Security Glass Basics - What You Need To Know Kolob Canyons Ranch 2017-10-14 | There is no one-size-fits-all security product for securing your school, home, retail store or commercial building. In this video I break down the fundamental differences between glass types and why this matters when choosing a security solution. Tempered glass diagram courtesy of PPG: http://glassed.vitroglazings.com/glasstopics/heated_glass.aspx
Fun with Rubix Batteries PART 3 Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-09-01 | TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.cam
Fun with Rubix Batteries PART 2 Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-31 | TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.cam
How I Bought 106 Acres Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-30 | I get asked in the comments how I can afford 106 acres, three homes, and all the equipment on this channel.I didn't go to college. I spent my twenties in a band in Los Angeles that never made it — ten years, albums, tours, and eventually the realization that I was betting my future on other people showing up sober. I walked away at thirty with no degree, no savings, and a decade of odd jobs behind me.That decade of odd jobs turned out to be the whole thing. Not because I planned it, but because working a bunch of different trades taught me to see where things kept going wrong. I found a gap nobody else was looking at, built a business around it, then built a product to fill the gap inside my own industry. Selling those two companies is what paid for everything you see here.It took thirty years. There is no version of this that takes two. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling something.I still work full time. I travel for business. This ranch and the rentals get built in the hours nobody is asking me for — that's been true my whole life and it's still true today.The money was never the point. I treat all of this like a board game I'm trying to win, and I genuinely enjoy playing it. If you don't find some version of that enjoyable, the discipline won't hold.You can start today with nothing. It works like getting in shape — the results come from the habit being permanent, not from a hard push for three months. What you're building in your twenties usually isn't the business. It's the ability to notice what everyone else is walking past.Come along on a normal workday while I explain all of it. We're clearing branches off three miles of ranch road so guests can get an RV up here. It did not go entirely to plan.CHAPTERS0:00 How can you afford all this?0:43 Three miles of ranch road to maintain1:29 Chapters one and two: school, then the music business2:42 Chapter three: the niche business I built3:21 Chapter four: selling both companies4:33 1031 exchanges and chapter five5:19 Why my whole life is a Monopoly board6:29 Loading the Polaris and the dump trailer10:08 The bug-out plan that started all of this12:43 Buying rundown property and what it really costs17:45 Using AI as a CPA and attorney20:05 I just lost my trailerHere's my rags to riches video: youtu.be/w2oiwYLTJfI?si=I46icxtD-EI0z4gaOur short term rental near Zion: search Kanarraville, Utah on Airbnb or Vrbo, or... book direct at: kolobcanyons.combook on Airbnb: airbnb.com/rooms/1198678567451680736?check_in=2027-03-10&check_out=2027-03-13&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=22279df5-7790-42f1-b4e1-ceb52e750d80TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.camI'm not a CPA, an attorney, or a financial advisor. This is what I did in my situation, not advice for yours. Nothing here is sponsored and there are no affiliate links.We live on 106 acres in southern Utah — one off-grid main home, one vacation rental, one long term rental, and the equipment it takes to keep it all running.#OffGridLiving #Homestead #RealEstate
Fun with Rubix Batteries PART 1 Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-29 | TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.cam
Quick tour of our Airbnb Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-27 | Want to rent this home? Here's a link to the website: kolobcanyons.comHere's a link to the Airbnb listing:airbnb.com/rooms/1198678567451680736?source_impression_id=p3_1787785770_P3n551ee98r1RrXLYou can rent it directly or via Airbnb or VRBO. Search for homes in Kanarraville Utah. If it does not show, it may be bacuase it is already rented in the date range you are searching. Located in the majesty of southern Utah, near Zion National Park and many legendary local trails, this loft-style oasis awaits. Outdoor enthusiasts will love this secluded property on 40 private acres with ATVing, horseback riding, hiking, and skiing or snowboarding in nearby Brian Head. Enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the mountains through the 20 foot high window wall and massive wraparound deck, all while remaining connected with lightning-fast WiFi. We're dog friendly, so bring Fido!To book: www.kolobcanyons.comTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.cam
Trash management on homestead Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-26 | We g=have two dumpsters on the ranch. One for our homestead and one for the guest properties. I use my backhoe with forks to take them down where the trucks will dump them once a month. #wastemanagement #homesteadlife TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram (personal): @brad.cam
