in the camper to power it with. Hoping to see a new video from you soon..
Yep the amazing thing about the Galanz is just how little watts it draws. Even on start up very very little. Hope it turns out great for you. New vid up in a couple of days.
The power cord into your surge protector is unsecured. It is under stress going directly into the housing. Since you have it mounted vertically with the cord coming out of the top, you need to secure the wiring with wiring brads. The stress it is under could break the soldered connections or the terminations of the wire. Many fires are started by wiring conditions like that.
I solve all my off grid problems with a generator to fun an instant pot or high draw items and charge up the solar batteries. Solar and generator are a great team.
Have one for the OG cabin (gala z) works well-our solar is underpowered at 200 watts with 4x batts-it’s not enough so we freeze pans of water thur the day, drop into the bottom at night-repeat, works u til we can improve the solar-enjoy ur channel😊
Have you considered a solar oven, or "sun oven"? I live near Phoenix and use one several times a week. Mine is an "All American Sun Oven" brand. Somewhat expensive, but mine is ~20 years old and still doing fine. Regularly gets to 300 to 350 degrees. It will save your batteries... and slow cooked meals have great flavor. There are DIY ones also...
Thanks for making this video!!! I’ve watched Craigslist and found the $400 Solar oven for about $50. Whenever I find one, I buy it and give it to a friend. I live in my van in the desert for 6 months of the year and use it to make stews, soup, bread, boil water etc. I use it every day when I’m in the desert (year after year). Works GREAT! :) @@affordabledesertliving3487
I stumbled across your video and I love how you present what you use, how you use it and how it affects your power grid. Thank you and look forward to more!
Wow that fridge is great Don really that meal looked nice sort of what i have but we use a micro wave to cook most stuff have you looked at those round cookers we have one good for cooking chips fries in your world you can cook everything in them
Thanks Kriss. Yep the meal was nice for sure. I am not so much a fan of microwaves any more. Maybe my gut is older and doesnt like the way they cook? LOL.
Don, love this video. I have a set up in my cargo trailer pretty similar to what you have and I’m currently planning a tiny home to be pretty much the same just a bit bigger than my cargo trailer. I have the identical induction cooktop and I absolutely love it. I found I can heat a cup of water on that just as fast as I could in a microwave. I’ve never run it up to 10 yet but generally use eight for heating a kettle of water in the morning for coffee. I also find myself only running one big appliance at a time even though my system theoretically could handle two. Also, I opted for an air fryer toaster oven which is a bit more powerful than yours, but works really great. I’ve fallen in love with air fried french fries! Finally, I have that size of a refrigerator on my planning list but it’s good to have a review of one resident just guessing. Keep up the good work and look forward to more videos
Wow good thing I dont have an air fryer or I would be eating a ton of those fries and would be so huge I couldnt use a pick and shovel anymore. LOL. Thanks for watching Scot!
If you can live with a single slice toaster , walmart sells one for about 9 bucks that uses 500 watts. Have you considered pre heating water for boiling, in some type of black gallon jug sitting in the sun, that way the water would probably be 130-160 at pour in and the induction top would only have to bring the temp up 40 degrees or so to boil
I have a Galanz oven ; it uses 1472 watts. On the box it said it was 900 watts. I have 20 of these boat batteries hooked up now, that it took to run the darn thing. I have a smaller fridge the size of the bottom part of yours. I bought a hotpoint freezer a week ago. I've been running my little window unit A/C the last few days...it uses 655 watts when the compressor is on. I had it running before 8 AM this morning. About 9 there were 29 amps coming in with 1000 watts of panels out...I had 732 watts coming in and 655 going to the A/C. But I just run it during the hot part of the day, and then let the batteries charge. My Aims 2000 watts inverter charger won't run both the A/C and the oven at the same time. If they would have put the right wattage on the box I would have known that. I don't have a large area, so it cools off before long. I have a cheap Chinese inverter, 24 volts, that I use for the small wattage stuff, so I don't always turn the bigger one on...saves a few watts of idling current. I will say one thing, the Galanz oven will hold a large chicken...if you can afford one. There is one bugaboo about my model of inverter I see some other people with the exact same model had the same problem...if it is very hot weather, and a very small load is on it, it will sit there like a frog in a pot of water and the fan won't come on until it overheats. So, I bought a 120 mm fan that I'm mounting in front of the big inverter's air intake, so that I can just flip it on anytime I think it might do something like that. Last August it fried the control and power boards. I bought the cheap one to make it for a few days. That was costly and very educational. Even with that, I wound up with $4200 total in mine. The last two batteries I got went up $30 each in price...I have enough battery storage to suit me finally without breaking the bank. I wound up with 990 amp hours X 25 v. = 25,000 watt hours. My inverter does have a place to hard wire a receptacle so I did that and it has two breakers besides with plug ins on the end. It's a little funny that Galanz made an energy efficient ice box, but an oven that is a power hog. I noticed you didn't keep the same brand. I'm used to it now. It can't dim the lights anymore though...way too many batteries for that jazz. Thanks for the video...it's good to see others' installations...everyone's is different.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I was getting around 800 watts today, and I ran the little window unit from 10 until 4 with a break for cooking, which of course just heated things up again, lol. When the incoming watts dropped below 722, I turned the window unit off...that way my batteries get full. I just use fans at night which doesn't use that much power. I freeze jugs of water while the sun is out on my panels, and set them in here by the fan at night. I like your oven better than mine, so I may have to get one. To set on top of the Galanz oven. Nothing like having a spare I guess. I could use it some and use a lot less watts part of the time. We have had so many cloudy and rainy days that a smaller wattage oven would have been nice to have. So thanks for showing the oven. I think my microwave must be 1300 watts. Sometimes I don't need quite that much. It makes it hard to cook something like rice. And it's such a hit on the inverter that it scares me sometimes. It really isn't the best for an off grid system where it is cloudy some of the time. I had been thinking about getting a smaller oven anyways, so it wouldn't put so much heat in here during this heat wave. Oh, P.S. there are these chickens out now called small hens. I got one the other day...it's about like two prarie hens together. But I thought, well that one will fit in Don's oven, I'd bet. Shrinkflation will fit that chicken in there. So actually, I would be right there ahead of the curve to get one, since the chickens will soon fit the oven...
