This weekend, we visited what is probably the second largest private off-the-grid electrical installation in the state of Idaho, a place known simply as Silver Creek Plunge.

Built around one of Idaho’s many natural hot springs, the place features a swimming pool built right over a hot spring, where the 100 degree F water comes right up through the sandy bottom of the pool. At 540 gallons per minute flow, they don’t even have to use much chlorine. We stayed in one of the adjacent Forest Service campgrounds, and spent hours soaking, fishing, hiking, etc

But what was really cool was their alternate energy installation. Without specific numbers, and just looking at their setup (the owner wasn’t even sure of specific numbers himself), we estimate that they have about a 20KW solar PV panel grid and 1 KW low head, high flow hydroelectric installation, backed up by a 45 KW propane generator. Their deep cycle battery banks take up an entire wall of the battery room and probably weighs (I’m guessing) well over 20 tons. Power conversion of the 48VDC battery banks to 110VAC is done by at least 8 2.5KW Outback Inverters all networked together, providing the place with an estimated 20KW of power available 24 hours a day, all year round.

We liked several things about this installation: multiple sources of power, a strong backup option to both provide power and recharge the battery bank on cloudy days, and their choice of high quality equipment. And it gets the job done, effectively. The owner said the installation has almost paid for itself, and he is planning to expand it even more.

The biggest thing I did NOT like about the installation was that the Solar Panel grid was located substantially over 200 ft from the battery room, so even at 48 VDC, I estimate they were losing at least 10% of their available power in line losses between the panels and the batteries. I would have found some way to locate the battery building a lot closer to the panels.

This installation was a pretty standard installation, using classical, well-developed and well-understood alternate energy technology. There was no evidence of any of the more cutting edge technologies in use (such as the ones being developed here and at FreedomFromTheGrid.com), like propane replacement hydrogen cells, fuel cells, gravity wheels, zero point energy converters, or controlled lightning initiators. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available. Meanwhile, if you need your own more traditional alternate energy system like the one at Silver Creek Plunge, designed, set up, or installed, contact us immediately.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to visit Silver Creek Plunge for yourself and enjoy the refreshing and therapeutic hot spring water. Sincerely, Tim Benedict

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