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Gcreek

L

LazyWP

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Apr 24, 2009
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I didn't want to highjack your "Good day post", but I have some questions. What is your power plant, that will start when its as cold as you have been. I was assuming its a diesel, but how do you keep it warm enough to start. Living off the grid has always intrigued me, but I have never really done it, other then going a couple weeks with out power.
Would you be so kind as to give us an idea of what all you have to do totally different, then say around here?
Thanks for your time.
 
The current plant we have is a 10kw 3 cylinder Isuzu. It has been rebuilt once and likely has another 10,000 hrs on it now. It is in a small insulated building that also houses a 100 gallon fuel tank. When it is cold we leave the door open just a bit so when we shut it down it will stay warm in there a long time.

Plant runs about 3-4 hours daily. Wash clothes while the plant is on and other things that use a lot of power. We have an inverter/battery system so we have power for lights, computer/phone/TV etc 24 hrs a day. Phone and computer are run from satelite. The deal we have is unlimited minutes on both most places in the world for $60 per month.

It would be much nicer to live hooked up to the grid as far as the power situation goes. We are limited to a lot of what others call neccessities.

The main virtue you need in this country is patience.
 
Gcreek, you've mentioned on here a few times about getting up early to start the plant to plug in a tractor, i'm wondering why you don't have one of those diesel or propane fired block heater's? i think they would be pretty slick if they're as good as claimed there must be a reason that someone who is off the grid doesn't use them. just wonderin'
 
hayguy said:
Gcreek, you've mentioned on here a few times about getting up early to start the plant to plug in a tractor, i'm wondering why you don't have one of those diesel or propane fired block heater's? i think they would be pretty slick if they're as good as claimed there must be a reason that someone who is off the grid doesn't use them. just wonderin'
Click to expand...

2 reasons, procrastination and dollars. We only have this issue for a few days of the year so is it worth the outlay? My shop will start going up June 1 so I anticipate cutting a little more wood and not having the problem next winter. :D
 
gcreekrch said:
hayguy said:
Gcreek, you've mentioned on here a few times about getting up early to start the plant to plug in a tractor, i'm wondering why you don't have one of those diesel or propane fired block heater's? i think they would be pretty slick if they're as good as claimed there must be a reason that someone who is off the grid doesn't use them. just wonderin'
Click to expand...

2 reasons, procrastination and dollars. We only have this issue for a few days of the year so is it worth the outlay? My shop will start going up June 1 so I anticipate cutting a little more wood and not having the problem next winter. :D
Click to expand...

You sound the same as me... There are so many things that would be nice to have when you need them- BUT can be done without and are not needed that often... Some days when I need them I swear to myself I will get it- but then a few days later like keeping the cash in my pocket... :wink:
 
coyote said:
What kind of watering system do you use? Do all the livestock lick snow or do you have water bowls?
Click to expand...

Creeks and springs. Most we never have to open.

The creek at Morrison Meadow freezes and overflows, the cows just keep working their way up and looking under the snow.
 
How far do you have to go for parts, groceries, fuel, and all the other necessities of life?
I enjoy living away from the people, but I have a friend that has the distinction of being the farthest ranch from any town, in Nebraska, and I don't think I would want to live out there. They are 45 miles, I think, from any "town", and I'm not sure a person could buy a loaf a bread at either one of the "close" towns.
 
It is 22 miles to Anahim Lake. 3 small stores, one has post office and gas bar, 2 contain liquor stores. Gas station, one fast food restaurant, school and a machine shop. Airport with daily flights to Vancouver and a health clinic on the Rez pretty much round out the deal.
There is a fair sized sawmill here but doubt it will ever run again for financial reasons.

Local area contains 400 + - Whites and 700 Indians. Main trading centre is Williams Lake, a city of 20,000 that is 200 miles east of here.
 
Back in 1978 my wife and I took your road all the way to Bella Coola.

Believe it or not we drove it in a '73 Monte Carlo.

There was a place in or near Anaheim that had not run out of beer and we bought some there - first time in a couple of weeks we had seen any due to the beer strike at the time.

The trip cost me an exhaust system and a tire - but it was fun despite the tough roads then.

Have a lot of family in Bill's Puddle - mostly in the forestry business.

Best to all

bc
 
Broke Cowboy said:
Back in 1978 my wife and I took your road all the way to Bella Coola.

Believe it or not we drove it in a '73 Monte Carlo.

There was a place in or near Anaheim that had not run out of beer and we bought some there - first time in a couple of weeks we had seen any due to the beer strike at the time.

The trip cost me an exhaust system and a tire - but it was fun despite the tough roads then.

Have a lot of family in Bill's Puddle - mostly in the forestry business.

Best to all

bc
Click to expand...

I came here first in 1979 for the Stampede. Unfortunately for Debbie, that is when we met. :D

The road was paved to the top of Sheep Creek hill at that time, about 15 miles west of W. L. I think it was a 6 hour drive just to Anahim Lake. In order to get to what is now our ranch back then it was an additional hour and fifteen minutes to cover 15 miles. If the weather was wet a lot of the road was not passable. In 1985 the Highway Dept took over the buiding and maintenance of our road right to our gate.

Highway 20 is now paved right to Anahim Lake and from the bottom of the Bella Coola hill to the big water. The 35 miles of gravel left is well maintained.
 
say Gcreek, i see in one of your photo's that you use a gas/propane cook stove, but what about refridgerator's and deep freezer's (probabaly not much of a problem this time of year :wink:
 
hayguy said:
say Gcreek, i see in one of your photo's that you use a gas/propane cook stove, but what about refridgerator's and deep freezer's (probabaly not much of a problem this time of year :wink:
Click to expand...

Propane stove and water heater. Everything else is 'lectric now and run off batteries/inverter when the plant is off. We have to be power concious continually.

The propane fridge went out when the batteries arrived. We don't miss that stinking, tempermental thing at all.
 
so i understand using streams and springs for the cattle but what kind of water system for the house? what is your biggest draw on the batterys? thank's again
 
You are going to have to make a road trip. :wink: :D

At this time the pump for our house water is the biggest draw on power, well, that and Ranchers net. :lol:

We know what the fix is just when that priority has the funding is the question.
 

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