When possible, I prefer to use DC devices with my Titan (more efficient) ... you can get 12v DC fridge/freezers (ICECO) and 12v DC wifi routers .. I also have a DC dishy adapter for my Starlink ... as for laptops, you can power those off DC buck booster modules .. for a pure DC setup ... make every watt your panels gather count! :)
Most household devices like wifi routers are DC, just most people think they are AC devices because they come with an AC plug which outputs 12v DC. Bonkers converting DC to AC just to convert it back to DC. I think the majority of the population don’t look at device power specs and haven’t got a clue how many devices they use are actually DC powered.
I have a Tramontina induction cooker, 1500w, and here's a tip for using pots that are NOT "induction ready". You can buy a ferrous metal plate to put on the burner area, and that gets heated, which then in turn will allow any pot set on it to also become cooking hot. They are sold especially for use on induction cooktops.
Great tip thanks!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 They really help,since single induction cooktops use a 6" coil, and the ferrous heat diffuser does more to keep things from sticking in that middle 6" of the pot. Spreads the heat more evenly across bottom of pots.
I ran into the same problem and bought a specific metal plate. What I like about the one I use is it has pot handle make it easy to remove even while hot.
@@johnpalmer5131 Removable handle, or permanent?
Thank you! I have some pots I love that couldn’t be used on induction top. Now I can! 🫶
I love that fridge. I'm 74 and recall my mom's fridge looked similar except her freezer was only 2 cubic feet. She made homemade meals for my family of 8 three times a day.She didnt drive and my Dad took her grocery shopping every Saturday. And that little fridge and freezer were adequate.
You used the phrase, "...and that's OK" several times in this video. I think there is a tremendous lesson to be learned from those simple words. Thank you for making these videos and for showing how good a simple life can be. :)
Thank you Jason. I am a very blessed dude.
Amen
I am in absolute awe of all the work and effort you put into making this video! So many times people (myself included) make excuses for not learning new technology. Not only have you taken the time to give thorough walk throughs of all the appliances you used but you made sure to use optimal camera angles as well as all the editing that goes with it. Thank you so much for the thorough information. I commend you, Sir, on a wonderful, education video!
A belated reply to say how delighted and warmed I am to hear that you enjoyed this video. Thanks for watching!
A 500 watt solar power station (or inverter) and Dash mini griddle....350w cooking...no propane. Makes huge pan biscuits, 4 inch pancakes, eggs, etc. Eat the pancakes AS you cook them and it works out great. They have a similar waffle maker too if you prefer that. These things are amazing and have non stick 4 inch cooking surfaces. A 600w power station can power the 520w Nostalgia sandwich maker. Makes a grilled cheese in 3 minutes or less and also does amazing crispy corn fritters using precooked Pan cornmeal. Dash also has a 200w rice cooker perfect for one person and there are nice 12v 100w rice cookers that can be used with 10 amp cigarette lighter ports on even the tiny power stations like the Golabs R300 or old Rockpals and Jackery 300w units. These cook one dry cup of rice and much more. Bathing water can be heater in a 5 gal bucket using a 600 watt AC immersion bucket water heater.
Great insight. Making me hungry... LOL.
Looks like things are coming along. Lots of folks saying, ”hurry up” are forgetting that sometimes the joy comes from the doing, not just the results. I just turned 60 and although I'm fit and stay active, I know I don't move as fast as I used to! Truly enjoy your videos!
Thanks so much for watching things CCRB! Yep I am retired but overwhelmingly busy at times. That said I simply put the brakes on now and then to chill out a bit.
A solar oven can be made from a cardboard box and aluminum foil. Directions for making and using one can be found on UA-cam.
