Good Morning, Friends,
If you haven’t read my previous posts, here’s the situation in a nutshell: we live in a rural mountain community in Swannanoa, NC, where the bridge connecting us to the outside world was swept away during the 1 in 1,000-year flood event caused by Tropical Storm Helene. We’ve also confirmed that a tornado swept through our valley, which explains the large number of trees down on houses and roads.
No Power Interruptions at Home Despite Grid Outage
Although the power grid on our road is down and likely will be for weeks, if not months, we haven’t experienced any interruptions in power at our home.
Living in a remote, rural community, most of our neighbors have some form of backup power. Many have either 1) whole-house propane generators that kick in automatically during outages, or 2) critical load systems that connect to portable generators for essential power needs. Very few homes lack integrated backup power.
Until March of this year, we relied on the second option: a 7,700-watt portable generator connected to the house via a dedicated 220V outlet. This primarily powered our well pump but also ran essential appliances like the microwave and lights.
We also had a dedicated 490W solar/PV system that powered our DC refrigerator and freezer, which were always off-grid, running on a 360Ah battery bank. When power was out, the fridge and freezer stayed operational, and we could use the generator when we needed water.
This system served us well for 13 years, although I had to frequently maintain the generator and deep-cycle flooded Lead Acid batteries.
The New Solar PV System
In March 2024, we installed a 10.13 KW grid-tied solar PV system, something we had dreamed of since we finished building our home in 2011. We couldn’t afford it back then, but we finally made it happen in 2023, after signing a contract in August.
We wanted to include a whole-house battery backup but were initially hesitant due to the cost. Our installer designed the system to allow for battery integration in the future. Then, in mid-January, while dealing with my mother’s final days battling cancer, we got an offer from our solar installer: a significant discount on Tesla Powerwall Version 2 units, as they were transitioning to Version 3.
Honestly, my wife and I had so much going on in the family, we had no bandwidth to do a cost analysis. We simply decided to go for it. We committed to purchase two Powerwalls, which was the minimum needed (for Version 2 Powerwall) whole-house backup.
Note that we originally preferred a Kyocera LiFePO battery system, but it was too expensive and complicated to install compared to the Powerwalls. Looking back, this decision has been a blessing for us and our community, especially post-Hurricane Helene.
Staying Powered During the Crisis
Thanks to the Powerwalls, we’ve had no power interruptions at home during this disaster. These two batteries have kept the lights on, the water pump running, and our satellite internet operational.
It’s worth noting, though, that our system wasn’t designed to keep us fully off-grid for weeks. Additionally, two of our solar panels were damaged when a tree fell on the house, reducing our PV system’s output to about 60%, likely because the failed panels also affected other panels in the same series.
By managing our energy consumption carefully, we’ve kept everything running.
Managing Power Consumption
Right after the storm, I shut off the circuit breakers for our HVAC system and water heater, the biggest power users apart from our well pump. I also appointed one of our daughters, “Phantom Load Czar” and gave her absolute authority to hunt down, turn off, and unplug anything that wasn’t necessary.
If we didn’t reduce our usage—if we ran the HVAC, water heater, and cooked all our meals on the electric stove—we’d only have 8-12 hours of battery life. But by cutting out those heavy loads, we can stretch that to nearly 48 hours.
The Advantages of Solar
Unlike our neighbors with propane generators, who have to ration fuel, our system recharges every day thanks to the sun. Even though our output is lower on cloudy days, we still get daily “fuel deliveries” from the sun.
Keep in mind that our road is in rough shape and most propane delivery companies will not refuel customer tanks at present.
When solar production is lower–when it’s overcast or cloudy–we scale back by skipping hot water, cooking on a camping stove, and using minimal lighting. So far, we haven’t dipped below 50% battery capacity.
This week, we’re expecting clear skies, so by early afternoon, our batteries should be fully charged, allowing us to use excess solar energy to heat water for showers and run the dishwasher—true luxuries during a crisis like this.
Helping Our Community
As I mentioned, many of our neighbors with whole-house generators only run them for a few hours each day to conserve fuel. They’ve been bringing their devices to our home to charge, and because we have satellite internet, we’ve opened up free Wi-Fi. We’ve jokingly renamed our porch the “Witherspoon Internet Café,” where neighbors use our internet for everything from filing FEMA applications to contacting loved ones.
