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No full time heat source

A simple and inexpensive solar panel can generate 30 watts, easy - that's more than enough for a typical UTH that can in turn generate plenty of heat for the snake tank. Sort of the electrical equivalent of importing some solar heat.
Alternately, you may find a way to configure the tank such that some basking rocks can collect heat from sunlight during the day - but be aware that sun shining in a tank can get really too hot.
 
for example:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...le_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A05654602L3XUQ70M87BV
battery:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008D5YG3G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3UNYF78MGMXY1
inverter:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RNOHBC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

You'd just add wiring, and you may want to upgrade a charge regulator. This will give you power enough to also run a laptop, charge other devices, etc. Of course this is just free advice and not professional counsel. Therefore consult with local codes / contractors / disclaimers etc....
Do you have any solar assets for living off the grid right now?
 
Nanci said:
Hmm- I think I need one of those! Which one is the one you like?
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It greatly depends on your needs. Different generators will last for different amounts of hours based upon what you are running and how long you need to run them. The one that I linked, I actually keep in my vehicle as a backup for jumping a car or recharging my phone in an emergency.

I believe there is also a Generac brand portable generator that I've heard decent things about.
 
I wonder if there's one that could power my modem and router. What good is a laptop if you don't have wifi? Or a cell phone, either, since I can't get cell signal at my hose without wifi...
 
Nanci said:
I wonder if there's one that could power my modem and router. What good is a laptop if you don't have wifi? Or a cell phone, either, since I can't get cell signal at my hose without wifi...
Click to expand...

Actually, there is! I have one known as a Belkin Battery Backup Unit. It runs your modem and router if the power goes out. Here is the actual Belkin website of them, but I've seen people selling them on E-bay for about $20.

http://www.belkin.com/us/gatewaybattery/
 
I do have some solar assets that I use for charging some devices and even a vehicle when it becomes necessary. Also I have a solar water heater that I enjoy very much, but they didn't help me in caring for Amber, I have however made some other changes to my way of living that I would not have done or thought to do without the consideration of Ambers needs. I have installed a propane heater with a thermostat and ordered a 100 gallon tank to be delivered this week. Heck with all the upgrading I've done for her I will probably end up keeping her as I have gotten surprisingly attached to her. I may even be motivated to finish the hydro generator that I have been collecting parts for and have free full time power. At very least she has forced me to get some creature comforts that will improve my way of living as well. So not to worry she'll be fine even if it puts me in the poor house ( that is to say totally renovated modernized poor house lol). Shaggy I tried to quote some of your post in this response but haven't gotten that good yet.
 
I'm really curious about why you live off the grid. You just want to? Is it in a cool place? Do you have neighbors? What do you do for a living? Are you more "free" in terms of what you want to do to make money, because you have less expense?
 
Nanci said:
I'm really curious about why you live off the grid. You just want to? Is it in a cool place? Do you have neighbors? What do you do for a living? Are you more "free" in terms of what you want to do to make money, because you have less expense?
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Since you are so curious and have asked me directly I will try to fill in some blanks for you, and maybe for others that have the same curiosity. 9 years ago while living in Ca and running a very successful landscape maintenance business that I was co-owner of my grandfather whom I never had the pleasure of meeting, as he died before I was born, came to me in a dream and told me that the family farm was in danger of being sold out of the family. He then made me promise to come to Utah and protect that from happening with my life. When I awoke from the dream I told my then friend now life partner about it and that I was selling my business and moving to Utah. I managed to save the farm just shy of 400 acres to he tune of $1.2 million. It is located near Bryce Canyon and no one has lived here since my grandparents(50+years) I continue to live here and improve the ranch but in no way is it cheaper to live off grid. My nearest neighbor is 3 miles away and it is 20 miles to the nearest anything 50 to the nearest hospital and 120 miles to the nearest pet store and Wal-mart. I now work at a wildlife museum and also do handy man work for a motel in nearby Panguitch. I have however taken to rescuing abused animals as a hobby and though the expence is high the rewards are worth it. Besides my partner I live with 6 dogs 7 cats 10 chickens 3.5 llamas and an 12 year old Missouri Fox Trotter(mare) and now a young amel corn snake all of which were rescues with the exception of 3 dogs 2 we moved here with and one we got together as a puppy to work the cattle. Also virtually hundreds of other animals have made a stay here while waiting for placement in the past 6 years. I do enjoy my life and consider myself fortunate. But my wealth is measured in lives saved not dollars acquired. The winters here can be very brutal -19 in some occasions and as much as 6 feet of snow. Which is why I have had to make a lot of improvements for Amber the corn snake and continue to improve for her sake as I have gotten attached to her. And so now you know nanci if you have any more questions feel free to ask I'm always willing to make friends.
 