Thanks for the tip Wanda.
thanks for the tip. I want to try that
Hi. You're such an inspiration. I just found your channel and am starting from your humble beginnings. I'm 55 and have a small camper with limited funds. I'm renting a room for $600 a month and just only work part time to make up the $600 so I don't use up my savings. It's not easy, to say the least, but I'm guessing you already know that. I'm single with my little dog and am just watching your 1st video. You're a God send!! Keep making these videos. It can literally save a life. For starters, that being mine right now. I'm in Illinois right now and need to soon be getting out to off grid. I'm so excited I found your channel. God is good. He knows my worries and dire straits. I'm hoping to learn a lot, mainly where to find the land and not be snaked talked by a realtor. You have 4 acres? That's amazing and great to hear. Would love to reach out and visit to know more. Will send you this on your recent video. My name is Rose 😊
Thanks so much Rose and so glad that the videos are encouraging. All the best and thanks for watching.
Hi Rose. My name's Michael. I currently live in Melbourne, Australia, but have had YEARS of experience of the sort of life you describe, and have learned that 'mindset' is the primary consideration, and MUCH can be achieved: particularly if you can make yourself think 'outside the square'. eg. Years ago I found a 4.5-acre bush-block out of toffee-nosed ski-resort Marysville simply because I picked up on a basic anomaly nobody had thought of before.. Needless to say I have no idea about how things work in the US, but here in Oz there are plenty of options if you know HOW to look for them. (and the 'Social Security systems seem to be MUCH more user-friendly). eg. One more or less permanent option is a 'gold-mining' lease for a few HUNDRED dollars per YEAR, with no strings attached. You're welcome to get in touch if you wish to discuss a different-from-the-usual possibilities.
Cheers
Router, Computer, Monitor, and Lights: Total draw of 82 watts.
Refrigerator
Brand: Galanz (retro style)
Wattage: Increases total draw to 148 watts.
Toaster
Cost: $3 from a thrift store.
Wattage: Increases total draw to 900 watts when in use.
Toaster Oven
Brand: Black and Decker
Wattage: Around 744 watts for broiling (spec sheet states 1150 watts).
Inductive Cooktop
Wattage:
Low setting: 878 watts.
High setting: 1100 watts.
Power Management
Solar Generator: Titan with 4000 watts of power, charged to 100% by 9:30 AM.
Solar Panels: Eight 340-watt panels.
Battery Storage: Two 2000-watt lithium-ion batteries.
Hello Don. Just watched your refrigerator video. Looks like a pretty good setup with the toaster oven but I noticed that you had two screws sticking down under the wood of the wall mounting brackets. I blame my grandfather for this tendency to notice these things as he always used to drill it into my head that if you left a screw or nail sticking out on the underside of something then you were bound to end up getting hurt by it. Fast forward several decades and I can say from my own experience that he was dead nuts right on that! I just don't like the idea of you or anybody catching a hand, cloths, leg, pants, head, skirt, boa (you are secluded and all alone out in the desert and are free to wear anything you want. I won't judge!) and having to deal with the ensuing wound. Two squeezes with the wire cutters and a few licks of a file will solve that issue right, fast and quick. ;-) Just my two cents for the day. Carry on!
Wow Matthew you had me going over to my toaster oven shelf and peering under it. Sure enough there are 2 protruding screws I have to deal with. So far they are in the position my hands are never near them so no injuries so far. But if you watch enough of my videos you will see I bleed a lot LOL.
Hi Don. I think what you mean when you say you have 4000 watts of battery storage is really 4000 watt-hours. A watt is an instantaneous measure of power being dissipated by your appliance load. A watt-hour is the amount of stored energy in your batteries. In other words, a 4000 watt-hour charge will power a 4000 watt load for one hour before it is depleted or, for example, a 200 watt load for 20 hours.
Yep like you said... lol.
Where are you storing your eggs on the door is where I believe your store small bottle waters water.
Also, you could put your vegetables in the broiler tray underneath your chicken with some water and that might work well! Thanks for sharing :-)
Thanks Tim. For the most part the eggs get stored in a carton on a shelf in the fridge. So far all of that I have done to store stuff seems to be working okay overall. Appreciate you watching.
Heated lunchboxes work great.
Crock pots and
Egg steamers work fine with solar.
Thanks Electro Man. Yep crock pots in particular are super for sure.
Low amp use is what you want. I use 230volt appliances on an off grid system and it works beautifully. Low amps
A slow cooker crock pot might be a good deal for you you can buy Crock-Pot liners and then use the liners and you won't have to fight to wash out the Crock-Pot part of it also you can set it and don't have to monitor it so much and it's not going to use up a lot of energy
Definitely worth considering. Thanks.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 you're welcome another good thing about the Crock-Pot is the fact that you can cook a whole lot of meals in there there are so many recipes and different things out there that you can find that Crock-Pot related it's unbelievable
There’s those awesome fridge decorations again!