1.5 Gigawatts Coming Soon Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-23 | A 640-acre, 1.5 gigawatt AI data center is being built about 15 miles from our off-grid ranch in southern Utah. I spent time digging into the numbers — power, water, jobs, property taxes, dark sky impact — and what I found genuinely changed my mind about it.This is the Antelope Data Center in Iron County, Utah, and something like it is probably coming to a county near you. Here's how to think about it.I run a 20kW solar array that powers our entire homestead here on 106 acres near Zion National Park. That array is the reason I can watch this buildout without worrying about my own power. But it doesn't make me immune to everything, and this video walks through what I think actually matters and what turned out to be noise.WHAT I COVER:- What 1.5 gigawatts actually means (hint: about 1.2 million homes)- Why they're building their own gas-fired power plant instead of using the grid- Closed loop cooling explained — and why this facility uses about as much water as 8 houses- Why older East Coast data centers drink millions of gallons a day and this one won't- The jobs math: construction phase vs. the 40-50 people who actually run it- Property taxes in Iron County potentially dropping as much as 50%- Dark sky and light pollution concerns- Why I'm pro-AI and pro-robotics, and what the demographic cliff has to do with itIf you're facing a data center proposal in your area, the questions in this video are the ones worth asking at your county meetings.CHAPTERS:0:00 A 20kW array and why I call it AI insurance0:39 Kolob Canyons Ranch — 106 acres off grid in southern Utah1:00 Why I'm not opposed to AI1:57 The Antelope Data Center: 640 acres, 1.5 gigawatts2:19 What a gigawatt actually means2:43 Behind the meter: building their own gas-fired power plant3:03 Evaporative cooling and why old data centers use so much water3:25 Closed loop cooling, explained like a car engine4:16 The power of 1.2 million homes, the water of 85:15 Will it ruin our dark skies?5:49 Jobs: the construction phase vs. 40-50 permanent staff7:02 Property taxes could drop as much as 50%7:50 Environmental oversight and the EPA8:55 Why I'm pro-AI and pro-robotics9:13 The demographic cliff10:17 Medical breakthroughs10:23 Technology is a one-way streetABOUT THIS CHANNEL:I'm Brad. My wife and I live on 106 acres in southern Utah with our dog Blue. We're completely off grid — we make our own power, pump our own water, and fix what breaks. This channel covers off-grid solar and water systems, heavy equipment operation and maintenance, land and road work, and running our rental properties. I share numbers from systems that are actually running, including the mistakes.If you're building an off-grid system or running a homestead, subscribe. I read every comment and I learn as much from you as you get from me.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchMusic credit: Artist - Louis Island Song: Run Away with Me - Instrumental versionartlist.io#OffGrid #SolarPower #DataCenter #Utah #Homestead
Lightning Made Me Install EMP Shield Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-16 | Lightning is the number one threat to our off-grid system in southern Utah, so I installed an EMP Shield on our main panel and on my 2024 Ram 3500 diesel. Here is the full install, what these devices actually do, and — more importantly — what they do not do.We run our entire ranch off-grid, and a single strike on the array could travel through the whole system and take out every piece of electronics in the house. Protection here is not one device. It is a layered stack: EMP-hardened inverters, DC disconnects, surge protection at the main load center, and now a dedicated unit on the truck.In this video I pull the cover off the main panel to show the installed home unit and the remote LED that confirms it is live, then walk through the complete vehicle install on the Ram — finding a mount point when there is no available sheet metal, grinding a true chassis ground, wiring the positive and negative, and the start-up test.THE CRUCIAL PARTI ranked the three threats by actual probability, not by how scary they sound:1. Lightning — happens here every monsoon season. Real, recurring, and the reason I bought the home unit.2. Coronal mass ejection — rare but documented. The Carrington Event of 1859 is the reference case.3. High-altitude nuclear EMP — the least likely of the three by a wide margin, and the only reason the truck unit exists.One point where I differ from the marketing: I do not believe a CME is a meaningful threat to a vehicle. Geomagnetically induced currents from a CME couple into long conductors — transmission lines, pipelines, buried cable — not into the short wiring runs in a pickup. The truck unit is an E1 nuclear-EMP hedge. That is how I am treating it.Worth knowing on the vehicle side: the 2008 EMP Commission tested 37 cars and 18 trucks under simulated EMP. Most effects were nuisance-level and temporary, a handful of engines stalled around 30 kV/m, and exactly one truck needed a tow. The newest vehicle in that test was a 2002 model. Every vehicle built since carries far more microprocessors than anything they tested.WHAT THIS DOES NOT COVERThe home unit protects the main load panel. It does not protect the truck, the ATV, the heavy equipment, or the generators at our other two properties. Each of those would need its own dedicated device at roughly $400 apiece. This is a baby-steps project. Protect the primary living infrastructure first — refrigeration, communication, computers — then work outward.DISCLOSUREI bought both of these units with my own money. This is not sponsored, there are no affiliate links, and EMP Shield has no idea I made this video. Do your own research — the manufacturer publishes their military test documentation and you should read it before spending anything. empshield.com/testingSPECS REFERENCED IN THE VIDEOHome unit: SP-120-240 series, sub-nanosecond response, rated over 100,000 amps per phase Vehicle unit: DC-12V series, two-wire install plus chassis ground Testing standards cited by the manufacturer: MIL-STD-188-125-1, MIL-STD-464C, MIL-STD-461G, RS-105 Truck: 2024 Ram 3500, 6.7L Cummins inline sixCHAPTERS0:00 Monsoon lightning and why this