Popular Mechanics - USA (2019-05)

OPTION A

OPTION B

@PopularMechanics _ May 2019 69

WHY AREN’T

GENERATORS ON THIS LIST?

DON’T PLAN ON USING a generator as your main energy
source. It’s unlikely to be the most effective, efficient, or
economical. That said, a critical component of every off-grid
system is a reliable backup generator for times when the sun
doesn’t shine, the wind doesn’t blow, and the stream dries up
in the hot season. There are two options:

A. PERMANENT
A fixed-installation generator could be installed in an out-
building and connected directly to the electric system in your
home. You want an automatic start, which will kick on when
your battery bank needs recharging. Kohler’s 14-kilowatt
generator has the auto-start, plus a wireless remote-start
switch, so if you ever do need to turn
it on, you can do it from inside your
home. It runs on either natural gas or
liquid propane and is no louder than
a typical air-conditioning system—
a crucial consideration when your
property’s ambient noise skews
more toward grasshoppers than gar-
bage trucks. (~$3,700)

B. PORTABLE
If you just want a backup on hand
for your most crucial needs (refrig-
erator, water pump, etc.), to reload
a battery bank that’s been drawn
down, or for use at an off-grid
building site, portable generators
are smaller and cheaper. Honda’s
2,200-watt generator is compact,
lightweight, and can run for eight
hours on a gallon of gas. Easy to toss
in the back of your truck, ideal for
peace of mind. (~$1,200) —J.K.

THE

CALCULATOR

ENERGY NEEDS

Check off each of the following items that

you can’t live without. Then tally your score

to find out how much power you’ll need to

generate to continue your lifestyle.

BUILD YOUR OWN

WIND TESTER

PROJECT

If you want to power your home using wind, first you need
to know how much wind you have. You can buy an expensive
meter, or you can build your own, using an aluminum can, plas-
tic eggs, metal rods, two dowels, and a bike speedometer. For
the full instructions, go to popularmechanics.com/wind-tester.

ANSWER KEY

Less than 30 points: You are as off-the-grid as they

come. You can probably get by with a small solar array.

31–60 points: Add a backup generator, and you’re set.

More than 60 points: Are you sure you wouldn’t rather

live in a hotel?

Refrigerated food (10)

Heat (10)

Hot water (10)

Air conditioning (10)

Clothes washer (10)

Clothes dryer (15)

Oven (5)

Microwave (5)

Xbox (1)

Laptop (5)

TV (5)

Microsoft Zune (5)

(Just kidding!

Remember those?)

Incandescent

lighting (5)

DVR (5)

Outdoor floodlights

to spot on-the-grid

intruders (10)

Vacuum cleaner (5)

Paper shredder (1)

Wine fridge (10)

Cellphone (5)

Elevator (10)

Anything from Sharper

Image (5)

One of those shoe-

polishing stands from

the bowling alley (5)

Massage chair (10)

Espresso maker (5)

Air-hockey

table (5)

Electric toothbrush (1)

Automatic pet

feeder (5)

Karaoke night

at your house! ( 5 )

To to Wa s h l e t G 4 0 0

electric toilet with

premist, rear cleanse,

and air dryer ($3,370

but totally worth it) (10)

LED lighting for the

display case showing

off your Popular

Mechanics collection.

(You have one, too?!) (5)