Building Utility Room Walls Part 1

We're putting walls and insulation up around the well parts to keep everything warm this winter.
TLC Homestead: / @tlchomestead
‪@tlchomestead‬
Sponsors: None
Music by: www.bensound.com Ben Tissot; Straight
License code: 7J8CLCWQTQ8KIV6M

[@tlchomestead]

Thanks for the props! I moved from Texas to Arkansas, lost my truck title in the move (assume you seen a plate to guess TX) and had to get a new title via mail which just came in. Now I can finally move my truck registration and quit worrying about the police pulling me over. I am on day 76 as of today, need to find time to edit / upload vids again. The tree trimmers are cutting down those two big oak trees as I type😒
I do want to ask -- you have a recording device in my cabin or are we just thinking that much in line? 😀I have been pondering what to do about power outages for the new house. My current little cabin and barn (where my well pump is) are on the typical portable gas generators. This works but my cabin is only a 30amp so half my box has power and the gennie is only 4.5kw so I have to watch what I am doing. I am VERY interested in where you land since it sounds like you'll beat me there yet again. Things I am curious what you think of:
* EG4 solar heat pump mini split -- can run 100% off solar so maybe help with monthly electric bill plus HVAC during outage
* Some 220v battery backup such as an EcoFlow -- run off that and only run genie to charge the battery if power is down long time, this has advantage of faster time to power ( < .5sec) when power goes out
* Fuel use per hour on whole home gennie -- Good idea on the report from power company. I was looking at an 18kw (1.7gph) model just because I thought a 10kw (0.97 mph) would be too small. My unanswered question is: A 10kw running at 90% peak power vs an 18kw running at 50%: will the 10kw have a shorter life and what is fuel per hour of a 10kw running at 90% vs the 18kw at 50%?
* in-wall ventless LPG heater -- like the Mr Buddy but just built in, I am pondering over putting just one in the master bedroom for emergency
* wood burning stove -- I have a spot in the house picked out and walls built specifically for one, I just have never had one to know for sure how safe they are
Yes, I kick around all these ideas but not sure where we will land. Most likely a combo of some of the above and no matter what rate we take will be phased in.

[@Northof44Degrees-rj5wt]

TLC I hope the build is going well, looking forward to the videos.
As for power I'd recommend doing the prep to for a backup gen but wait to see what your real power use is. Put in oversized gas lines and do some prep to the electrical but let data be your friend. The power company said my peak is 7.8kw, which means my average is closer to 4-ish. I'm willing to accept that during a power outage I won't be able to run the table saw, while drying my hair and vacuuming the living room.
For sizing you want to run the gen between 30% and 80% load. Too low and you run the risk of wet stacking the gen, too high and...well, we know what happens there. Our gen guy was trying to sell me a 14kw gen, based on the fact it had hydraulic lifters and would require less maintenance, but since I have a set of feeler gauges I figure I'm okay for a bit.
For hybrid energy, in my experience, it comes down to return on investment, most systems are expensive to configure, build and commission. I've talked to people who ended up with a 20 year return, If savings is the driver I don't think the tech is quite there yet. If you're looking for redundancy and sustainability then there is a play there.