Yes they are! That photographer is one special person. I bet they almost love parrots as much as I do.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 💗
Nice review! I have some Kill-A-Watt meters around the house and have marked everything that draws electrical load with painter's tape and a magic marker. I used to do an Apollo 13 load review every time the power went out, I tried to make the batteries last the longest. We are on the outskirts of a city at the end of power lines up a steep canyon. We lose power all too often. 4 hours with no power yesterday evening.
I noticed that you have solar panel overkill. That is always a good thing. There is no doubt in my mind that you had your panels disconnected for this video. That panel meter should have been going bright/dim/bright showing charge. Its the same model that Renogy sells. I have several and love how it recalculates everything, battery %, voltage, run time left, etc. I am building solar generator #9 at the moment and already have that meter functioning. I wish it had bluetooth to read battery conditions off my phone.
Lasko makes a $20 box fan that is sold at Walmart. I keep mine on low...56 watts... to blow air out one window and have cool air coming in at me from another window. It helps a lot especially at night. Moving air feels cooler. Another item that I use daily on my battery/inverter pack is the smaller version of the Instapot. It runs 680 watts for about 10 minutes, then zero watts while steam pressure cooks the food inside. Its the fastest way to cook carrots and potatoes. It will also turn a poor quality cut of meat into soft shredded beef or pork on the 30 minute cycle. The heating element cycles like a fridge but is mostly off after steam pressure builds up. I also use an air fryer but at 1700 watts, it kicks the battery's butt. The heating element cycles as well saving some power. But it makes crispy fish sticks and french fries in about 10 minutes even when they come right out of the freezer. Best of luck out there!
Thanks for giving me a heads up on what your solar set up is like. Many thanks for watching!
great tips Kimmer. thanks
I have the same refrigerator. And we have one 5 cubic ft freezer and one 7 cubic ft and run it all on our solar setup.
Nice LR. So far really love the Galanz appliance.
What a nice setup. When you cook vegetables on the induction cooktop, it might be better to steam them rather than boil. Steaming allows you to heat less water so it will be more efficient. just put a 1/4 inch of water in the bottom of the pan with the vegetables and let them steam for a few minutes until they are done.
Good point. Thanks for watching Roy.
Don, if you get a cheap metal steamer basket, it will fit in your pan, and with only an inch of water you can steam your veggies. Healthier and less energy use.
Hmm. Done will get one. Thanks!
The one I have is available at Walmart or Amazon. Under $8-stainless steel folding steamer.
@@retiredpsych2658 great tip psych. thanks
Hi from Pennsylvania, we love your Videos here!
Thanks GOD Bless!
I got rid of my stove/range when I remodeled my kitchen a few years ago. I intended to replace it when the kitchen was finished but I've just been using a convection toaster, slow cooker, some electric frying pans ever since and I love it. I also have the portable induction cooktop but that just stays in the cupboard. I cook all of my own meals, make my own bread. I rarely go to any restaurants. If I were you, I would think twice before investing in a propane range.
Thanks Jay. I will be using a propane hot water heater so that will all be part of the package.
Love it! Pass through solar (charging at the same time you are utilizing the battery) is one thing for folks to consider when buying a system. Thanks for sharing yours. My set up is similar.
I am super thankful for my system Desert Dog. All the best!
Good morning Don!! Enjoy your videos and your Channel. You seem like such a kind soul. Please tell me, where do I send you a gift? I have something for your home that I think that you will enjoy. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much for watching Bonnie. Please send me an email if you like.
Your best video yet! I like the pure simplicity of your set up and practical sense of humor
Thanks a ton for watching Valerie!
Just wanted to make sure you knew, there are a lot of pans you can use on induction cooktop, if a magnet sticks to the pan you can use it. Cast iron is awesome for it. Also, remember that pretty much any gas range can be refit to run on propane. I think one of those 24" ones if you can find a deal on it would be perfect for your kitchen. But of course cooking for 1 I would probable get a Camp Chef, small propane cooktop with oven, it can run on little green bottle or the big ones. Also, someone suggested a small 5kw AC, I second that! You can mount it through a wall and they tank very little power for the comfort they provide, average 450 watts, run it for an hour or 2 before bed and sleep so nice. If you ever get to the point you have excess water, you can diy a very efficient swamp cooler, they work great in dry climates, we've made several for our tent going to Burning Man in Nevada.
Thanks Jon. Still learning about this inductive Cooktop. Much appreciate you watching.
I would up the AC unit to 8000 BTU. Get an energy star model I have 3. I bought the 6000 BTU but it's runs more than the others so I see no benefit in the smaller units. If off grid for the ones that need to know a 3000 watt inverter would be just right to run an 8000 BTU AC unit. With watts to spare. 73
I would love to get my hands on another 24 inch gas range. I had one in the past but putting it on the porch in Florida ruined the knobs they would not turn anymore. I junked the range. Maybe someone can tell me if I can run the range on a gas grill regulator. Maybe two burners at once. I know one can run with no problems. I doubt the oven could run. I guess an RV regulator would run everything. 73
What was Burning Man?
