Very happy to hear that you guys sailed through yesterday sem problemas. I did wonder how your system was coping as I sat down to a dinner of queijo, pão and lukewarm vinho verde…
We were relatively lucky, power back on by 9.00pm, but a work day lost on the project 😳
Glad to hear it. That smugness was hard earned. Here we have learned the hard way that solar panels (and that nice Mr Musk's satellites) are no use in a crisis without a battery (and your friend is right, we should have been at the solar shop first thing this morning), but every day a lesson here.
Congratulations Alastair! Well written. Here in Milfontes, we got by. I felt smug because I managed to complete making 5 L of my own yogurt, which I was in the middle of when the power went out.
Being off grid and fancy free in Zambu ourselves, I was also feeling pretty smug when the power went out. But the smugness was short lived. With a copy deadline looming, our internet connection slowly ground to zero bars at about 5pm and didn't come back until after midnight. Eight hours spent wishing we still had a radio and TV to find out what the hell was going on out in the real world. Need Starlink!
I'll admit to not being much of a fan of Elon...given his recent behaviour...but there's not much else out there to give a reliable and affordable off-grid satellite connection.
Fascinating. But perhaps you should eat all that ice cream just in case!
We’re not off-grid but our house was built by a sort of technician-inventor in the late 70s and we still have all sorts of old-school passive solar, water storage, heavy insulation, etc. to keep us comfy in blackouts (not that I’ve ever seen a power cut in Austria).
Thanks for this update. I'l admit we were thinking about Vale das Estrelas yesterday during the power outage in Portugal and wondering how the off-grid lodge was faring. :)
Hey Alastair
Very happy to hear that you guys sailed through yesterday sem problemas. I did wonder how your system was coping as I sat down to a dinner of queijo, pão and lukewarm vinho verde…
We were relatively lucky, power back on by 9.00pm, but a work day lost on the project 😳
Glad to hear it. That smugness was hard earned. Here we have learned the hard way that solar panels (and that nice Mr Musk's satellites) are no use in a crisis without a battery (and your friend is right, we should have been at the solar shop first thing this morning), but every day a lesson here.
Congrats! And yes, smaller regional systems offer more reliability but unfortunately leas profit.
Excellent to hear it all went well - except for the ice cream - reassuring for September!
Congratulations Alastair! Well written. Here in Milfontes, we got by. I felt smug because I managed to complete making 5 L of my own yogurt, which I was in the middle of when the power went out.
This is so great!! Congratulations!
Being off grid and fancy free in Zambu ourselves, I was also feeling pretty smug when the power went out. But the smugness was short lived. With a copy deadline looming, our internet connection slowly ground to zero bars at about 5pm and didn't come back until after midnight. Eight hours spent wishing we still had a radio and TV to find out what the hell was going on out in the real world. Need Starlink!
I'll admit to not being much of a fan of Elon...given his recent behaviour...but there's not much else out there to give a reliable and affordable off-grid satellite connection.
Boycott Musk! Provided there is a competitive alternative!
Fascinating. But perhaps you should eat all that ice cream just in case!
We’re not off-grid but our house was built by a sort of technician-inventor in the late 70s and we still have all sorts of old-school passive solar, water storage, heavy insulation, etc. to keep us comfy in blackouts (not that I’ve ever seen a power cut in Austria).
Thanks for this update. I'l admit we were thinking about Vale das Estrelas yesterday during the power outage in Portugal and wondering how the off-grid lodge was faring. :)