Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show

Living off the grid in the City Renegade style is a series of lifestyles that some “serious off-gridders” choose to live. These are difficult and life changing, but may bring timeless and priceless experiences and satisfaction to you. These include living in a nearly totally-off grid homestead; living off-grid in a vehicle on the road; and living off-grid out of a backpack as a nomad. These lifestyles are difficult to engage in and remain in, so I recommend taking a few steps that will help you choose these lifestyles, and make those experience more significant and perhaps “worth it”. These preliminary steps are to: Dump your ID; Dump your money or payment options; and Dump your social media accounts. Dumping your ID allows you to ditch the control of those that issued you that ID, this way you’ll have no ties on your renegade off grid experience. Dumping your money and payment options will force you to experience what living off the monetary grid feels like. Few people can claim they have this experience. This will take your ingenuity and resourcefulness to new heights. Finally, dumping your social media will free you from the constant control, surveillance, and pressures of social media “friends”. This will separate you from the corralled “rats” forever attempting to be liked and followed. Enjoy this series and be sure to look for following episodes. Hector Vladimir 2021-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/ For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable laws and regulatory code for all tasks, installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction.

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Batteries for off grid applications. Lithium ion based batteries have greatly increased in popularity in the last 10 years due to its decrease in cost and increase in efficiency and safety. However, cheaper batteries still remain lead acid based. Marine, deep cycle, or absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries remain popular options for off gridders on a budget. Here I discuss what batteries are, how they basically work, wiring them to the load and as battery banks, and their applications. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/ For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction.

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Off the grid for time. Time is the most valuable commodity we own. Our time belongs to each of us. It cannot be stolen from us. Yet, we often misuse it, scuttle it, waste it, and don’t value or protect it. We often sell it to the lowest bidder and do unwanted work just to keep up with our comfortable lifestyles. We ignore loved ones, our health, and our dreams and goals for the pursuit of a few dollars and give away massive percentages of our time. Heart beats. Living off the grid decreases your need for energy, money, resources, and is against a lavish lifestyle. All these allow you to regain control over your time and what is really important for you and those around you. Here are a few reasons why. For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Energy Hogs -Water heaters. Water heating is very convenient in many areas of the US. It brings comfort and pleasure to bathing and washing, especially in cold seasons. But, electric water heating is a high energy consumer and brings high cost to most people. If you want to live off the grid or reduce your electric energy consumption; getting rid of your electric water heater is a must. You may alternatively reduce the size of your water heater, and decrease its set temperature to about 100 degrees F or 38 degrees C. The best option for water heater is to go with a solar one, but if that is not an option for your area then a tankless LPG water heater is the most efficient. For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Electric Vehicle charging is getting expensive! Specifically DC fast charging using paid networks like Electrify America, EVGo, Blink, Chargepoint, and others. Even dealerships are charging EV owners. Per my experience about $0.50 per kWh is the most common rate, but can vary from $0.25 to $0.60 per kWh. I found that in an EV with efficiency of about 5km/kWh (3.2mi/kWh) as compared to purchasing gas at a per gallon cost of $3.30 for a 48 KPG (30 MPG) vehicle; you pay the equivalent of a whopping $4.80! ouch! For information purposes only. Always follow appropriate and applicable regulatory code for all installations, modifications, and fabrications. For US electrical installations follow the codes of the authority having jurisdiction. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Energy hogs – heating and cooling. There are 5 known electrical energy hogs in the home. The air heater, the air cooler, air dehumidifiers, the water heater, and lighting. These can be covered with alternative energy such as PV solar, but they draw so much energy that this becomes very expensive and impractical. To combat this, you must downsize, be efficient, and consider if you even need these items. You can also run some or all of these with more affordable or controllable fossil fuel energies like gas. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Other challenges. There are social, and psychological challenges to getting off the grid. It is not easy, it is expensive, and requires lots of dedication, work, knowledge, and appreciation for larger things like the environment, animal and plant life, and the future of the planet. These reasons will provide you with the extraordinary will power required to tackle the social and psychological challenges. These challenges come from your household, family, friends, neighborhood, employers, and the government. The city and state where you live don’t want to to live off grid, and they will do everything possible to prevent you from achieving this. Here, I explain a few solutions for these. Among them are smart decision making, ease into off grid, be patient and gradual, start simple and small, and be conspicuous. Don’t broadcast all of your goals and aims unless you’re sure you’ll be welcomed with those. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Technical challenges to getting off the grid. Running your household power hogs are among the top challenges with living off the electrical grid. Those power hogs are your air heat, air cooler, water heater, refrigerator, and steady-on equipment. Unfortunately those are critical to have operating in most areas of the US, and they are difficult to run with batteries. But, plenty can be done to have those, or equivalent technologies, run with batteries. Here I discus those options. These options include limiting their use, downsizing those equipment, switching energy sources from electric to gas, and using alternative equipment like some that are high efficiency or that run on low voltage and batteries. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Efficiency and performance test for 2023 Nissan Ariya electric vehicle. This trial shows real world data from a 2883 km or 1791 mile trip. This is for the 66kwh Engage model. Driving conditions were normal highway and road conditions. Vehicle was loaded only with luggage and some supplies. This test gave me some surprising results. I routinely matched or overperformed on the rated EPA vehicle range of 348 km or 216 miles. The average km/kwh was about 5.3 km or 3.3 miles per kwh. The average rate per kwh paid was $0.45 per kwh, that's $196, for the trip, ouch! Cost per km per kwh was about $0.07 per km or $0.11 per mile. Had to stop 12 times to travel 2883 km (1791 mi). These are other valuable information is included in this study. Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Legacy. Updated 2024. Conventional fuel combustion engined generators can be a good option for certain off grid situations. Yes, they are loud, bulky, polluting, and can be expensive to run. But if they are employed for very limited time, and for some situations, they may be a smart complement to an off grid renewable system. Here, I discuss on ways how to reduce cost, noise, and pollution while using a backup gas powered generator. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