Cast iron doesn’t work on induction
Burner won’t come on
I tried several
Plus my flat bottom copper bottom pans
You can put some of that metal up on the inside too...
I think I will shoot for drywall. Thanks for watching.
Don, you might consider getting one of the cheap ($149) GE Window AC units. They only put out 5000 BTU of cooling but draw only 143 watts. I run one day and night supplementing my home central air and the central air only kicks on if it gets above 94 degrees outside since the little unit is more than enough to keep the house cool. It would freeze you out of your cabin!
Also, when you get the larger cabin you could certainly run a washer and dryer off the Titan. The washing machine would use 120v but the dryer uses 240v! What to do? Actually only the heating elements in the dryer use 240v, the tumbling motor only uses 120v so with your low humidity you could simply air dry the laundry and not even need the heating elements. Something to consider! Keep up the great videos 😀
There are small dryers that run off 120 volts. I plan on getting one.
I doubt I will ever own a dryer. Even heavy jeans in this climate dry in a short time. So I dont see myself ever doing anything other than putting clothes outside.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 The desert IS a dryer! You've already got one, you'll just be glad to have a washing machine. Great work and achievements, Don. New subscriber...
Yes, so true! It's so hot and dry here in the desert we definitely don't need to spend power on a dryer! Thank you for your videos! I just found you and subscribed. I'm in the far east Phoenix Valley. I'm trying to learn as much as I can being a single mom of two daughters. I'm looking into a quiet generator. The titan looks to be a great choice! I'm looking for other like minded people to meet and band together with when shtf.
You are on grid obviously. For his electric setup, that AC unit would need a hard or easy start capacitor to handle the surge power needed to get the compressor running. Once it's running, then the power draw drops back around 150w. After Hurricane Michael and no power, I rented a 2200w generator, but only the fan on my GE 5K would run, until I returned it for a 3300w generator which could handle that initial compressor surge.
Looks good Don! Don't know how you went without but kudos to you! I'm late to watch this but hope it helps with the algorithm and monetization!
Thanks Jon! Yes this month will be one of my best and most watched!
Hi from Gilbert Arizona!! I also bought the Titan with 2 batteries so it sounds like I have the same set up. I'm not used it yet. I have it for emergencies to come. I bought enough solar panels to charge it in 2 hours they told me. I bought a little hot pot on Amazon that only draws 600 W to use with it and cook. It's one you can keep things up as a pot or you can cook with it as a skillet. I have a few fridge and freezers I thought I would alternate the charging if there's a power outage.
Love my Titan set up Parentwarrior. Thanks for watching.
what is the name of your hotpot PW? I want to search for one. thanks
Love your videos, makes me feel relaxed and happy
Wow Eddy thats incredible high praise. Many thanks and glad you find them relaxing.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 thanks keep up the good work
Thanks for the videos. Its good to see someone my age doing this. I wish you much luck
Thanks ever so much James!
I was thinking about your upcoming cabin grounding project. Jim and Jes have a small electric "jackhammer" that may help dig down in your yard. God bless.
We heat 100% with our wood stove. We insulated our house very, very well, my wife sewed insulated curtains, etc. I look forward to winter because I get to cook on the wood stove and not draw electricity. My wife found a decorative, cast iron trivet with 3/4” legs. So a pot directly over a roaring fire is on high and the same pot on the trivet is on simmer.
Good work mate🧚🏻♂️
Thanks so very much For All.
The absolute best appliances for off grid solar would be dc appliances. There is significant power loss when you have to convert dc to ac for appliances. Of course you do have some things that you need ac for, but not many. I have a 12 vdc chest freezer, which draws very little current and works as well as any 120 vac freezer. The cost is quite a bit more but they have twice as much or more insulation so they don't run as ofted as an ac freezer. You can get the same as a refrigerator.
That by far was the most informative yet. Thanks Don. Really interested in your solar generator. Never heard of it.
Wow very high praise and so glad you found it informative. Yes I am now getting funds from selling the Titan through my youtube channel.
thank you for the video... I agree with the comment from marthle7... dont leave empty space ln the freezer... fill empty milk jugs or coolwhip bowls... I use milk jugs and ice tea jugs that are real tough... not only does it help save energy... but if something happens and you have to unplug or not run frig for a few hours... the ice will keep things frozen.... stay safe and healthy.... Deb from South Dakota
Great tips thanks Deb!
One low wattage appliance I have discovered is a rice cooker. They cost about $20, are light weight and only use about 350 watts of power. I haven’t used it to cook rice yet but it has worked great for heating up soup and leftovers.
I have that exact toaster in my on grid house. Walmart special. Really suprised how well it works.
Thank you, sir, for this video. I needed this type of real-world information as I am moving and will be setting up some type of solar backup power. You are a better teacher than many on here that just shout out lots of numbers and statistics on their units without making a lot of common sense.
;-) ❤ The 'TOASTER' oven is (obviously) multi-function. It also renders the dedicated toaster you bought redundant. 😊 Additionally, you made mention that the induction cooktop couldn't be used with a Teflon pan - this isn't actually correct - rather the pan BOTTOM must be of a 'magnetic' material, eg cast iron or stainless steel. The easy way to check if your existing pans will work is to try and stick a fridge magnet on the bottom - if it sticks, you're good to go. Otherwise, getting the metal plate to allow you to use all of your existing cookwear is the option.
I subscribed, and I like to watch your videos since they’re informative and pretty well made. I know you brought up that you thought there were issues however they are overall a lot better than some I’ve seen. I’m 62 and I have some land in remote Wyoming that I am starting to do the same thing you are and I have gotten a lot of tips that I can use, the floor insulation video is great, as rodents can be a problem. My wife’s health is not good so eventually I will probably relocate there. The UA-cam video (on having a UA-cam channel) gave me knowledge on doing that, since I can be technically challenged at times. Keep up the good work and I’ll keep watching.
So appreciate you watching. Thanks very much.
Very informative video! I can’t wait to see the interior of your cabin done. Thank you have a great day
Thanks Julia. Yes I am especially wanting the floors done!
Well done Sparky!!!
Thanks Dave!
Great kitchen tour Don. Very informative to show how much power each appliance draws.
Thanks so much Eric. I was hoping someone would do this type of thing for me when I was researching years ago. It seemed pretty daunting figuring out all of the electrical draws.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 since your Titan battery is back to full by 9am, is that an indication that you could size your battery bank larger, to take advantage of all that surplus solar?
@@Eric-R Yes I may indeed go that route but at some point I will more than likely drop in a mini split. That was the original plan and heating and cooling are a big big draw. That of course will have to be fine-tuned. As is everything in homesteading you have to figure it out as you go for your own specific situation.
Hi Don.Great deal on the toaster .In Scotland one loaf of gluten free bread costs more than your toaster. It`s good to see that you have taken the time to research all of your electrical needs properly. I`m amazed at the gift bestowed upon you by the sun.The real power to be independent is above all of us.Great wee video Don. ATB
LOL Graeme. A wee loaf of bread costing more than a toaster. Hilarious. Its a delight to not have any power bills at all here.
That looks like an awesome meal!! You've made a lot of progress!! I admire you!!
Linda from Missouri 👍🥰😊♥️
It was delicious. Thanks for the encouragement Linda!
Thanks man . Didn't think about the lowattage appliances benefits.
loopk into wonderbag.. it traps a gallon of heat into thermal for 2 hours cooking with no electricty required.. as soon as water goes to boil shut off stove and put into wonderbag. its like the amish haybox idea
Great tips... i always wondered if the inductive top would be a good thing. I'm glad you showed it to us. I believe i will stick with my BBQ i pretty much have it down to a science now.... thanks Don... I like the fridge.. ice is a commodity needed for the deserts life style..
Thanks Lee! Yep I am happy with my set up here.
Good information, Don. I have that exact same inductive cooktop and love it. My microwave is an 1100 watt and works great for off grid. I also have a Kuerig coffee maker that draws about 1400 watts. I pretty much can't use other appliances at the same time. I have 5000 kwh of battery storage which suffices as long as days are sunny. Unfortunately in Arkansas, there are a lot of cloudy days. I only have 4 200 watt panels which is insufficient when it's cloudy. Also in summer my panels are shaded a lot.
I'm in the process of building a barn with added living space that will see more sun. I'll add more panels and batteries then, as I'll also be installing a 12000 btu mini split.
Sounds like a smart move to add more panels and batteries! So great to not have electrical bills right?
Hi there. I was wondering what happened to the rest of your videos. I wanted to watch the one about installing your septic tank. Thank you.
Click on my channel. Click videos. Depending on how the page comes up for you, you may need to click the arrow ahead button at the bottom of the page. All the vids are there. Just surf through my channel page. Hope that helps and thanks for your support Katie!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I found it. Thank you. 🧡😊
About the refrigerator - use a good quality car wax on the finish.
Hello new subscriber. Love your refrigerator. Very helpful video. Thank you.
Hi Paul. So delighted you subscribed. Yep love that the fridge only draws about 85 watts on starting up.
Great video Don! very informative, thank you for the review
Thank you for watching James. Much appreciated.
I don't really comment on videos but i had to on this one. Hats off to you mate, great video, very informative. If I could give 10 thumbs up, I would.
That means a lot. Many thanks.
That food looks delicious. Very informative. ❤️😊
Thanks Pam. It was a lovely meal for sure!
Excellent video!
Lake Havasu 🌞 Az
Thanks so much!
Great video Don. I'll be off grid in September. I'll be southwest of Tucson. Can't wait. Be safe sir.
Wow super exciting! Way to go!
Again, thanks for a very insightful "Inservice". Enjoyed the presentation
Many thanks for watching H-Town Production!
Yummy looking meal Don!!
Yep was delicous.
