Off Grid Solar
With an off grid solar system, you'll have true energy independence, but you won't have the grid to fall back on. 100% of your electrical needs are going to have to be met by your solar panels and batteries, so you need to size your system properly.
But before you size anything, you'll want to reduce your electrical needs as much as possible. Swap out all your incandescent light bulbs for LED bulbs. Consider replacing older appliances with newer, high efficiency appliances. Use non-electric appliances if you can. Isn't this extra work and expense? Yes, but if you can shave a few hundred Watt-hours off your daily use, you'll save big on solar panels and batteries because fewer will be needed to support your electrical needs.
The Easiest Way to Do Off Grid Solar
Get a Free Quote for an Off-Grid Solar System...
Whether you want a fully installed system or just the components for a DIY installation, you can get a free off-grid PV system quote from our Solar Techs.
...Or Get an Off Grid Solar Kit for a DIY Installation
Our off grid solar kits contain all the primary components needed: solar panels, inverter, deep cycle batteries with charger and charge control, and all necessary cables, wiring, breakers and junction boxes (unless otherwise stated). These off grid solar PV kits are ready for DIY or professional installation.
Shop for Off Grid Solar by Category
Shop for off grid solar system components separately.
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Off Grid Solar Kits
Our off grid solar kits contain everything you need to set up a standalone solar energy system with battery storage for around-the-clock off-grid solar power: solar panels, deep-cycle solar batteries, inverter(s) with battery charging, charge control, and all necessary cables, wiring, breakers, and junction boxes (unless otherwise stated). Why shop for off-grid solar panel kit components separately when we've got them all bundled together in solar power kits we've tested and optimized?
These off-grid solar kits are most commonly used for vacation homes or mountain cabins, though the larger sizes can power a full-time off-grid homestead. They can also be used to bring supplemental solar power and storage to an on-grid residence.
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Solar Panels
Whether on or off the grid, using solar panels (also called solar modules, PV modules, or PV panels) is one of the simplest and cleanest ways to convert the sun's energy into electricity. Solar panels are clean, quiet, direct, and incredibly durable, with a maintenance-free lifespan of decades. And solar has declined in price by more than half in just the last 10 years.
Real Goods' legacy is directly linked to the practicality and reliability of off-grid solar panels - we sold the first off-grid solar panel in the U.S., after all. But we've also built solar PV systems for thousands of customers across the country since 1978, and most are still going strong decades later.
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Deep Cycle Batteries
Deep cycle batteries provide the consistency needed for comfortable off-grid living. They are the center of every off-grid solar (or wind or hydroelectric) system. Most renewable energy sources produce electricity instantaneously - but intermittently. The sun sets, the wind stops, the stream dries up - so you need batteries to store what went unused of that instantaneous power so you'll have it for later.
Everything comes and goes from the battery bank, so your solar batteries will be working hard. You can help protect your deep cycle batteries by regulating their charge with a charge controller and overcurrent protection and keeping tabs on them with a system monitor, but they do wear out over time. Real Goods has built renewable energy systems since 1978 using all kinds of batteries, and today we carry what we consider the industry's best for deep-cycling, off-grid use.
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Overcurrent Protection
Overcurrent protection isn't just part of electric code compliance - it's common sense.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires "overcurrent protection and a disconnect means" between any power source and any appliance.
Off Grid Solar FAQ
No! Unlike grid-tie solar systems, off-grid systems are (as the name suggests) completely independent of the electrical grid and are therefore not affected by grid outages.
Yes. A deep cycle battery bank is the heart of an off-grid PV system. Everything comes and goes from the batteries and your power needs will be completely reliant on what your batteries have stored up whenever your solar panels (or wind/hydro turbines) aren't producing.
Batteries are a bit like muscles - they need some exercise to stay healthy, but not so much that they get worn out at an early age.
We've found it's best to aim for 3-5 days' worth of storage capacity if using lead acid batteries. Fewer than three days and your batteries will be cycling too deeply too frequently. More than five days and your battery bank starts getting more expensive than a backup generator or secondary charging source.
If you live in a reliably sunny place and use LFP (or LiFePO4) batteries instead of lead acid, you can probably safely get away with 2-3 days' worth of storage since LFP batteries handle true deep cycling much better than lead acid.
Our Solar Techs have answers! Contact them at 800-919-2400 or [email protected]
Deciding to get off the grid can be intimidating, but our Solar Living Sourcebook is the perfect primer for it - chock-full of exactly the kind of advice and considerations you should have to make an informed decision about it.
