This weeks preps check-in

[Arcticdude]

Congrats, I am envious! What is your capacity/output from the array and batteries? What type of batteries?


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I'm using 8 Crown lead acid 6 volt 430 ah batteries wired for 24 volt. I can't remember the brand of solar panels I'm using but I paid extra for American made ones. I have 10 panels at 295 watts each for a total of 29,500 watts. This all runs through a Magnum inverter. My backup generator is a 12kw Perkins diesel connected to the inverter. Plus it has an automatic start, which is programmable from the inverter. Once the panels are installed and wired correctly, the generator shouldn't ever start during the summer, unless I'm running the welder or table saw in the shop.

 

[brandx]

Picking apples, applesauce, canned apples, pickles, etc. Stocking up.

 

[Brent S]

Picking apples, applesauce, canned apples, pickles, etc. Stocking up.

My trees are about to break they are so loaded down this year. Guess I need to start eating apples!

 

[Doreena]

My trees are about to break they are so loaded down this year. Guess I need to start eating apples!

That is the way my plum trees were much earlier. Which I had apples. I guess that will have to wait until I can get some “real” land.


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[Arcticdude]

The lumber for the house will be delivered tomorrow. The excavator guy should be out on Friday to install the French drain and backfill the foundation. I'm going to try and get the crane out on Friday so I can start installing the solar panels on the mount. I figured it would be safer using the crane with a man basket than putting a ladder in the bucket of my tractor.
Today I'm going to start putting a temporary fence around the hay stack.
It's still hot, dry, smokey and dusty around here. Over 2 months without a drop of rain and no relief in sight.

 

[brandx]

The lumber for the house will be delivered tomorrow. The excavator guy should be out on Friday to install the French drain and backfill the foundation. I'm going to try and get the crane out on Friday so I can start installing the solar panels on the mount. I figured it would be safer using the crane with a man basket than putting a ladder in the bucket of my tractor.
Today I'm going to start putting a temporary fence around the hay stack.
It's still hot, dry, smokey and dusty around here. Over 2 months without a drop of rain and no relief in sight.

No wonder there are fires. can't imagine no rain for that long.

 

[Danil54grl]

The lumber for the house will be delivered tomorrow. The excavator guy should be out on Friday to install the French drain and backfill the foundation. I'm going to try and get the crane out on Friday so I can start installing the solar panels on the mount. I figured it would be safer using the crane with a man basket than putting a ladder in the bucket of my tractor.
Today I'm going to start putting a temporary fence around the hay stack.
It's still hot, dry, smokey and dusty around here. Over 2 months without a drop of rain and no relief in sight.

You may want consider investing in a mini excavator for your place. It sure does come in handy with digging and even moving heavy objects such as loading/unloading big logs to bring home for fire wood. We have even used it to drive in t post and pull out. Stand things back up, etc.

 

[brandx]

You may want consider investing in a mini excavator for your place. It sure does come in handy with digging and even moving heavy objects such as loading/unloading big logs to bring home for fire wood. We have even used it to drive in t post and pull out. Stand things back up, etc.

I would love to have some big equipment. The lot across the road from where I work has a used John Deere Gator, though not considered heavy equipment it sure would be great to have. Cost is over 7 grand. I paid less for both of my vehicles combined. The only thing I have for digging is a spade.

 

[Arcticdude]

No wonder there are fires. can't imagine no rain for that long.

On Friday we drove up to visit the kids and gbabies. They live about 400 miles north of here. Several places along the way the temps were up to 107 degs and we drove by several fires. Most fires looked like they were pretty much out but on the way home there was a new fire in a wheat field.
Here at home we've had about 6 days of 90+ degs this summer, with most days around 10-13% humidity. I'll be glad to see some rain again, maybe in October.

 

[Arcticdude]

You may want consider investing in a mini excavator for your place. It sure does come in handy with digging and even moving heavy objects such as loading/unloading big logs to bring home for fire wood. We have even used it to drive in t post and pull out. Stand things back up, etc.

Yeah, I've been thinking about buying a mini excavator. And a small dozer too. But two years of major construction projects any large equipment purchases will have to wait until next year. This fall I need to buy a new snow plow for the tractor, a snow blower, a wood splitter and a welder.

 

[Doreena]

On Friday we drove up to visit the kids and gbabies. They live about 400 miles north of here. Several places along the way the temps were up to 107 degs and we drove by several fires. Most fires looked like they were pretty much out but on the way home there was a new fire in a wheat field.
Here at home we've had about 6 days of 90+ degs this summer, with most days around 10-13% humidity. I'll be glad to see some rain again, maybe in October.

