Texas Ice Storm Takes Out The Grid But We Have Many Ways To Power On. Lifepo4 Makes It Possible.

The Texas Ice Storm has once again taken down the power lines but this time we were ready with multiple ways to protect ourselves. This video shows how we used multiple layers of power backups to keep the lights on.

[@StimulatedCynic]

I’m a young guy who’s looking to go off grid soon with a cabin and thank the lord I found your channel b/c figuring solar batteries out was making it look not possible for a long time to go fully off grid. after seeing your builds I know it’s possible the financial burden of batteries for just a 6kwh home is more than the array and converters combined not to mention the learning curve so thanks a ton.

[@MrJramirex]

I'm building an off grid house, and your channel is full of information that will help me greatly. My system is AC coupled with SMA Sunny Boy and Sunny Island inverters. I went with it because I can run the generator along with the Sunny Boy providing full PV power if needed. The downside is that SMA retired both inverters now, so in the future I won't be able to find replacement inverters as easily. The Germans make some very robust inverters, so hopefully, they last for a decade or two.

[@hendersonsobers396]

Glad to see you back Ray. I learnt so much from you especially from your battery builds.

[@JbVest]

same here :)

[@asabriggs6426]

I'm sorry to see the mess caused by the storm (are the trees around your buildings particularly badly affected?), but it is good to see that the preparation has worked. I hope your neighbours and wider community are taking note!

[@energydreamer5347]

Good to hear your voice and see that you are well. Look forward to hearing more about the full install & operation of your combo battery banks & inverter system.

[@9111logic]

Nice to have you here again Ray 🙏

[@chuxxsss]

Good afternoon Ray, from Australia. Rang my aunt from Texas and told her it was snowing on the peaks here two days ago. She didn't believe me till I sent her reports from the new. You wouldn't think it would snow here in summer.

[@Bob.W.]

Beautiful home. Love the woodwork. Sorry about the mess.

[@chrisfx4212]

Good to see the solar array survived the storm when a tree got smashed like that.

[@CG-xr5bz]

Glad it worked out for you. One positive is you got to test your system. I built a couple 280ah with your help for emergency. You should check out video of generator running on HHO.

[@houseofancients]

glad your back ray, glad you guys are ok !

[@thomasstandley6309]

I bought a portable 12 volt compressor refrigerator and some LiPo batteries and portable solar panels to go with our 2200 watt generator after Hurricane Harvey when we were without power for two plus weeks. They really came in handy during the big 2021 outage. The refrigerator is extremely efficient and can go quite a while on batteries.

[@rafaelfoster]

Good to see you are well, I hope everything will recover soon.

[@hanvu9083]

this storm brings up a lot of real world use of your energy supply. looking forward to learning how you move forward. extremely informative channel.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thanks Han!

[@keithbrookshire]

I'm glad to see you posting again. Just a couple of days ago I checked to see if you had anything new.

[@Capoe3]

Well done. Prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

[@Dutch_off_grid_homesteading]

Heya, crazy weather you got hopefully the damage will soon bean repaired

[@4mikesutube]

I'm to see that you had minimal damage from the latest ice storm. Missed seeing your videos and was hoping there wasn't an issue on your channel. You are a super informative guy and like your presentation of your videos, and I'm glad to see you back. Wish you all the best to you and your neighbors, and hopefully they get back online soon.

[@baneverything5580]

I ran my electric blanket here in Louisiana during the high freezing below zero winds in December with a Bluetti EB70. It used half the battery approx on medium high for 8 hours. Power kept going off and with digital controls it kept turning my blanket and oil heater off. Couldn`t get a gas heater because a starving dog showed up and Christmas took my prep money. I have a "hurricane" collection of power stations and got a 300ah Ampere Time battery for solar powered air conditioning this year. Buying all the parts one at a time each month on a fixed income.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Congratulations

[@jamesm1636]

Thank you for making this video so quickly. When we heard the news here in Thailand about the Texas ice storm, we thought of you. Sorry there was so much damage but glad you were well prepared. Please keep up the good work.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

That makes me feel warm inside.

[@Capoe3]

That limestone and cactus makes me homesick. Colorado resident currently, Texas born and raised. The Hill Country or West of that area, looks familiar. Reminds me of out by Enchanted Rock.