got installed 0:36 The three threats, ranked by real probability 1:04 Inside the main panel: the home unit and remote LED 1:30 Military testing and doing your own research 1:56 The layered approach: generators, solar, vehicles 2:25 What it protects and what it absolutely does not 2:45 The cost reality and prioritizing in baby steps 3:42 Unboxing the 12V vehicle unit 4:28 No room under the hood of the Ram 3500 5:19 Picking a mount point that will not fail 6:37 Why police, fire, and military run these 7:41 Both batteries, both fuse boxes 8:33 Removing the trim and mounting it solid 9:08 Grinding a true chassis ground 9:59 Wiring the negative and touching up the paint 10:58 Final wiring walkthrough and the green light 11:46 Start-up test and where the ranch stands nowMORE OFF-GRID SYSTEMS CONTENTThe lightning strike that took out our wells: youtu.be/nYJ8lm0kLZAOur complete off-grid solar build: youtu.be/3OEoyDBxjuc Heavy equipment Kubota vs CAT youtu.be/S6BA1vwarigWe live on 106 acres in southern Utah — one off-grid main home, one vacation rental, one long-term rental, and the equipment it takes to keep the roads and land in shape. New videos on off-grid power, water, and heavy equipment every week.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#OffGrid #EMPShield #OffGridLiving
Mega tool battery! Never run out of juice. #milwaukeetools Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-14 | I put one in my ATV as a spare and one in the tool. I rarely need the spare. #milwaukee
Turns Out, I Was Wrong Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-09 | I run our homestead on solar — 19.8 kW of panels and 92 kWh of Rubix lithium storage, off-grid in practice (we kept a grid connection as backup when we built, but haven't needed it since we flipped the switch). This monsoon season had me convinced we were about to run out of power. So I pulled the data straight off my own inverters instead of guessing — and we never came close. The real problem turned out to be the opposite: I'm wasting enormous amounts of solar. Here's the decision that came out of it — add a battery stack now, skip the sodium hype, and start building the loads that finally use the power I've been throwing away. TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchCHAPTERS00:00 The decision, and my answer up front00:41 Who we are (and the grid + generator reality)01:14 What I'll cover: five things01:47 My solar system, quick recap02:24 The data: we never dropped below 30%03:24 The real problem is wasted power04:53 Should I wait for sodium batteries?05:23 Why sodium can't join my bank06:33 The Rubix stack, full transparency07:07 So why buy it? El Niño + the EV and miners07:43 Headroom: doing it right vs. wrong08:05 The plan: one change at a time08:41 Backups: generator, then grid09:49 Recap11:19 Watch this nextSOURCES / NOTESSystem data: my own Sol-Ark inverter logs (screenshots shown), July 2026.18 Rubix Giga Stack (now "the Stack") RGS-class LiFePO4, 5.12 kWh each = 92 kWh; adding 6 to reach ~123 kWh.Sodium-ion residential timeline (~2028) and why chemistries can't share a bank: manufacturer announcements and battery-integration references. #offgrid #offgridliving #solarpower #lifepo4 #solark #sodiumion #energystorage #offgridsolar #resilientliving #kolobcanyonsranch
Grid tied solar - do you need it? Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-04 | How I use the grid to augment my solar micro grid.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
HVAC EasyStart — Before & After on Solar Power Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-08-02 | When my two 3-ton AC condenser units kick on, they hit my off-grid solar system like a sledgehammer — dimming the lights and straining the inverters and batteries every single cycle. In this video I install a Micro-Air EasyStart Flex soft starter on each unit and show you the real before-and-after difference. If you run AC on solar, a generator, or just want to protect your equipment and cut that startup surge, this one's for you.I walk through the full DIY install step by step: cutting power at the disconnect, reading the wiring schematic, matching the wires, mounting the unit, and firing it up. No electrician required — if you can follow a two-page instruction sheet, you can do this. I paid $369 per unit (a little less buying two) versus the $2,700 my HVAC guy quoted to install his. Not sponsored, not affiliated — I paid cash and I'm just sharing what worked.The EasyStart Flex works on units up to 6 tons, includes a Bluetooth app for diagnostics, and cut the startup surge dramatically on my microgrid: 20kW array, 95kWh of battery, and two Sol-Ark 15K inverters.Grab yours at microair.net (not sponsored — just a happy customer).If this helped, subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss the next build.00:00 Why my AC is straining my solar system00:23 The fix: Micro-Air EasyStart soft starters00:45 Getting set up + reading the instructions00:56 Step 1: Cut power at the disconnect (safety first)01:23 Reading the wiring schematic01:34 Finding a spot to mount the unit02:08 Running the wire harness through the grommet02:25 Wiring it up: Herm, common & the yellow compressor wire03:21 Mounting to the wall the professional way04:31 Buttoning up unit #1 and restoring power05:43 Next morning: the overnight results06:14 First startup — before & after (you have to hear this)06:52 Installing unit #2 (the quick version)09:30 Final wrap-up: two days later09:57 Price, the app & what the HVAC guy quoted10:43 Where to get one + why I'm not sponsoredTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#OffGrid #SolarPower #SoftStart #EasyStart #AirConditioning #DIY #OffGridLiving #SolarAC #MicroAir #hvac
Monsoon road wipeout #utah #ironcounty #gravelroad #flooding Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-31 | I need to get involved.
