Are you prepared? Trying to be more self sufficient

Pressure

 

If you primarily do water bathing look at a steam canner

 

https://youtu.be/G7GYmBCvDL8?si=WIiQJJxC3YecfaWB

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/XrKyl-vQpIY?si=weS1yhMfk6OTp47o

 

We have the canning pressure cooker (same as in the video). My late wife pressure canned.
My current wife has never pressure canned and is afraid of trying it.
I am currently using the pot, without the lid, as a deep hot water bath canner for quarts.

 

They have electric ones that are safe too

 

Tell her / suggest to her to watch the Sutton’s Daze Chanel on YouTube. She goes through all the basics plus shows many recipes. Only usda approved canning. There’s the Rosered Chanel also she really breaks stuff down she’s some sort of PHD

 

This looks cool.
https://www.yankodesign.com/2020/10...tisserie-machine-fits-right-into-your-oven-2/

 

I keep expecting some kind of complete package where you don't have to splice a bunch of parts together. Does anyone know of anything like that being sold reasonably? I'd like to get rid of the gas genny and have solar but I don't want the learning curve to build it.

 

You have two options if you don't want to assemble the parts yourself:
1. buy a Jackery or similar off-grid package, which includes a battery box and solar panels (their battery box includes the battery, inverter, and charger all in one).
2. Hire someone to build you a system (ranging from off grid, partial house backup, or full house backup).

If you only need power for a few things, the off grid systems are not bad, for the convenience. Someone shared an example up here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-self-sufficient.831494/page-32#post-30004768

You'll pay for either option, but you already knew that.

I went back and forth on the Jackery kits for a while, but ultimately bought a small portable gas generator for my needs (knowing I can improve efficiency in the future by adding a battery to my system). For my frequency of use, the added cost of the battery and solar didn't make sense.

 

I would start with the Jackery setup until I could learn more and do research on what I would need to build. I don’t want a whole house setup. Enough juice to run my fridge, a 12v well pump, and a few chargers.

 

I am in the same boat. My solution was a dual fuel gasoline/propane generator, since propane can be stored indefinitely.
My well pump is 240V, and I have several deep freezers and fridges to power.

 

Drove by there last week as we came home from vacation. small world!

 

Same thing here. My genny won't do the well - it only does 110. Everything else is good. Frustrating. Have a dual fuel as last place did not have natural gas. New place does - so would like a tri-fuel. Its only $$.

 

Most gennies that do propane can be tuned to run on natural gas. kW will drop, since natural gas has less BTUs than propane, but it can be done.

My genny gas a 50A out, so that's how I am getting the 240V.

 

Check out Anker products. Many different size power banks and they sell panels to go with them. Simple plug and play I have 2 sets. Easy to use and dependable. They just released a really cool solar powered cooler with a detachable lifepo4 battery so you can have extras charged on standby

 

Mine has a 30A. how are you getting 240 from yours?

I will have to look and see how to convert. Natural gas option allows me to keep propane for later. Thanks

 

It is a 240V 50A out.

 

The lowest practical amperage for 240v things is aroud 30 amps. Volts X amps = watts, so that is around 7200. Most generators less than that wattage do not include 240v outlets.

 

Makes sense, mine is 12,600 starting, 11,600 running, IIRC. Bought to be a whole house set up.