Off grid power

[Alan A]

Anyone ever consider hydro?
In a wet state with hills, obviously.
And with running water on the property.
I figure it’s less ugly than solar or wind. Curious if it’s been done at the domestic level.

[id10t]

Like modern comforts and AC or some lights and a radio levels of generation?

[Alan A]

Whole house.
Something like this…

https://www.micro-hydro-power.com/Micro-Hydro-Turbine-Power-Dual-Nozzle-XJ30-20SCTF4_6-Z.htm

[cstreit]

I went down a long YouTube rabbit hole on micro-hydro just because its so fascinating. Everything from purchased systems to modified washing machines and 3D printed parts.

Its certainly doable but it does look like a fair bit of maintenance because of debris, everything is wet, etc..

...but if I were out in the boonies I would probably take this on as a project for supplemental power.

[Evans, Marv]

I had a friend who owned a guest ranch in the mountains. He powered the whole place with a pelton wheel driving a generator. He collected water from a stream above the ranch in old, aircraft fuel tanks and ran it down to the ranch in six or eight inch pipe. I don't remember the specs, but it was a very reliable system.

[cstreit]

Since the hydro will require an MPPT controller - might as well throw up a few solar panels into the mix as well. Lots of great YT videos on people doing this.