I Paid for EMP Hardening....Never Finished Installing It Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-19 | Two years ago I installed a 19.8 kW off-grid solar system with EMP-hardened Sol-Ark 15K inverters — and got mocked in the comments for paying extra for the hardening. The joke's on me, but not the way the mockers think: the inverters shipped with a full kit of ferrite suppressors for the solar array, appliances, and battery cables, and I never installed them. The protection I paid for sat in a box in my barn.Today I fix it. I install the large ferrite suppressors on all 44 panels of the array, the small suppressors on the appliances we'd need most in a grid-down event, and I show you where the battery toroids go when my electrician returns to expand the battery bank.What's covered:Why the suppressors clamp BOTH conductors of each panel's wiringZip-tie retention so clamshells survive wind and thermal cyclingWhich appliances to prioritize (refrigeration first)Why the short busbars between battery modules aren't the vulnerability — cable runs areThe battery toroid installation plan (Part 2 when the bank expands to 24 Giga Stacks)System details:2x Sol-Ark 15K-2P-N (EMP-hardened) inverters44x KB Solar 450W bifacial panels, Sinclair seasonally adjustable ground mount18x Rubix Giga Stack LiFePO4 batteries (~95 kWh), expanding to 24Full system cost breakdown: youtu.be/3OEoyDBxjuc?si=jKHr_6fsmsh7ZM3HSources and further reading:Sandia National Laboratories, "High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse Testing of Photovoltaic Modules," SAND2020-3824 (2020) — PV modules survived simulated E1 pulses up to 100 kV/m with no loss of function; inverters and converters identified as the potentially vulnerable components.Sol-Ark 15K-2P Installation Manual — suppressor and filter ring installation guidance.EMP Commission, Critical National Infrastructures Report (2008).A full science deep-dive on EMP physics, the lab test reports behind the hardening claims, and what "EMP-proof" actually means is coming in a future video. Subscribe so you don't miss it.CHAPTERS0:00 The mistake I made 2 years ago1:29 The suppressor kit that never got installed1:49 Battery toroids and where they go3:29 Installing suppressors on the solar array3:52 Wire management and zip-tie retention5:37 Six mini-arrays and DC isolators5:57 Barn and workbench: battery chargers7:05 Air compressor7:21 Refrigerators and freezers8:18 The coffee station8:33 Washer and dryer9:00 What's next: battery expansion and Part 2TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchMusic credit: artlist.ioRun Away with Me - Instrumental versionSong by Louis Island#OffGridSolar #EMP #SolArk #Homesteading #preparedness
Prepping Your Fire Insurance for Complete Wipeout Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-15 | Prep is like fire insurance for life. It's a small cost now to avoid total disaster later. Worth the time and energy for continuity. #Prepping #Preparedness #LifeHacks #Survival #SelfSufficiencyTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Utah cow invasion...a day in the life. Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-14 | We thought we had a solid fece line. TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Unlock Peak Performance Master Your Sleep! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-13 | Poor sleep means groggy mornings and brain fog. Prioritize your sleep schedule for longevity – everything else suffers if your sleep sucks. Don't burn out your machine! #SleepHygiene #Longevity #HealthTips #Wellness #SelfCareTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
EMP Preparedness Is It Worth the Investment Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-12 | Building these massive transformers takes years, only to be destroyed by solar events. While the ranch is prepped, the outside world would be chaos. Is the preparation worth it? #SolarFlare #EMP #Preparedness #Survival #CoronalMassEjection #OffGridTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Utilities are Scared of This Study Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-12 | A peer-reviewed study tested off-grid solar economics in 18 U.S. locations. It beat the grid in only 4 — and the tax credit the math relied on no longer exists.I read the actual paper so you don't have to. Chart by chart: where cutting the cord genuinely pays, why the system they modeled is nothing like a working ranch, the $0.25/kWh rule that tells you which side of the line you live on, and how utilities accidentally push their own customers out the door.THE STUDY (open access — read it yourself):Sadat, S.A. & Pearce, J.M. (2024). "The threat of economic grid defection in the U.S. with solar photovoltaic, battery and generator hybrid systems." Solar Energy, Vol. 282, Art. 112910.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112910Funding disclosure (from the paper): Thompson Endowment and NSERC (Canada's federal science agency). Charts shown under CC-BY 4.0 with attribution.CHAPTERS00:00 – The study in a nut shell00:50 – Why this paper has utility companies concerned01:51 – Could there mass grid defection?02:15 – The map: 18 locations, 13 states (Fig. 1)02:45 – The master table — and the system they actually modeled (Table 2)05:10 – How to read a payback curve (Fig. 2)06:50 – The $0.25/kWh rule — check your own bill (Fig. 6)07:08 – The tax credit is gone. Here's what survives (Fig. 7)09:00 – What actually moves the needle: inflation (Fig. 8)10:30 – The utility counter-offer: what a VPP is14:00 – Where this leaves youMY SETUPDual Sol-Ark 15K inverters | 19.8 kW bifacial array | LiFePO4 battery bank | Fully off-grid, southern UtahTwo-year off-grid cost breakdown: youtu.be/RnhZ16lposw "I Changed My Mind"#OffGridSolar #GridDefection #SolarPowerTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
