Thursday, week 4. It seems obvious that the solar power system is done, running, and everyone is happy with it. So it looks like we are done here and should be packing up and heading home today. But wait, you...Continue reading
A Day in the Life of an Off-Grid Solar Installer
This is our project journal — field stories from off-grid solar installs around Northern Arizona. The 4 a.m. starts, the parts that don't show up, the problems solved on the fly, and a behind-the-scenes look at how these systems actually get built — plus a bit of life on the fringe along the way. Originally posted on the River Daves Place forum; you can read the full thread here.
Thursday, week 4. It seems obvious that the solar power system is done, running, and everyone is…
Thursday, week 4. It seems obvious that the solar power system is done, running, and everyone is happy with it. So it looks like we are done here and should be packing up and heading home today. But wait, you...Continue reading
Friday, week four, all day, and Saturday too.
Friday morning walked back over to the dig to inspect yesterday’s progress. I wish pictures did justice to how big of a hole we had to make. In the light of a fresh day, it looked to me like that...Continue reading
Today is an office day.
Actually, office week. I hate office days. 🤪 So nothing cool going on to show cool pictures of. But the above posts about rippers and buckets got me to thinking about some other stuff we do that I think is...Continue reading
So seeing as I’m cross-eyed from staring at technical documents and need a break, I’d like to share…
So seeing as I’m cross-eyed from staring at technical documents and need a break, I’d like to share another bucket project we did awhile back. Our 12” excavator bucket was pretty used up and needed some love. I don’t have...Continue reading
Still stuck in the office today, and needing another break, so I’d like to share some more welding…
Still stuck in the office today, and needing another break, so I’d like to share some more welding stuff-because who doesn’t like metal that’s glued together?!😄😄 When we got our Freightshaker, it was in terrible shape. I could fill an...Continue reading
For a thread about a day in the life of some off-grid solar installers-there sure has been a…
For a thread about a day in the life of some off-grid solar installers-there sure has been a shortage of solar stuff in here!😄😄 And that includes today. As we wait for some project details to get finalized, we are...Continue reading
It’s another week of office work here, so another week of no solar in a solar installers thread.
Lol. Someone mentioned a shop tour awhile back, and then @wash11 had a neat idea-how about I show you guys how we ended up with a shop? Seemed like a good idea, so without further ado, I’ll start the story...Continue reading
Once the concrete was poured, there was still a lot to do to make sure we were ready for the building when it arrived.
One of our biggest challenges was manpower. Steel buildings are generally pretty simple to put together. Just make sure your concrete and anchor bolts are spot on, then follow simple instructions and make sure everything is plumb and square as...Continue reading
Ok everyone, the moment you’ve been waiting for:details of my big erection!😄😄 Over the course of…
Ok everyone, the moment you’ve been waiting for:details of my big erection!😄😄 Over the course of the weekend of the big erection, we had somewhere between 8-12 people on site, depending on which day. Something kinda cool about the people...Continue reading