[@bobblack3870]

Ray, I appreciate every video of yours. Sorry to see that you, along with others, were affected. During the "missed you" time, I was hoping that the incomplete pieces of your solar shed were being put in place and that you had the videos but not the time to publish. I really like your multiple-method support options, which will be important even if you get the solar shed concepts completed.

[@miltonmorgan3274]

We invested in an EcoFlow Delta Pro plugged into a transfer swich for emergency power. The batteries are constantly topped off but in case of a power outage we just flip a switch and we've got power again! It's magical really. Next investment would be in a Smart Generator to keep the batteries charged for extended blackouts.

[@matthewknight5641]

If you end up with some batteries for sale on the cheap I'd love to get some for my tiny home camper. Lifepo4 is the best going but they cost a fortune. Thanks for the videos

[@tastiger91]

Welcome back, was thinking about you.

[@MistaTerps]

Activate Smug Mode 😂 Good to see you back 👍

[@peterking1134]

You live!

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Wishing all the best to you and yours ❤️

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thank you so much!!

[@russellesimonetta9071]

The magic of conservative leadership! Trust to luck policy! Great on the surface but turds floating just below the surface! Cool dog!

[@wslrichards]

So... The grid itself didn't fail. Only when trees fell on the power lines did the power go out. Mostly in liberal Travis County. Also, how's the grid in California doing? It seems to struggle in fair weather. Even the "young turks" complained about it. L.A.X. was without power last week and it was like 70°.

[@MichealG]

I’m happy you’re back and doing well. Wish you the best

[@teddycunningham7568]

Great to see you back , have bought 60 200w used solar panels . As I am on a limited budget storage is my largest problem am gathering material for a sand battery powered by a dump load and hope to heat my home with excess solar power .If you have any thoughts on this subject it would make a great video subject . Thanks I love your honest and well thought out advice..

[@cobbles62]

Somebody already mentioned mini-split heat pumps. I'd like to add that an inverter type mini-split, one with a variable speed pump and variable speed fans, as most of them seem to be nowadays, don't need an Easystart. I have a 2 ton ducted mini split running, pulling 10 amps at most, but much less on average. It ramps up nice and slow, no locking amps to cope with.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Yes, when we use that type system, there is no need for an easy start.

[@Rob_65]

Good to see you are back again. I just hit the like on this video but that somehow gives me a mixed feeling. There should also be care and love buttons if you ask me. We hardly have any ice storms over here (the Netherlands) and if we do, the only complaint you'll hear are about car windows being frozen up 🤭 and outages are mostly for planned maintenance only and last up to a few hours. Not anything requiring a multi level backup. I hope the damage on your property is still manageable and you recover soon.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thank you so much for your kind words. The power has just been restored after 5 1/2 days.

[@mdunbar04]

Welcome Back Ray. Is your main system down? Looked sunny there? I totally agree about the backup for your backups.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

In the video I explained I haven't commissioned the main system yet. Life got in the way and I was busy making money.

[@SyberPrepper]

Thanks for the video. I always learn a lot!

[@bearupfarm1818]

There mini splits now that can run off solar very easy.

[@pierre-michelbusque4404]

Excellent!

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Pierre!!

[@pierre-michelbusque4404]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff miss you buddy!

[@claesmansson9070]

Have 380 volt 35 Amp tractorgenerator for welding, 6000 volt dieselgenerator, 3000 Watt gasoline/benzin generator, gasoven 4200 Watts for those 11 kg gasbottles that are awailable here, boiler for handfed wood pieces, automatic stoker for wood chips,pills and soon will build small 2 stroke together with car alternator.just so can charge lifepo4 s if no sun from panels or wind from w.mill, thank you.

[@Jaimen403]

Hi, Ray from Spain Sorry for that disaster. I really think that you should begin to think about the aerothermal solution

[@user-mz8mq6xe9p]

I see a solar generator in my future

[@bearupfarm1818]

You will have good firewood if you have a wood burning stove to heat the house and cook will.

[@effbee56]

Would be interested to know what type of generator -e.g. pure sine wave etc, and what brand Some say that Honda and Yamaha make reliable 6-7 kw generators. Can even get welder/ generators- cane use for welding or power backup.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Next video answers that question. Publishing it now.

[@Arishomestead]

Hi Ray. Just fot your notice. There is high pitch frequency sound in the video from the time when you go inside untill you turn off that white charger box. Anyone else hears this?