That is very scary! I hope you have a good fire break. (The excavator made me think of that)


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[Brent S]

Yeah, I've been thinking about buying a mini excavator. And a small dozer too. But two years of major construction projects any large equipment purchases will have to wait until next year. This fall I need to buy a new snow plow for the tractor, a snow blower, a wood splitter and a welder.

Even though the tractor isn’t as strong as an excavator, with the backhoe on it I can do just about anything. It’s more versatile than a bobcat for me.

 

[Danil54grl]

I would love to have some big equipment. The lot across the road from where I work has a used John Deere Gator, though not considered heavy equipment it sure would be great to have. Cost is over 7 grand. I paid less for both of my vehicles combined. The only thing I have for digging is a spade.

This is a thought of maybe one day for you if you like a gator. They do make those two seated golf carts where the back seat folds down into a dump bed. Granted it won't haul a lot of weight but it is a big help. Son 2 has one for his small place. Around here I use a golf cart to check on critters and haul in the produce from the garden. Sons was roughly $1600 and my used one was only $200 but also had to get new batteries for it so I think total in was around $800. We did recover the seat cushions and did a small paint job but going to do more as time permits.

 

[brandx]

View attachment 8938
This is a thought of may become day for you if you like a gator. They do make those two seated golf carts where the back seat folds down into a dump bed. Granted it won't haul a lot of weight but it is a big help. Son 2 has one for his small place. Around here I use a good cart to check on critters and haul in the produce from the garden. Sons was roughly $1600 and my used one was only $200 but also had to get new batteries for it so I think total in was around $800. We did recover the seat cushions and did a small paint job but going to do more as time permits.

Nice! I use an old Wheelhorse riding mower, it's probably 30 years old but it has the original wagon with it, a few pin holes but it works. I have to wear ear protection because it's so loud, doesn't mow well , but cuts. I think the deck has a few pin holes too. I just keep putting oil in, changing oil, adding fuel and keep it lubed up. Hoping it lasts a long time yet. I use it to haul wood, apples, garbage, brick, etc. I have changed the ignition once and the belt once in the last 18 years. But something larger and more sturdy sure would be nice.

 

[brandx]

That is very scary! I hope you have a good fire break. (The excavator made we think of that)


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I always thought Alabama was hot and muggy. Our humidity here runs about 80-90 all the time. Stuff rusts inside!

 

[brandx]

Some rain this week, hopefully the g round will soften up enough to get some posts in the ground for the blackberries, they will like the rain and my patch is spreading out and needs more support. Next year looks like a good crop.

 

[brandx]

On Friday we drove up to visit the kids and gbabies. They live about 400 miles north of here. Several places along the way the temps were up to 107 degs and we drove by several fires. Most fires looked like they were pretty much out but on the way home there was a new fire in a wheat field.
Here at home we've had about 6 days of 90+ degs this summer, with most days around 10-13% humidity. I'll be glad to see some rain again, maybe in October.

Wow, our humidity today is 78%, usually runs 80-90.

 

[Doreena]

Some rain this week, hopefully the g round will soften up enough to get some posts in the ground for the blackberries, they will like the rain and my patch is spreading out and needs more support. Next year looks like a good crop.

I am envious! Blackberries are one of my favorites and on my list of things I want to plant when I get my land.


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[DrPrepper]

I replaced a light bulb in the garage.

I checked the batteries in the smoke detectors. We had a bad thunderstorm here. 4 houses in the city got struck by lightening. We thought ours might have been one. We had one smoke detector go off twice. The battery was good. We went outside and smelled smoke (from another house that had caught fire that we didn't know about) but we didn't smell smoke inside. We called the fire department. They came out and said that they smelled smoke as well, but our house was fine.

I changed the air filter. Replaced batteries in the lights in the pantry.

I visited my adult kids and checked to make sure their flashlights had batteries in them. ...does that count?

 

[Arcticdude]

We got the sub floor on the house done today. Got the French drain put in around the foundation and backfilled. The water and electric will be put in tomorrow.
Since the house is being built on a slope we ended up with a 5-1/2 foot "crawl" space under the house. Once the final inspection is done I'll go under and dig down another foot and make a root cellar that will cover about 1/2 of the house. This will save us the expense of excavating and building a root cellar outside.
The new bull was delivered today and was introduced to the girls.