EMP Attack Survival What Happens To America Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-11 | EMP attack could wipe out 90% of Americans. Losing the grid means no recovery in our lifetime. Solar power buys crucial time to react. #EMP #Survival #Prepping #DisasterPreparedness #GridDownTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Heart Attack Risk Silent Symptoms & Prevention Revealed! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-10 | Over 40? Your heart attack could be silent. Many die with no symptoms. Plaque rupture, not flow, is the danger. Get a CIMT ultrasound to check. #HeartHealth #Cardio #HealthTips #PreventativeCare #KnowYourNumbersTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Is Prepping Worth It The Carrington Event Explained Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-09 | Is prepping *really* worth it? One solar flare in 1859 fried EVERYTHING, electrocuting operators. What are the odds history repeats? #Prepping #CarringtonEvent #SolarFlare #History #whatif TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
5 Longevity Secrets Live to 100+ with Optimal Health! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-08 | Unlock 5 secrets to living to 100+! Science says it's possible with proper care and cutting-edge medicine. Let's achieve longevity escape velocity! #Longevity #HealthTips #FutureOfMedicine #HealthyLifestyle #BiohackingTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
1918 Spanish Flu Catastrophe and Unlearned Lessons Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-07 | History repeats itself if we don't learn. The Great Influenza of 1918 was catastrophic, causing people to turn blue from cyanosis due to lung failure. #History #Pandemic #SpanishFlu #LearnFromPast #1918FluTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Unlock Youthful Vitality Your Strength Training Secret Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-06 | Retire to silence? Your body needs the signal to keep going strong. Don't let it wind down, or you'll pay for it later. #RetirementGoals #HealthyAging #FitnessMotivation #StayActive #LifeAfterWorkTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
I did the math - BTC mining vs buying Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-05 | My 20 kW solar array fills the batteries by 1pm every day. With no net metering here in southern Utah, roughly 50 kWh of clean power gets thrown away daily. In this video I run the numbers on the obvious idea: use that wasted power to mine Bitcoin with an Antminer S21 — and compare it head-to-head against simply buying Bitcoin with the same money (dollar cost averaging).Data from my Sol-Ark system, current mining economics after the halving, battery wear math on my 95 kWh bank, and a four-year verdict that surprised me.What's covered:0:00 The 1pm cliff: watching 50 kWh get thrown away00:25 The question: mine Bitcoin or just buy it?01:00 My off-grid system and the wasted-power problem02:00 Bitcoin strategy - HODL03:35 Sol-Ark dashboard analysis06:57 The miner specs08:29 Earning potential09:18 Duty cycle: the number that decides everything10:30 The four-year chart: buying vs. mining, net of all costsKey numbers in this video (July 2026):Bitcoin price: about $62,000 (down roughly 51% from the all-time high)Antminer S21: 200 TH/s, 3,500 watts, about $1,700Earnings running 24/7: about $7.50/day at today's ratesMy real solar surplus window: about 5 hours a day averaged over the yearFour-year resultEquipment in this video:-Sol-Ark inverter system sol-ark.com/residential-energy-solutions/whole-home-15k-2p-hybrid-inverter-18.9 kW solar array kb-solar.com/products- Solar panel rack - seasonal adjust sinclair-designs.com/Sky-Rack-2.0-Ground-Solar-Mount-95 kWh LiFePO4 battery bank rubixbattery.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Rubix-Stack-48-Spec-Sheet.pdf-Antminer S21 (referenced) https://a.co/d/07LO6WENThis is not financial advice. I am not a financial advisor and this video is for education only. Do your own research before buying Bitcoin or mining hardware. Mining income is treated as taxable income in the US; consult a CPA.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#Bitcoin #SolarPower #OffGrid
5 Life Changing Habits for a Productive & Strong Life Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-07-04 | Taking care of myself is non-negotiable. Fighting genetics and family history with optimal health for a strong, capable life. #SelfCare #HealthJourney #Wellness #ProductiveLife #healthyliving TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
