# Frugal Energy

> Hands-on tips from a home renewable energy setup and a frugal aquaponics system on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Frugal Energy is a personal tips site by Steve Dalton. It covers what he actually runs at home: renewable power on a budget, and a backyard aquaponics system built from free finds, salvaged parts, and sensible purchases. The voice is first-person, practical, and aimed at cost-conscious DIY readers in Australia.

Also published at https://frugalenergy.co.uk

## Start here

- [Home](https://frugal.energy/): Overview of the site and links into both main sections.
- [Who am I](https://frugal.energy/who-am-i/): About Steve Dalton, his background, and why he built the site.
- [Contact](https://frugal.energy/contact/): Send a message or correction.

## Renewable energy

Frugal DC solar at home: salvaged panels, MPPT chargers, 24V batteries, and keeping everything off-grid without an inverter.

- [Renewable energy overview](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/): Where to start in the section.
- [Panels](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/panels/): Salvaged house panels and flexible panels when you buy new.
- [MPPT charge controllers](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/mppt/): Epever for the main bank, ATEM POWER for small projects.
- [Batteries](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/batteries/): LiFePO4, SLA, salvaged cells, and China all-in-one units.
- [24V and keep DC](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/system-design/): Run 24V, skip the inverter, stay below 50V.
- [Electronics basics](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/electronics-basics/): Ohm's law, voltage drop, DC cable quality and length, and an interactive slider demo.
- [Outdoor connectors](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/connectors/): Anderson plugs and MC4 solar connectors.
- [Multimeter](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/multimeter/): A good DMM and a Jarramali video with Tim.
- [Small night systems](https://frugal.energy/renewable-energy/night-power/): Separate DC bank and PD USB sockets after dark.

## Aquaponics

Backyard aquaponics on the cheap: free and salvaged parts, secondhand finds, and Gold Coast / South East Queensland specifics where they matter.

### Read first

- [Aquaponics overview](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/): What the section covers and where to start.
- [Safety](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/safety/): Use at your own risk. Read before you scavenge, build, or put fish in.
- [Get proper training](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/training/): Why forums are not enough and where to learn the fundamentals.

### About the system

- [About my system](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/my-system/): Toteponics layout, solar power, jade perch, and lessons learned.
- [What I grow](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/what-i-grow/): Vegetables and herbs that work in his setup.
- [Podcast](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/media/): Related episode on worm farms and aquaponics.

### Sourcing and gear

- [Sourcing guide](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/sourcing/): Facebook Marketplace, IBC totes, blue metal gravel, and rainwater.
- [Where I get my fish](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/fish/): Local suppliers and what to ask for.
- [The gear I use](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/gear/): Pumps, aeration, backup failsafe, and outdoor electronics.
- [Consumables](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/consumables/): Fish food, pH buffers, and other ongoing supplies.

### Running the system

- [How I run it](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/running/): Cycling, pH, mineralisation, feeding, maintenance, and an open source tracker for logging water tests.

### Around the garden

- [Garden tasks and useful stuff](https://frugal.energy/aquaponics/garden-tasks/): Propagation, native stingless bees, and raised soil beds instead of outdoor wicking beds.

## Contact

- [Contact form](https://frugal.energy/contact/): Questions, tips, and corrections welcome.

## Optional

- [Open source aquaponics tracker](https://bitbucket.org/refactor/aquaponics): Steve's home logging tool, designed as a replacement for the spreadsheet he started with.