12 Other solar technologies. Living Off the Grid in the City Radio (Legacy) Show. There are other solar technologies that may enable you to get off the grid. The photovoltaic effect history is briefly discussed here. These include solar coolers, non-electric refrigerators, and electric non-moving-parts heaters and air coolers. These technologies are based on solar concentrators, thermocouple and thermo-electric effects. These concepts and technologies may allow the curious and ingenious to generate heat, cold, and electricity using heat energy from the sun. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Solar energy has been on the rise in the last 2 decades. Many countries and companies have embraced solar. Solar technologies are more accessible than ever. Solar technologies include photovoltaic and heat collectors, and light concentrators. Light collectors and concentrators can be built at home for various uses. Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

10 Is it possible to live off the grid? Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. I believe it to be not only possible, but practical, advantageous, and necessary to live off the grid. It can save you money, give you freedom, and help the environment, your community and technologies. You need no more than a few hundred watts of energy to live generously, and using simple alternative energy methods and technologies can enable you to safely and easily be off the grid. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. To more easily and conveniently get off the grid you should take a few smart steps. Consider your current energy use; change some energy use habits, and move high energy away from electric. These will enable you to switch to alternative energy sources and off the electrical grid. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. To more easily and conveniently get off the grid you should take a few smart steps. Consider your current energy use; change some energy use habits, and move high energy away from electric. These will enable you to switch to alternative energy sources and off the electrical grid. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc5tJy1BbtZaohmLi5F0-DFZ http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show (Legacy). Retails store shopping is outdated and abhorrent. It is energy intensive and wasteful. Internet shopping is generally more affordable and creates demand in a wider region of the world. Demand for internet shopping can decrease cost, save energy, and improve world trade and relations. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyWqApEqGtc6nd-_C6bkiKnMxLBg7DfgK http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. The entertainment grid is wasteful, expensive, and one-sided. You have very little choice as to the programming you are served, and the content is ever-more extreme. Violence seems to reach for new heights every year. Sexual content seems to spread into more time slots and is becoming more extreme. The entertainment grid, as it has been fed to us; must go. Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Episode 6. Here, I continue discuss the clear disadvantages and harms of the current grid system. It is harmful due to the low priority given to customer service, and to the unchecked rate increases. Water service enjoys the same status and it is a needed service that has turned for profit. Leaving the poor and destitute to suffer. Communications and entertainment have also turned to greedy for profit industries in the US. And, this has curtailed their use for the poor. Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/ Soundtrack was Drummer’s Salute Composed by John Williams (1992).

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Episode 6. Here, I discuss the clear disadvantages and harms of a monopoly. And, how most areas have monopoly electric utility service. It is harmful due to the low priority given to customer service, and to the unchecked rate increases. Water service enjoys the same status. Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show Hector Vladimir 2015-2024© http://www.youtube.com/@hbcsolarpvtech https://www.youtube.com/@HBCSolarPVTechByron Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/ Soundtrack was Drummer’s Salute Composed by John Williams (1992).