The Cost of Being Wrong Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-28 | In 1859, a solar storm set telegraph wires on fire. Today, everything runs on electricity — so what happens when the next one hits?I just finished The Great Influenza by John Barry, and it sent me down a rabbit hole I couldn't let go: what are the actual odds that something catastrophic lands in the next 60 to 75 years? I ran the numbers — solar storms, EMP, pandemics — and then the part almost nobody calculates: what those odds add up to together, and whether betting on 75 quiet years is as safe as it feels.Chapters:0:00 – Is prepping really worth it?2:24 – What are the odds of a catastrophe?2:51 – 1918: when an advanced society lost4:48 – Chart of historic disasters6:03 – Civil Unrest6:31 – Odds of a Coronal Mass Injection (CMI)7:32 – Odds of an EMP9:57 – Odds of a global epidemic10:47 – Combined odds of any catastropheSources / further reading:Riley (2012), "On the probability of occurrence of extreme space weather events," Space WeatherNASA Science, "Near Miss: The Solar Superstorm of July 2012"Marani et al. (2021), PNAS, "Intensity and frequency of extreme novel epidemics" (and the 2023 correction)Congressional EMP Commission reports (2004, 2008)Toby Ord, The Precipice (2020)John M. Barry, The Great Influenza (2004)Music credit: artlist.ioAurora WavesSong by Theatre of DelaysTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#OffGrid #SolarPower #Preparedness #GridDown #SelfReliance
1086W Solar Power Battery Bank 100% Charged! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-13 | 1,086 watts from the solar array! Batteries are at 100% and we're barely pulling 29 watts from the grid. Backup power is the real MVP.#SolarPower #OffGrid #BatteryBackup #SustainableLiving #EnergyTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Backup Generator for Multi Day Storms Essential Power Solution Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-12 | Why backup generators are essential for storms, even if you only need them a few days a year. When the grid is down, these juice up batteries until the sun returns. #backupgenerator #StormPrep #OffGridLiving #RenewableEnergy #HomeownerTipsTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Sol Ark Inverters My Honest Review & Barn Grid Setup Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-11 | The sun's power humming through these inverters, topping off batteries. These Sol-Ark inverters are true workhorses! Simple LCD screens, seamless WiFi. Like your own private grid in the barn. #SolarPower #Inverter #HomeEnergy #OffGrid #SolArk #SustainableTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Societal Collapse Recognizing the Signs of Trouble Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-10 | Collapse isn't sudden, it's a slide. Normalcy bias makes you ignore the signs. Societal breakdown starts when 'riots' spill over and last. Stay alert. #societalcollapse #HistoryLessons #StayVigilant #Future #BookTokTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Disease Kills More Than Bullets - Survival Lesson Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-09 | Infection and filth are deadlier than bullets. Without sterile water or wound care, minor injuries can be fatal. Modern medicine saves us, but what if it's gone? #SurvivalTips #Prepping #OffGrid #Bushcraft #SelfRelianceTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Survival - Lone Wolf Strategy is a Fantasy Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-08 | The lone wolf fantasy is just that - a fantasy. Survival means community. You can't guard, hunt, and heal alone 24/7. It's overwhelming and impossible alone. #survivalskills #Community #Realism #SelfSufficiency #HumanNatureTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
This just works better Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-07 | *This is for educational purposes only and not intended to be medical advice. Consult your doctor before making significant changes to your health routine. I run preventive maintenance on every machine on this ranch so none of them fail when I need them. The one machine I used to neglect was me. Here are the five things that keep your most important machine — your own body — strong, mobile, and capable for decades to come.These are ranked. Number five matters. Number one is the one most people get wrong.CHAPTERS0:00 The most important machine on the ranch2:45 #1 - Diagnostics6:41 #2 - It's in your fridge (and water bottle)11:48 #3 Lift to live17:20 #4 Sleep your way to longevity18:40 #5 This gets emotionalIf this breakdown was useful, subscribe — I'm taking each of these apart, one video at a time.What I'm building out here: an off-grid ranch near Zion, and a life that stays capable for the long haul.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#Homesteading #Longevity #SelfReliance #Healthspan #OffGrid #HealthyAging #StrengthTraining #RanchLife #StayActive #Resilience
