No mains electricity

essjae

Living without mains electricity is fine as long as you are happy to adapt to not having the power on all the time - I lived like this for several years while growing up, and my Dad has continued to do so for the past 10 years since I moved out!

Its not really too much of an issue in the summer - the light evenings means that the generator might not be on at all in the evening, as the cooker is gas, and Dad tends to read books (or go out to the pub) rather than have the tv etc on.
Although the fridge is left without power a lot, it stays reasonably chilled inside, just don't expect to keep food for more than a couple of days in the summer. The freezer compartment is only used to freeze ice packs which are then transferred to the main fridge section while the power is off.
If you want to be able to use a computer, you will probably need some sort of uninterruptable power supply - basically this is charged up while the generator runs, smooths out any fluctuations in the supply to the computer, then keeps the supply on to the computer if the generator trips out.
You will need to be competent at maintaining and fixing the generator and any ancillary equipment, particularly if its a bit old and temperamental! A second generator as a backup is definitely a wise idea, and you can wire up a control board to change over from one to the other. As someone else mentioned earlier, expect the problems to happen when its pitch black and howling a gale.
Basically, try to set the house up so that you need to use the generator as little as possible - little things like having a stove-top kettle, make toast under the grill not in a toaster, charge up phones etc at work.
In the longer term, I would certainly look into installing a wind turbine, and possibly solar panels and/or a ground source heat pump if there is somewhere apropriate to put them and the costs work out.

However, as there are also issues with the water supply, phoneline and heating, I would be very cautious about buying this house if I had never lived somewhere remote before.

zzzLazyDaisy

I once lived in a remote village in Turkey during the winter months. It was not unusual to lose power for 12 hours + at a time. When that happened all we had was candles, a woodburning stove, and a gas cooker.

You don't realise how much you depend on electricity till you lose it! Solar panels are great in the summer, but in winter with no back-up, cold showers are not fun, neither is dashing from a warm bed to a freezing cold bathroom in the dark. Or going to bed early because it is the only way to keep warm and anyway there is no TV/computer/reading and the evenings are looong in winter!

Actually to be honest it was good fun; we made our own entertainment, and I have happy memories, but it did make me realise how many comforts I used to take for granted.

Samantha99

Yes you are all getting the picture now!

Down unmade up track, muddy in winter no doubt

No mains anything

LPG via tank

Septic tank.

Not holiday home, permanent residence.

But in a beautiful spot, so does that outweigh the cons or is it a novelty that will just wear off?

Hmmm

tim123456789

Samantha99 wrote: »

Yes you are all getting the picture now!



But in a beautiful spot, so does that outweigh the cons or is it a novelty that will just wear off?

almost certainly

dauphin

I'd say you should only consider it if you find this kind of thing positively appealing. If it's merely something you think you might be able to tolerate, it's probably not for you.

If the property is currently lived in, I'm surprised if the present owners haven't got solar and/or wind power already. That would make a big difference to liveability although I can tell you from experience it's still nothing like being on the mains. If you're seriously thinking about it, do some in depth research on solar and wind, e.g. What are the wind speeds like in that area, where would you situate a turbine, would planning permission be an issue? Is there a suitable place to mount solar panels? Then do some costings because you will definitely not want to rely on generator alone.

Don't forget also that one day you will probably want to sell and a property without mains power has a very limited market. I suspect a mortgage may also be less than straightforward, not all mortgage companies may be willing to accept this property as security, and even if you don't need a mortgage the person who eventually wants to buy it from you may need one.

Werdnal

Only you can answer that question really.

I love where I live and always say the only way I will leave here is in a box! But it is also a lot of work, and I don't have the private power supply issue either. We have open fires, so wood to cut, ashes to clear, chimneys to sweep aswell.

I would investigate the modern "green" power supply options and keep the genny as a back-up. Wind turbines are good for single households, and solar panels for water heating are supposed to be cheaper to install, but more efficient than the PV power generating variety.

Is the property ready to move into, or requiring renovation? When we moved here, the house was is such a bad state, the architect we asked to advise on on the work require, met us the day we got the keys and asked when it was last lived in. The elderly couple who had been here for 47 years had only moved out the previous day!

zzzLazyDaisy

Samantha99 wrote: »

Down unmade up track, muddy in winter no doubt

Hmmm

That will be the least of your worries. You do realise there is a high possibility of getting snowed in in remoter areas...... and a low to zero possibility of the track being gritted or cleared - unless you are handy with a shovel?

BitterAndTwisted

For me it would be a novelty that would wear off extremely quickly, very likely after the first winter. Quite a lot depends on how resourceful you are and how old you are. I wouldn't fancy living like that in my 60s but in my 20s it might have been an adventure of sorts.

G_M

You need to consider your age/health too. I rejected the property I linked to for that reason.

It would take an air ambulance to get to you.

And have you the strength / vigour to do all the cranking, carrying digging etc?

witchy1066

Samantha99 wrote: »

Yes you are all getting the picture now!

Down unmade up track, muddy in winter no doubt

No mains anything

LPG via tank

Septic tank.

Not holiday home, permanent residence.

But in a beautiful spot, so does that outweigh the cons or is it a novelty that will just wear off?

Hmmm

OP go for it

reading some of the posts makes me wonder how people managed before the invention of electricity, computers , mobile phones and the rest

if I was 30 years younger, i would definitely give it a punt,


I havnet got mains gas , its not a problem , our electrics go off every day , its not a problem,

also many other ways to get power,
log burners are one way to heat your home,
look at all the other options , you might be surprised

heat/cook our home with LPG gas

fairly small generator will surfice for your phone, lights ,
a convertor thingy is good to have and some high voltage batteries , don't ask me what for :rotfl: