Re: generator power
 

Glad to be backs experience was wholly horrific and it wasn't actually planned (like you are doing) that they would have no leccy. I think given the right planning and due care taken it could probably work, and I do know of people who are doing it

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We are lucky that we're on a main water supply and also have a landline for the phone so its not all bad , I know I'll have to make an adjustment, with lots of things, all part of lifes rich tapestry !!
I'm sure my lovely friend Karen will help me out lololol:rofl::rofl::rofl:

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:rofl: Im sure she will

having a phone line IS a blessing, I missed that off of the list - we had no phone or internet, full up septic tank, pants water system - plus we came in winter and the was frost !!!!! it was freezing --- not a good start to our new lives in Spain :unsure:

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If youy are now settled, which I think you are, and you had all that crappiness at the beginning.perhaps i'll be ok!
Did you have to have another septic tank installed? We've got a septic tank, but hopefully it won't be full as there is only one man in the house, that'd be a lot of wee'ing to fill that up!!
What sort of speed of internet have you got? I'm hoping as there is a landline that internet won't be a problem, famous last words eh??:rofl::rofl:

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Well I'm going to have to give my 2 cents worth now.

It's perfectly feasible to live without mains electricity. I do, with my wife and two small children. Most of our neighbours are the same (although without the children).

It's true, you have to adjust to a more realistic way of thinking about your power consumption, but if you have a bit of common sense and actually care about what we're doing to our planet then it's easy, cheaper than mains electric, and a lot more satisfying.

You can't live with a generator as your only power source, for the exact reasons stated previously. And you're quite right - how can we live in a country with so much sunshine and not use it?

I tried to explain how you can live off-grid for just a few thousand euros in a previous post so I'll not bore everyone with the details again, but here's the link.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ight=billgates

Re: generator power
 

yeah we are settled now, sure you will be fine

the septic tank was "sorted" dont want to go into the smelly details :blink: - there was a thread on here a while back about septic tanks - and re-directing the washing machine if that also empties into the tank ( thats what we did with ours too)

internet is with Telefonica ADSL broadband 3mb - approx 41€ per month which includes free national landline calls

If you have a phone line already then you will be able to get dial up but you would have to check with Telefonica about ADSL as I dont think its available in all areas

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Yes, my thought exactly.I think everyone needs to think about consumption, in whichever country you live in.We already use all the special bulbs that are low energy consumption, presumably if you use these whilst using a generator that will help a lot, and other things , not just energy saving but for ecological reasons, for example, my other half is going to rig up a water conservation tank to reuse our grey water from the washing machine, to water the garden. I'm going to use those special little nobbly balls for washing instead of powder, so it won't be contaminated by soaps etc.
I'll peruse your thread with great interest!!:)

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There is a link in the free beer thread to check if you can get BB on your phone line ;-)

Re: generator power
 

It is perfectly feasible to live without electric, providing as someone said, you plan and install your system properly.
The numbers on the generator powers above are correct if you are going to run all your appliances all together at the same time, this is rarely the case, and "power diversity needs to be taken into account". A 5KVA generator diesel will power a fairly large house quite easily providing a little thought is put into the usage.
Supporting the generator with Batteries and an inverter, will significantly reduce running costs and provide silent power overnight.
Adding solar panels to this will also create more economy of costs.
Someone said they had read an article on running of Solar Power which was done on a DIY basis, but if I remember rightly this did require some care and limitation of use as it was built to minimise cost, and did not offer the convenience of a larger and hence more costly system.

A 5KW per day Solar system with a 5KVA generator with Autostart facility programmed to bring on the generator for specific power conditions, IE Low battery voltage, Heavy duty load sensing, and silent night running would basically be as convenient as a mains supply and the running costs would be in the same region as mains also. (IE the Autosense system would note when items like Aircon or Washing machines come on and start the generator to supplement power base)
On the system described above it would be important to ensure that you invest in the right level of technology to allow the programmable features as stated, (Plus many more).

Reckon on about 10,500€ for a 3KW per day system plus generator system,
The fully auto generator system with 5KW per day of Solar power would be in the region of 19,000€,

However it is important to note, that if you want to draw lots of power from any system such as above, this will drive the generator run time and hence running costs.. or you put in more solar power generation, really at the end of the day the choice is up to you, invested capital vs running costs.

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Could I ask where you are based/ We are going to be living in Villallonga , Valencia, and I wondered if your business is anywhere near?:confused:

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ahhhh ..... just up the road from us ...... know where to get my nails done then :D

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You Betcha!!:D

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Life is a trade-off you may not have mains (yet) but the drive up from Villalonga to Llacuna makes up for it all.Don't pay to much for a generator or solar because when Ibidrola get their act together with the line down from Tavernes then those pylons close by will hum with power.Ps a little advice, if he is still around beware Jack the Jock

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You sound like you know the area!Any good info for me? and who is Jack the Jock??? (pm me if its sensitive!!):rofl:

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Jack the Jock ??? not heard of him - come on spill the beans