I too missed toast, just tired to get one that’s 750w rather than larger. I also bought a 12v oven and it is very efficient only pulling 130 odd watts
Nice Job Don ! ✔️ 🦅
Thanks so much Feather Sky!
thank you for this most informative video Don!! Great stuff!!
Very welcome Martha glad it was helpful.
I was thinking about getting that fridge.
A total winner. Only draws about 80 watts when running.
An Insta Pot is a GREAT and fast way to cook!
Hey Don.. I'm revisiting this video. Mainly for the fridge. I have a cabover kamper that is self contained. Well.. Last week the fridge was cooling down and was getting ready to head down to my AZ property, then had something cause me to delay this trip.. Now that I'm ready, It won't turn back on. It was working on propane and electric.. but now neither of them. Replaced the control board and still nothing. So.. I'm gonna get me one of these Galanz units. I've got a couple of Ecoflow Deltas and solar in the camper to power it with. Hoping to see a new video from you soon..
Yep the amazing thing about the Galanz is just how little watts it draws. Even on start up very very little. Hope it turns out great for you. New vid up in a couple of days.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 Ordered and should be arriving on Wednesday.
I love the stucco finish on the walls of your kitchen
Yes and it makes my cabin so warm too!
The power cord into your surge protector is unsecured. It is under stress going directly into the housing. Since you have it mounted vertically with the cord coming out of the top, you need to secure the wiring with wiring brads. The stress it is under could break the soldered connections or the terminations of the wire. Many fires are started by wiring conditions like that.
I solve all my off grid problems with a generator to fun an instant pot or high draw items and charge up the solar batteries. Solar and generator are a great team.
Sounds great Jack.
Great video, with 2,000 watts you could run a small AC unit when it gets 200 degrees in the summer.
I am at 4600 ft and when it was 108 in Phoenix it was 88 here.
Thanks for all the demos appreciated it. 😊
Thank you for the info. Don.
Your so welcome Dianna. Hope it was helpful.
Have one for the OG cabin (gala z) works well-our solar is underpowered at 200 watts with 4x batts-it’s not enough so we freeze pans of water thur the day, drop into the bottom at night-repeat, works u til we can improve the solar-enjoy ur channel😊
Thanks for watching Rocky. Yes indeed solar is something that turns out to be a very individual construct depending on ones resources for sure.
Thouroughly enjoyed your video…full of information, and presented in a lovely manner…thank you…watching in the U.K…take care…Brian
Delighted you enjoyed it Brian!
Have you considered a solar oven, or "sun oven"? I live near Phoenix and use one several times a week. Mine is an "All American Sun Oven" brand. Somewhat expensive, but mine is ~20 years old and still doing fine. Regularly gets to 300 to 350 degrees. It will save your batteries... and slow cooked meals have great flavor. There are DIY ones also...
I think they are great! At around $400.00 I will take this amount and put towards a propane stove which I already have chosen.
Thanks for making this video!!! I’ve watched Craigslist and found the $400 Solar oven for about $50. Whenever I find one, I buy it and give it to a friend. I live in my van in the desert for 6 months of the year and use it to make stews, soup, bread, boil water etc. I use it every day when I’m in the desert (year after year). Works GREAT! :)
@@affordabledesertliving3487
Great Video! God Bless!
thank you and God Bless you as well Ryan.
Thank you for sharing dear! Happy new year!
I stumbled across your video and I love how you present what you use, how you use it and how it affects your power grid. Thank you and look forward to more!
Wow that fridge is great Don really that meal looked nice sort of what i have but we use a micro wave to cook most stuff have you looked at those round cookers we have one good for cooking chips fries in your world you can cook everything in them
Thanks Kriss. Yep the meal was nice for sure. I am not so much a fan of microwaves any more. Maybe my gut is older and doesnt like the way they cook? LOL.
I suggest that you get some wire coils to corral all those wires by the door.
Great video as always Don -- thanks for continuing to share info with the rest of us! 😊
Your so welcome Michelle! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for collecting and sharing this info.
Entirely welcome Shayne. Hope it was useful.
You did well for yourself
Thanks so much!
Solar oven: you can make your own, use space blanket and curved surface.
Hmm. sounds do-able for sure.
Grateful for the information you shared thank you once again.💞
Your so welcome timestamp. I always hope that these vids provide info for those who need it.
Don, love this video. I have a set up in my cargo trailer pretty similar to what you have and I’m currently planning a tiny home to be pretty much the same just a bit bigger than my cargo trailer. I have the identical induction cooktop and I absolutely love it. I found I can heat a cup of water on that just as fast as I could in a microwave. I’ve never run it up to 10 yet but generally use eight for heating a kettle of water in the morning for coffee. I also find myself only running one big appliance at a time even though my system theoretically could handle two. Also, I opted for an air fryer toaster oven which is a bit more powerful than yours, but works really great. I’ve fallen in love with air fried french fries! Finally, I have that size of a refrigerator on my planning list but it’s good to have a review of one resident just guessing. Keep up the good work and look forward to more videos
Wow good thing I dont have an air fryer or I would be eating a ton of those fries and would be so huge I couldnt use a pick and shovel anymore. LOL. Thanks for watching Scot!