One big advantage is Wi-Fi calling, which has been crucial since cell service remains unreliable. While we now have some mobile voice and texting capabilities, the connection is unstable and frequently drops. Wi-Fi calling bypasses these issues, making it easier to deal with complicated phone trees and long hold times.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
We’re preparing for the possibility of being without grid power for another two months—or longer. The road to our home, with a 1,000-foot elevation gain, was severely damaged, and nearly all the power poles are down. Some transformers are wrecked, and our local substation was wiped out by flooding.
Duke Energy will have restored power to 90% of its customers by next week, but we’re in the 10% that will take much longer. Our entire power delivery system needs to be rebuilt, and the road might need to be repaired first to make this possible.
With winter approaching, we’ll have shorter days and more overcast skies, which will further reduce our solar production. We plan to repair the damaged panels and hope that gives us enough output to make it through the colder months. Otherwise, we’ll have to be even more conservative with our power usage, possibly shutting off devices like our satellite modem during the day.
Before you ask: don’t worry about our heating during the winter. Our house is passive solar and we also built it around an efficient RAIS wood stove. We can typically heat our home on less than two cords of wood per winter. We’ve got plenty in stock and, in fact, will have a nearly unlimited amount starting in a couple of years when our sawed up wood has cured.
Change in mindset
We now know that we can live comfortably off-grid, and while we’d consider making it a permanent arrangement, our main reason for staying connected to the grid is to sell back our excess solar energy.
As long as our solar system continues to function, we should be in good shape until the grid is restored.
Four Words…
Thank you so much!
We feel so incredibly fortunate compared to many who have lost their homes, their businesses, and members of their family.
Once again, our family is overwhelmed by the kindness and love you’ve shown us.
We know many who live in Florida where they’ll soon be receiving the full force of Cat 4 or 5 Hurricane Milton. Know that we’re here for you too.
Have a wonderful day.
Best & 72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
Sounds like a stable electric system, Thomas!
Hope everything is will work out for you.
What is the status of the crossing that was washed out? Was it repaired enough for emergency travel?
72
John McGrath
KF6EFG
Hello Thomas, I like your “deliveries daily” analogy for solar power. A lot of people justify *not* having solar power due to the cost and how long it takes to recoup the money spent on a system compared to just using commercial power – but your situation (and soon mine, maybe) demonstrate that it’s not just about economics. Best wishes in your continued progress toward normality.
73,
John
Thomas, your frequent posts are lessons in self reliance. Thank you again. We have small solar backup systems which have been very helpful in storm related outages. Wood for fires, camp stove, camping gear, have all been put to ise in such emergencies.
Please outline your satellite internet system. We are considering that option as well.
Thomas mentioned in an earlier posting that he has HughesNet satellite internet service.
https://qrper.com/2024/09/aftermath/
I missed it. Thank you!
The payback question always gets me. I then ask what is the payback on your utility bill….. NE7TS. My ham station is 100% off grid
For us, staring at possibly three months without a connection to the grid? Quite honestly, the payoff period is irrelevant. It’s such a luxury to have a fully-powered home when everything else is chaos.
Hi Thomas,
glad to hear that you and your family are okay.
Hope you and your neighbours get fixed it.
Your experiences are the proof that solar power is the best energy we should use on this planet.
72s, Jens/DH1AKY
Thomas,
First and foremost, I’m sure I speak for everyone that reads this blog when I say it is great to hear you are doing well with what you have.
Secondly, I’m honestly a little surprised (but not really) that you take the time to keep posting during your times of despair. I cannot believe how much you have endured, conquered, and have yet to battle, but yet you still take time out to post updates.
It is wonderful hearing from you and hoping that when life gets back to normal for those in your area that you remain as close as you have become over the last few weeks.
Be well and continued success with the recovery. Hoping your immediate and newly discovered extended family get through the remainder unscathed.
73
KD2X
Would a motor-generator (DC motor coupled to AC generator) be more efficient than a solid state inverter ( 60 percent efficient- max) for your application ?
Our two inverters are string inverters designed to efficiently invert the DC voltage from our panels in series. They’re 98% efficient at 240 V.
Did you also choose to use optimizers with the string inverters? If so, what brand/model are they?
Please respond only if you can. Your safety and the safety of your family and neighbors come first.