DIY Solar Rack Hack! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-06 | Watch how these 2 sliding pin latches secure the entire rack for easy electrical panel access. It's all connected! #diy #DIYProjects #HomeImprovement #Electrical #Hacks #TechTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Solar Panel Upgrade Powering Our Lights! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-05 | Upgraded solar setup for brighter coach lights and signage! Switched from one flat panel to two 450W panels at a 35-degree angle for maximum charging power. #solarpower #HomeImprovement #EnergyEfficiency #Tech #diy TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Prepare Now! Trust Fades in Crisis Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-04 | Shelves bare, heating oil gone, people burning furniture? This crisis is next level. Neighbors might not be friends when hunger hits. #BuggingOut #Survival #Prepper #CrisisMode #DoomsdayPrepTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Rubix GigaStack Rack & Massive Savings! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-03 | The Rubix GigaStack battery's built-in rolling rack is a game-changer! Heavy-duty casters make maintenance, cleaning, or even emergency rolling a breeze. Fully mobile power storage! #BatteryTech #Innovation #PowerStorage #TechGadgets #GigaStackTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Our System Stays Charged! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-06-02 | Watch how solar power charges batteries and powers the home, even during a multi-day storm. The grid barely trickles in, showing true energy independence! #SolarPower #EnergyIndependence #OffGrid #SustainableLiving #RenewableEnergyTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival - 10 Take-aways Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-31 | A man survived a year inside a besieged city with no power, no water, no law, and no way out. Selco Begovic wrote down what it was actually like, and almost everything he learned contradicts what the survival industry sells. These are the 10 takeaways from The Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival that should change how you think about resilience, preparedness, and staying alive when normal stops working.This is not a gear list. It is the brutal, first-hand reality of societal collapse and the mindset that actually decides who makes it. We cover normalcy bias, why the lone wolf doesn't survive, why your stuff can get you killed, and the unglamorous truths most people never prepare for.If you care about self-reliance and building a more independent, resilient life, this one is worth your full attention.Book referenced: The Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival by Selco Begovic- get it here: https://a.co/d/02J8rWB5TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranchChapters:0:00 - Book review lead-in1:30 - Normalcy bias3:00 - Collapse is gradual4:53 - Familiarity danger7:13 - Lone wolf fantasy8:45 - Comply to survive11:56 - Train to endure13:17 - Small wounds kill15:12 - Gray man survives16:49 - Psychological fallout#Resilience #Preparedness #SelfReliance #Offgridlife #SHTF #SurvivalMindset #SocietalCollapse #NormalcyBias #Selcobegovic #SHTFSurvival #UrbanSurvival #Prepping #GridDown #SelfSufficiency
Battery Power Upgrade Simplified DC System! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-25 | Upgrading our sign lights: went from AC drain to simple DC power. No more inverter, just a digital timer and low-volt bulbs. It works beautifully and stays on all night! #DIY #TechUpgrade #SolarPower #OffGrid #smarthome TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
I changed my mind Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-24 | Two years ago I went off-grid on 106 acres in southern Utah. I spent $120,853 building a solar power plant from the ground up: 19.8 kW of bifacial panels, two Sol-Ark 15K hybrid inverters, and 95 kWh of LiFePO4 battery storage. This is my 24-month review — numbers, lessons, and every change I've made on my backup generator theory. In this video I break down what 19,500 kWh of annual production actually looks like, how my Rocky Mountain Power bill dropped from over $400 a month to $15, and the $25,000 decision I just walked back after talking to my system designer.If you're researching off-grid solar, considering a hybrid inverter setup, weighing standby vs portable generator backup, or just want to see what my production data - this is the breakdown.CHAPTERS:0:00 We're now at the 2 year mark1:00 System components3:40 Our energy usage lifestyle5:00 Utility usage chart6:00 Battery SOC (State Of Charge)7:15 Solark app data12:13 System cost12:40 ROI projection13:09 My back up generator thought process15:31 Portable generator concept17:14 Portable vs Generac generator cost analysis17:45 Rubix batteries built-in rack with wheels19:14 Uline rack added around inverters and batteries19:49 Disconnect switch explained20:40 Grid-tie justification21:50 Solark invertersVideos I mentioned:-1 Year Off-Grid: youtu.be/5qaowqyhNxQ?si=YBUT3ocsJMnF-KJJ- Building our solar power system: youtu.be/DYI-Ggu8scQ?si=ILk2115lfypJL6_YWho designed my systemPractical Preppers: practicalpreppers.comEngineer 775:@engineer775 THE SYSTEM:44x KB Solar 450W bifacial panels (19.8 