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

That is why I turned it off

[@Arishomestead]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff so you heard it too, great👍 Thanks for video. Great to see you.

[@bearupfarm1818]

Hi, Ray . I have a question on building my own battery. I see so much videos on these batteries. When I build 4 batteries . I understand each have their own BMS. Will I have to program my inverter to charge each battery? Does each BMS have all the wiring harnesses with them? Or will I have to make them? Thanks for your help.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

You will run the batteries in parallel through a common busbar. Each BMS will come with a wiring harness. You will likely have to add wiring terminals at the ends of the wires.

[@hoocli]

Can you not hook up your generator to the deye inverters? And avoid the removal of solar?

[@Skeptic100100]

Ray, How/where are you storing 50 gallons of gas ? When storing a long time, are you adding anything to the gas ? Thank you !

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Ethanol free gas with double stabilizer.

[@JbVest]

got a question, when using a generator, and you have lifepo4 batteries, as well as a way to charge those batteries from that generator, would it be efficient (on your fuel source) to use the generator (when idle or not powering heavy loads) to store that power? that's a question I've been pondering, when thinking about building a system.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Yes and I can’t wait to get into the management of that on the main system.

[@JbVest]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff awesome. I look forward to seeing if you post a video on the subject. Tho I typically see people say that you should have a generator that's 3 times your inverting power? Not sure if that's for any system or just for certain scenarios? but it would be nice to be able to use a smaller gen (at least for my system) just to be able to charge up my bank with my small inverter with 40amp ac charging.

[@morriss4321]

You got to try being the first when it says it was posted 20 seconds ago...

[@peterking1134]

Would you think that buying a propane generator be better than a gasoline one. I would get multiple tanks (5-10) as backup.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

A 1000 gallon propane tank installed costs around 12,000$. Gasoline is more versatile in challenging times. Gas shortage? no problem. It is also more likely that you can find it in a pinch. It's a pain in a way but I rejected the propane version.

[@theboov3110]

I have a 1000kg propane tank mainly for heating purposes during 12 months. My supplier is introducing bio-propane in the near future., that will be great. Advantage of gas is high density of energy (about 13kWh/kg), frost-free use, relative clean combustion and very easy to fill-up the tank. Also gas is a great fuel for a small generator/heating device. 1000kg of gas delivered at my house costs here in France about € 2.800,-. And good to see you back Ray.

[@claesmansson9070]

240 volt lines are dug down into soil here, but I m not using grid anyways, refrigeration doesn t take many watts, just a small 800 Watts generator more than enough, man he s talking about 7000 Watts????Cut down the bad and old trees BEFORE storm comes,and burn the wood when no grid energy.

[@keithcress1335]

Hi Ray! I'm a little confused. Why isn't your big array handily supplying all your needs? Did it get damaged by the storm or ??

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

I don’t have the main system commissioned yet. Life got in the way but probably able to focus back on that soon.

[@keithcress1335]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff Ahhh. That explains it. I couldn't remember a working walk-thru like the great one you did with your water supply. Of course you can't use it during a perfect opportunity! As soon as you commission it Texas will never have another ice storm. LOL My life story.😀

[@shawnsolsbery1705]

Nice redundancy and use of small, efficient equipment to take care of the necessities.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Thanks Shawn

[@fduran6993]

I don't understand with the amount of batteries we watched you have why they can't provide energy (understanding that solar array is working). Take care.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

In the video, I explained that the main system has not yet been commissioned. Life has been getting in the way.

[@Mike-01234]

26k Generac Generator.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

Do you know what your minimum fuel consumption at idle is?

[@Mike-01234]

@@RayBuildsCoolStuff Specs say 188 Feet per hour for natural gas, and 75 feet per hour for propane at half load. Not sure how you figure out how big of a tank you need. I suppose if you have Natural gas feeding your property not a problem as long as it keeps working. The way to go would be battery bank and inverter backed up by the Generator. Then it only runs when needed to charge the bank at full power.

[@BeastMovies]

Wow, you spent thousands on batteries but no high freq inverters. All those panels and your running a Gen???? With a cheap growatt inverter you can run the Gen and solar at the same time.

[@RayBuildsCoolStuff]

My main system is not yet online. Stay tuned.😂