We did not. It was one of the options proposed (using different inverters) but one ham told me that his did cause extra RFI. I’m not entirely sure if it was the component in his system that did, but I did have this in mind. Also, for whatever reason, the engineer that put together our system chose Tesla string inverters (we only needed one, but chose two for future expansion) and I’m not entirely sure they’re compatible with optimizers.
I was wondering what back up systems were in place since you’re in a rural location. We have friends in Asheville (we’re in Maryland) and of course they were clobbered. They didn’t have any back up systems and were pretty much cut off for over a week in a small neighborhood up a hill with one small washed out bridge that is the only access in and out.
I’ve tinkered with solar stuff for a little while. The costs are of course high for big household set ups. I built/converted an old 1967 Glastron to run on electric for the small lake we’re on (it’s an electric boat only lake) and then thought it would be fun to build a solar charging system with some used solar panels I found online. The system worked great! We could motor around at 6 or 7 mph for hours and then just plug in to charge up and it would be ready the next day.
I’ve sold the boat (kept the batteries and solar panels) and since I have a modest battery bank on hand and the solar panels I’m in the process of setting up a very small home system. Just enough juice to keep the fridge/freezer running, the microwave, and a few lights (we have public water and a private septic system that requires no energy usage) if need be during storms. We do have a 7kw gas generator that is just a pain to use and maintain though. And it’s fun to monitor the solar power collection on my phone. It almost feels wasteful when the battery bank is full and the sun is still out! (And running some ham gear on solar is just cool. ) We’re not set up to sell back to the local utility but maybe one day.
Thomas, that was some really good thinking and smart planning on your part when you (and wife) installed your whole home solar powered system. So glad to hear how it has all paid off big time during this catastrophic natural disaster. And, not to mention how ham radio is helping in a big way, too.
Jeff (VE7EFF)
Hi Thomas,
A well written email about your way to survive when thing go bad!
Bill K4WP
I would say that you are lucky to have battery backup AND also be able to sell excess energy back to your electrical supplier. In Michigan, DTE has spent a lot of time convincing the public service commission that solar folks are ‘freeloading’ on their supply net. They claim that they are shouldering the massive losses that occur over long lines, which is of course, ridiculously dumb, since Ohm’s law reveals that energy pushed back into their lines is consumed by the local neighborhood, not sent all the way across the state. The result of all this is that DTE solar customer have a choice – you can either have net metering OR you can have local storage, but not BOTH. So, If I get whole-home batteries, I cannot send any of that energy back to DTE over their grid, period.
Dave,
In San Diego they have a new program where if you have batteries you can sign up with SDGE to sell your battery power at night back to them. That should eliminate that problem if they will allow it. Apparently they are not aware of that technology yet.
Thomas
Thanks for the power update and continuing the posts. More people need to think about solar if they can manage a small system and build up, versus noisy limited time higher maintenance generators.
*Big question is can you and your neighbors plan to get out and (vote). I trust their is an a note of urgency about voting capability that even though you have other things to (divert everyone’s attention), the setting up of temporary polling places in your general area might be planned by the town I assume as soon as is practical.
You are an excellent example of being prepared. The battery backup is excellent. I use 3-100ah Li PO4 batteries in parallel with amorphous panels that do not need to be aimed as tightly, but my other place uses the new IQ-8 enPhase micro inverters on each panel (which will not effect other panels output) shade or damage wise, which now with a small add on box, offers 1500 watts off the 4.2 KW 12 panel system (directly) from panels to house wiring 115 or 220, with (outside grid down), during the day of course. I believe this is a feature I do not think any other solar systems do yet, along with per panel monitoring. Just wanted to pass on that house power feature so many more are aware of it. Hang in there.
Excellent job Thomas, you’re an example for us all.
Thomas, thank you for posting your “hints, kinks, how’s, and why’s” as this event has occurred.
I can tell from the pix you have posted, you are in a heavily forested area – how did you layout your solar to make it worthwhile? I too am in a forest and am frankly stumped how to solve the ‘solar window’ problem (without dropping a couple of dozen trees).
Anyway, wishing you the best and look forward to following the further recovery adventures.
thomas, it’s nice to hear you’re doing well along with the challenges. in my area, when the power goes out for days, i’m reminded of our forebears who heated their homes and water with wood, kept food preserved in root cellars and crocks or a cold running stream, and got their water from the stream or a well they dug by hand. while electricity makes for a much easier life, i think that maybe we’ve lost something from that more simple way of living.
73!
randall KQ2R