Yummy turkey - cooked OFF the grid!!

11 years ago

This year, we roasted our 18-pound turkey in the Weber grill.

We've done that before and cooking with charcoal is a no-brainer, but this year, we used our newly installed solar panels to power the electric rotisserie.

The turkey came out DEEEE-licious. And the solar-charged, battery powered rotisserie spun a little bit slower than it would if hooked up to household current.

The end result was perfect. The turkey was tender and juicy and wholly delightful!

And the most interesting part: The three small solar panels charged the battery *faster* than the rotisserie drained it.

Hubby shows off his turkey:

Newly installed solar panels atop the shed:

Inside the shed, you can see our inverter (left) and solar controller (right). The inverter converts the incoming 12 volts of power into 120 volts, which can be used with household appliances.

The whole rig: Solar controller, inverter (750 watts) and deep-cycle marine battery (12 volts).

And a picture of the almost-final product:

We installed the solar ourselves. Total cost: $351 (for every single thing, which includes $114 for the battery and $39 for the inverter).

I *highly* recommend solar as an emergency power back-up. It's silent and efficient and if I had the roofspace, I'd cover the house with solar panels. :)

And it makes the best turkeys!

Here is a link that might be useful: Specific details on how we installed the solar panels

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Comments (16)

marilyn_c
11 years ago
Very interesting, and it does look delicious!
tami_ohio
11 years ago
Wow! Where did you get the solar panels at that price, please? DH is very interested. Thanks! Oh, and the turkey looks yummy!

Tami
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ROTFL!!! Donka, all I can say is "Giddayup". I need to clean out the fridge, so I'm going to make soup base for the freezer with the turkey carcass, leeks, rutabega and carrots. I got some lasagna noodles, so I'm going to slice up some yellow squash that needs using, and the fennel bulbs I just got, and whatever peppers I have, and oven roast them, to layer with the ricotta. I have a little tzimmis left which I think I'll puree into the ricotta. I got some shallots, too. And I got some lamb shanks to braise with baby carrots and pearl onions and leftover sweetish red wine. And a chicken. It's a really big chicken. They tried to tell me it was a fryer, but it's 4.5 lbs.!! I think I'll roast it with the heels of my multigrain bread if it's not gone moldy, and an orange. I can try out the probe because I have no idea (other than the butcher's recommendation) how long to cook this big a not turkey. JRueter, I'm in Gelsonsland, so it has to be an amazing farmer's market to be really tempting. And yes, some of them are more about the social thing than cooking! The worst is being at a dinner party where the hosts are name dropping the truck farmers like they're best friends rather than customers. Needs, keep us posted!!! I'm keeping a good thought for Thursday!
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rosemaryt
Original Author
11 years ago
Tami, we got them at Harbor Freight. They're "Thunderbolt Solar Panels" and the price was $229, on sale for $189 and I had a $30 coupon. My final price was $159.

They're 45 watts, which is pretty good. I was just outside and I used my electric hedge clippers for 30 minutes. I wore out before the power gave out!

The marine deep-cycle battery was $114, and the inverter (also harbor freight) was $69, on sale for $39 and I had a $10 off coupon.
minnie_tx
11 years ago
Thanks so interesting I've sent the thread to my DS.
WOW a far cry from all those lovely old homes you collect !!
ruthieg__tx
11 years ago
I want to share your link on Facebook for my friends to see....Hope that is OK...
minnie_tx
11 years ago
Rosemary,
I dont know where I've been but just discovered your webpage via the link above. many happy exploring hours ahead for me
rosemaryt
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, Ruthie, please do share it with whomever. You know I'm *way* into Ham Radio these days. Studying for my "Extra" now. :) Just got my General in September (access to HF bands which transmit all over the world) and I love it.

I even talked the hubby into getting his license. He passed his "Tech" test this morning.

There are three other women in my local radio club, but I'm the first woman who got her Ham Radio License *before* my husband.
nicole__
11 years ago
Love the solar panels...buuuuuuuuuut.....how long did you cook the turkey?
minnie_tx
11 years ago
wish you could submit this to the Survivor Blog it's the kind of thing they like to have

Here is a link that might be useful: SurvivalBlog.com
rosemaryt
Original Author
11 years ago
Minnie,

I hope you enjoy my blog. I've written almost 700 articles (blogs) on a plethora of subjects, from my dog's encounter with a rabid dog to running coax and installing an HF antenna.

Nicole,

My husband cooked the turkey 3.5 hours and it weighed 18 pounds. He checked for doneness using a meat thermometer. The breast meat hit 170 degrees and the dark meat hit 180 degrees.

As to the old houses, I'm getting a little tired of that topic. For 12 years, it was my world.

Now I'm having fun delving into Ham Radio and all its ancillary features. I recently joined not one but TWO local ham radio clubs and I thoroughly enjoy it. The groups are full of folks who are incredibly intelligent and super fun.

I'm the village idiot in both groups, but that's okay. I'm learning so much and they're all so patient with me. :)
minnie_tx
11 years ago
Well, keep on keepin on !! I'm glad you have expanded your interests (the better for us I think)
secsteve
11 years ago
We've been doing our turkey this way for years. It takes a lot less time and frees up the oven for other things.

This year our 12lb turkey took just a little over 2 and a half hours to cook. It literally falls off the bones doing it this way and is good and moist.
jannie
11 years ago
Where did yuu find that turkey spit? I have a Weber grill I use in the summer, just cleaned it and stored it Friday (my "Black Friday" chore).
tami_ohio
11 years ago
Thanks! We have been thinking about solar panels for the RV but don't want to spend tons of $.

Tami
rosemaryt
Original Author
11 years ago
Jannie, click on the link below to see the rotisserie.

It's called a "Charcoal Kettle Rotisserie" and Amazon has it for about $140.

Tami, I *highly* recommend the solar panels from Harbor Freight. Our total cost for the whole thing was $351. Curiously, they're called "Thunderbolt Solar Panels."

Here is a link that might be useful: Weber Rotisserie
oldgardener_2009
11 years ago
I'm interested in off grid living and ham radios too. Great job on the solar panels. Your blog is fun to read.

Yummy turkey - cooked OFF the grid!!

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