kW total) on a Sinclair seasonally adjustable ground mount2x Sol-Ark 15K hybrid inverters with EMP hardening18x Rubix Giga Stack 51.2V 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries (95 kWh total storage)Closed-loop BMS communication between the Sol-Ark and the Rubix bank200A grid passthrough with automatic transferTHE NUMBERS:System cost: $120,853 all-in2025 production: 19,500 kWh2025 consumption: 19,000 kWhGrid imports 2025: 2,500 kWh (almost all in January-February)Grid imports 2026 to date: under 500 kWhCurrent monthly utility bill: $15-$16 (base connection only)Projected 30-year savings: ~$168,000ROI crossover: year 26 at conservative 4% utility inflationWHO THIS IS FOR:Anyone planning, researching, or building an off-grid or hybrid solar power system. Anyone tired of brochure-grade reviews and salesman payback math. Anyone who wants to see what a real off-grid lifestyle costs and pays back over time.WHAT'S NEXT ON THE CHANNEL:The tri-fuel generator install starts in the next few weeks. The Sol-Ark 15K deep dive — what two years of dashboard data taught me about hybrid inverters — drops the week after. Both Saturday afternoons.If you got value out of this, subscribe. Two years of data is the start, not the end.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#OffGrid #OffGridLiving #SolarPower #SolarPanels #OffGridSolar #SolAr #SolArk15K #LiFePO4 #LithiumBattery #HomesteadLife #Homesteading #PreparedHome #SelfReliant #SelfSufficient #OffGridHomestead #BifacialSolar #SolarInstall #SolarReview #2YearsOffGrid #SolarROI #SolarSavings #BackupPower #Generator #TriFuelGenerator #Generac #PortableGenerator #HarborFreight #PredatorGenerator #PracticalPreppers #RubixBattery #KBSolar #HybridInverter #DIYSolar #OffGridBuild
Solar Power Upgrade Solved Nighttime Battery Drain! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-23 | Running out of juice overnight? A single 450W panel wasn't enough. Now, two panels at a 35-degree angle power the Northstar NSB 210 AGM battery, providing a realistic 100Ah for your lights. #SolarPower #OffGrid #BatteryStorageTikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Powered by 450W solar panels Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-17 | Solar gate mistakes I learned the hard way — and the complete rebuild that finally works.My first solar gate design at Kolob Canyons Ranch looked great on paper. In practice, it failed. In this video I walk through the original system, point out every mistake I made, and then show you the redesigned setup that's been bulletproof through southern Utah summers and winters.You'll see the old design and the new design side-by-side, component by component, with honest commentary on what went wrong, what it cost me, and what I'd tell anyone planning their own off-grid gate, cabin, or remote power system.The old design vs. the new — what changed:Why I removed the inverter entirely and went DC-onlyThe battery: NorthStar NSB 210FT BLUE+ AGM (12V, 200Ah)The charge controller swap to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 250/100-Tr VE.CanLighting: ditched the 120V AC bulbs in favor of 12V DC LED candelabrasSystem simplification: fewer components, fewer failure points, more uptimeIf you're planning a solar gate, an off-grid cabin entrance, or any remote DC power system, the mistakes in this video are the ones I wish someone had shown me before I started. Learn from my scars instead of your own.TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch📍 Kolob Canyons Ranch — west of Kanarraville, Utah, near Zion National Park🏕️ Book the Treehouse cabin directly: www.kolobcanyons.com📺 Subscribe for more off-grid builds, ranch projects, and honest lessons from the field.Chapters:00:00 Intro — Problem-Solution Framing0:55 KB 450W Solar Panels1:22 Solar Racking1:45 Wire Routing/ Battery/ Charge Controller3:27 Digital Timer for the Lights and Sign3:57 Gate Controller4:23 Adding Additional Solar Panel4:58 What I Learned from my Original Design Mistakes6:34 Final Result#SolarGate #OffGrid #SolarMistakes #RanchLife #Homesteading #Victron
Disaster Protection! Generac Whole-Home Generator Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-16 | Gas line installation complete! Runs right under the stairs, keeping it protected and close to the meter. Solves multiple issues with one neat setup. #HomeImprovement #DIY #Construction #GasLine #smartsolutionsguide TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
24,000W Generator + Well Pump Backup Zion Rental Solution! #offgridliving #ranchlife Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-15 | Backup power for Zion vacation rental treehouse! 24,000 watts for the house & 10 kW for the well pump 1000 yards down. It's a lot, but the numbers make sense. #Generator #VacationRental #ZionNationalPark #OffGrid #BackupPower #treehouse TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch
Watch your solar system from ANYWHERE! Kolob Canyons Ranch 2026-05-14 | Solark App review on our 20kW system. 2 Solark EMP hardened inverters, 20kW array, and 95 kWh battery storage. TikTok: @kolob_canyons_ranchInstagram: @kolob_canyons_ranch#solark #solarpower #solarsystem #solarenergy