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Here I remind the reader that having electric power is a basic necessity, and I delve into how the private for-profit electric corporations are taking advantage of this situation. In previous episodes I shared my experiences with several electric companies, and how I became an advocate for renewable energies. My goals being to save my hard-earned money, for my purposes and not to maintain the high life of electric company employees; to save the environment and the planet; and to forward technology and efficiency worldwide. As a reminder, your power company is set up to make a profit, expand, and produce ever-more energy. And, your power company has no competitors, it is a monopoly in most areas. This is why the power company keeps raising the rates on you, and you have no choice but to pay them. They know they got you under their thumb, and you are hopeless but to pay. This is why power companies are abusive, arrogant, and not worried about their customers. They know their customers are trapped. They buy your representatives so that they keep raising rates and making record profits unabated. They have agents to pick up your phone calls, for any complaints and try to blame the high bills on your high-power usage. They also try to scam you into a plan that estimates your power usage and averages your bill so you can pay the same high amount every month, and prevent you from getting outraged when you see your bill go up from month to month. They are even brazen-enough to offer you to contribute to “solar energy” so that they can control that market too. The power company sucks! Hector Vladimir 2023© Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Here I share my sour experiences with several electric companies, and how I became an advocate for renewable energies. My goals being to save my hard earned money, for my purposes and not to maintain the high life of electric company employees; to save the environment and the planet; and to forward technology and efficiency worldwide. As a reminder, your power company is set up to make a profit, expand, and produce ever-more energy. And, your power company has no competitors, it is a monopoly in most areas. This is why the power company keeps raising the rates on you, and you have no choice but to pay them. They know they got you under their thumb, and you are hopeless but to pay. This is why power companies are abusive, arrogant, and not worried about their customers. They know their customers are trapped. They buy your representatives so that they keep raising rates and making record profits unabated. They have agents to pick up your phone calls, for any complaints and try to blame the high bills on your high-power usage. They also try to scam you into a plan that estimates your power usage and averages your bill so you can pay the same high amount every month, and prevent you from getting outraged when you see your bill go up from month to month. They are even brazen-enough to offer you to contribute to “solar energy” so that they can control that market too. The power company sucks! Hector Vladimir 2023© Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Here I share my sour experiences with several electric companies, and how I became an advocate for renewable energies. My goals being to save my hard earned money, for my purposes and not to maintain the high life of electric company employees; to save the environment and the planet; and to forward technology and efficiency worldwide. As a reminder, your power company is set up to make a profit, expand, and produce ever-more energy. And, your power company has no competitors, it is a monopoly in most areas. This is why the power company keeps raising the rates on you, and you have no choice but to pay them. They know they got you under their thumb, and you are hopeless but to pay. This is why power companies are abusive, arrogant, and not worried about their customers. They know their customers are trapped. They buy your representatives so that they keep raising rates and making record profits unabated. They have agents to pick up your phone calls, for any complaints and try to blame the high bills on your high-power usage. They also try to scam you into a plan that estimates your power usage and averages your bill so you can pay the same high amount every month, and prevent you from getting outraged when you see your bill go up from month to month. They are even brazen-enough to offer you to contribute to “solar energy” so that they can control that market too. The power company sucks! Hector Vladimir 2023© Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Here I share my sour experiences with several electric companies, and how I became an advocate for renewable energies. My goals being to save my hard earned money, for my purposes and not to maintain the high life of electric company employees; to save the environment and the planet; and to forward technology and efficiency worldwide. As a reminder, your power company is set up to make a profit, expand, and produce ever-more energy. And, your power company has no competitors, it is a monopoly in most areas. This is why the power company keeps raising the rates on you, and you have no choice but to pay them. They know they got you under their thumb, and you are hopeless but to pay. This is why power companies are abusive, arrogant, and not worried about their customers. They know their customers are trapped. They buy your representatives so that they keep raising rates and making record profits unabated. They have agents to pick up your phone calls, for any complaints and try to blame the high bills on your high-power usage. They also try to scam you into a plan that estimates your power usage and averages your bill so you can pay the same high amount every month, and prevent you from getting outraged when you see your bill go up from month to month. They are even brazen-enough to offer you to contribute to “solar energy” so that they can control that market too. The power company sucks! Hector Vladimir 2023© Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/

Living Off the Grid in the City Radio Show. Here I share my sour experiences with several electric companies, and how I became an advocate for renewable energies. My goals being to save my hard earned money, for my purposes and not to maintain the high life of electric company employees; to save the environment and the planet; and to forward technology and efficiency worldwide. As a reminder, your power company is set up to make a profit, expand, and produce ever-more energy. And, your power company has no competitors, it is a monopoly in most areas. This is why the power company keeps raising the rates on you, and you have no choice but to pay them. They know they got you under their thumb, and you are hopeless but to pay. This is why power companies are abusive, arrogant, and not worried about their customers. They know their customers are trapped. They buy your representatives so that they keep raising rates and making record profits unabated. They have agents to pick up your phone calls, for any complaints and try to blame the high bills on your high-power usage. They also try to scam you into a plan that estimates your power usage and averages your bill so you can pay the same high amount every month, and prevent you from getting outraged when you see your bill go up from month to month. They are even brazen-enough to offer you to contribute to “solar energy” so that they can control that market too. The power company sucks! Hector Vladimir 2023© Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/hectorvladimir Substack page: https://hectorvladimir.substack.com/