On top Teflon is harmful to us so steel & ceramic is safer for us all. Of grid healthier lifestyle, love the video
Excellent video with lots of info!...super cool.
Thanks so much!
Yeah, one of the things I also missed was toast. I have a toaster now on my solar
Nice helpful breakdown of the appliances. Jim in California
If you can live with a single slice toaster , walmart sells one for about 9 bucks that uses 500 watts. Have you considered pre heating water for boiling, in some type of black gallon jug sitting in the sun, that way the water would probably be 130-160 at pour in and the induction top would only have to bring the temp up 40 degrees or so to boil
I have a Galanz oven ; it uses 1472 watts. On the box it said it was 900 watts. I have 20 of these boat batteries hooked up now, that it took to run the darn thing. I have a smaller fridge the size of the bottom part of yours. I bought a hotpoint freezer a week ago. I've been running my little window unit A/C the last few days...it uses 655 watts when the compressor is on. I had it running before 8 AM this morning. About 9 there were 29 amps coming in with 1000 watts of panels out...I had 732 watts coming in and 655 going to the A/C. But I just run it during the hot part of the day, and then let the batteries charge. My Aims 2000 watts inverter charger won't run both the A/C and the oven at the same time. If they would have put the right wattage on the box I would have known that. I don't have a large area, so it cools off before long. I have a cheap Chinese inverter, 24 volts, that I use for the small wattage stuff, so I don't always turn the bigger one on...saves a few watts of idling current. I will say one thing, the Galanz oven will hold a large chicken...if you can afford one. There is one bugaboo about my model of inverter I see some other people with the exact same model had the same problem...if it is very hot weather, and a very small load is on it, it will sit there like a frog in a pot of water and the fan won't come on until it overheats. So, I bought a 120 mm fan that I'm mounting in front of the big inverter's air intake, so that I can just flip it on anytime I think it might do something like that. Last August it fried the control and power boards. I bought the cheap one to make it for a few days. That was costly and very educational. Even with that, I wound up with $4200 total in mine. The last two batteries I got went up $30 each in price...I have enough battery storage to suit me finally without breaking the bank. I wound up with 990 amp hours X 25 v. = 25,000 watt hours. My inverter does have a place to hard wire a receptacle so I did that and it has two breakers besides with plug ins on the end. It's a little funny that Galanz made an energy efficient ice box, but an oven that is a power hog. I noticed you didn't keep the same brand. I'm used to it now. It can't dim the lights anymore though...way too many batteries for that jazz. Thanks for the video...it's good to see others' installations...everyone's is different.
Thanks for providing the details on what you have chosen to do at your spot David and thanks for watching!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I was getting around 800 watts today, and I ran the little window unit from 10 until 4 with a break for cooking, which of course just heated things up again, lol. When the incoming watts dropped below 722, I turned the window unit off...that way my batteries get full. I just use fans at night which doesn't use that much power. I freeze jugs of water while the sun is out on my panels, and set them in here by the fan at night. I like your oven better than mine, so I may have to get one. To set on top of the Galanz oven. Nothing like having a spare I guess. I could use it some and use a lot less watts part of the time. We have had so many cloudy and rainy days that a smaller wattage oven would have been nice to have. So thanks for showing the oven. I think my microwave must be 1300 watts. Sometimes I don't need quite that much. It makes it hard to cook something like rice. And it's such a hit on the inverter that it scares me sometimes. It really isn't the best for an off grid system where it is cloudy some of the time. I had been thinking about getting a smaller oven anyways, so it wouldn't put so much heat in here during this heat wave. Oh, P.S. there are these chickens out now called small hens. I got one the other day...it's about like two prarie hens together. But I thought, well that one will fit in Don's oven, I'd bet. Shrinkflation will fit that chicken in there. So actually, I would be right there ahead of the curve to get one, since the chickens will soon fit the oven...
You're adorable!!!! thank you so much for sharing all of this precious info with us
Your so very welcome Marie. Hope you will keep watching.
When possible, I prefer to use DC devices with my Titan (more efficient) ... you can get 12v DC fridge/freezers (ICECO) and 12v DC wifi routers .. I also have a DC dishy adapter for my Starlink ... as for laptops, you can power those off DC buck booster modules .. for a pure DC setup ... make every watt your panels gather count! :)
I agree I'm full-time off grid and these are appliances not to buy
Most household devices like wifi routers are DC, just most people think they are AC devices because they come with an AC plug which outputs 12v DC. Bonkers converting DC to AC just to convert it back to DC.
I think the majority of the population don’t look at device power specs and haven’t got a clue how many devices they use are actually DC powered.
very like my fridge, the crisper is not needed and actually gives more room is you take it out
I kind of like to load the crisper up with fruit now and then. Thanks for watching!
New subscriber, good video.
Delighted you came by Believe Live. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for such a wonderful detailed video
Thank you for info. Have a great day!
Your welcome and you as well!