What should I know before building an off grid Solar System?

The most important thing to know, when getting ready to build an off grid solar system, is how much energy you need, as well as how you energy usage changes throughout the day and year.

Do you need a battery for an off-grid system?

True off-grid systems aren’t connected to the power grid, so they need a bank of batteries. RVs, campers and outbuildings are perfect candidates for an off-grid system. A grid-tied system lets the energy generated from the solar array power your home. But when the sun goes down, the power grid takes over. The benefit of a grid-tied system?

Is going off grid a good idea?

Going off grid, with a boondocking RV, country cabin, or permaculture homestead, means that your electrical system can be much simpler than gird tie systems. Going off grid means you have the option to install an all DC system, which can be quite simple and efficient. But even whole home replacement AC systems are possible for the DIYer.

Can you go off grid with solar power?

Going off grid with solar power doesn’t have to be hard. While there is a lot of terminology to wade through, in this guide I’ll cut through the jargon and simplify the process of building an solar system. And, I’ll save you money at the same time. This is part 1 of a 3 part series:

Can a house be wired for grid power?

If a house is wired for grid power, it is possible to use that wiring for your off grid system, after grid power has been disconnected. Do not connect your AC inverter, or any part of your off grid solar system, to grid power.

How do you wire an inverter to an off grid system?

But the just of it is that you will need to run the inverter in to a circuit breaker box, and then run wires for each circuit from the box out in to the home. If a house is wired for grid power, it is possible to use that wiring for your off grid system, after grid power has been disconnected.