I love Bryce Canyon. I first visited when I was 10. So you're ranching cattle now? I can't even imagine working such a hard job without the luxury of electricity. What is the land like? Have you ever read Desert Solitaire? I think you might enjoy it.
 
There is a company called Superior Shipping, which sells 40 and 60 hour heat packs. (The longer the time period, the lower the peak temp- the site has all that data). I'd get a 10-pack of those, maybe 60 hour packs, just for in case of emergency in the winter.

If you need to use the pack, I'd place it in a plastic container like a margarine cup, with air holes, and place the activated pack in the container in with the snake. That way the snake can't get burned by it.
 
That sounds pretty cool! When I was in Colorado, I dated a guy who's dad managed a 6,000 acre cattle ranch. Also, an uncle by marriage manages a cattle ranch in Colorado. They have a big roundup every year, where they brand and vaccinate the babies. I helped one year, giving vaccs. That was an experience.

Congrats on your new Cornsnake. :)
They are fun creatures.
Kudos to you for rescuing so many lives!

Ship Your Reptiles has 48hr and 72 hr heat packs, that is where I get mine from.
 
That's a good question

wesleypipesyo said:
3.5 llamas? How did you get half of a llama?
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Lol you guys don't miss anything. Last fall I rescued 4 female llamas ages 3,4,6&<18 the elder llama didn't survive the winter :( she may have been older than I was lead to believe. Anyways I dug a big hole which was not easy through frozen ground even with my kubota gave her a ceremony and buried her:.( then on Father's Day this past June the "3" year old named Gracie had a baby she is a miracle child IMO and sooo darn cute I was going to name her dolly since I so rarely get to name any as they come to me already named, but Dolly Llama was too hokey even for an old gay such as I so settled on Sally or as I affectionately call her "Silly Sally" and so I say for now I have 3.5 llamas.
 
Thank you all for your great suggestions about the heat packs and I have already begun sewing a padded pouch to use with them to protect her from burns.
 
Nanci said:
I love Bryce Canyon. I first visited when I was 10. So you're ranching cattle now? I can't even imagine working such a hard job without the luxury of electricity. What is the land like? Have you ever read Desert Solitaire? I think you might enjoy it.
Click to expand...

I also love Bryce Canyon this is truly gods country. No I don't run a cattle ranch I lease pasture to the neighbor for grazing and sometimes they get into my yard hence the need for Sugar our red healer cattle dog:). And she is great at what she does.
 
What an inspiring life story - literally "living the dream," hardships and joy all together. I bet you've got quite some stories to tell. I've fostered rescued German Shepherd dogs for years (before my moving to my present location) and I know that each one becomes a story, and a part of you, even when they move on to a forever home.
...back, sort of, on subject... If your temps are going to drop in the winter anyway, what if you just kept a space at brumation temps?
The snake(s) would be dormant, and easier to keep for those months, and less to worry about in any case. Could you keep a room at 50F or so, for several months?
 
Shaggy said:
What an inspiring life story - literally "living the dream," hardships and joy all together. I bet you've got quite some stories to tell. I've fostered rescued German Shepherd dogs for years (before my moving to my present location) and I know that each one becomes a story, and a part of you, even when they move on to a forever home.
...back, sort of, on subject... If your temps are going to drop in the winter anyway, what if you just kept a space at brumation temps?
The snake(s) would be dormant, and easier to keep for those months, and less to worry about in any case. Could you keep a room at 50F or so, for several months?
Click to expand...

I could definitely keep her a space at 50F. Now how many months can that go on? To quote Jeff Foxworthy Utah's four seasons are "almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction."
 
Here on the forums there are a lot smarter people than myself concerning the subject of brumation - but at least two and likely three months would be acceptable in most opinions, I believe.
Nice weather there! ;) Sounds like we all share construction season!
 
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