off-grid solar systems for beginners

Due to the increasing cost of land and the advancement of technology, many people are considering buying land that is off-grid. Off-grid properties are generally cheaper which is primarily why we ended up off-grid. It allowed us to buy a large, affordable piece of land. 

When it comes to solar systems, the sky is the limit. But I am not here to advertise or promote big corporate solar companies. If you have lots of money, it is likely you will turn to a large company that will design, order, and install a comprehensive and easy-to-use solar system. Which is great!

This is our new-to-us 2.6-kilowatt system which consists of 10 260watt 24volt second-hand house panels which cost $800 along with a $700 3.5 kilowatt inverter charger. 

But if you have been following along for a while, you will likely realize we are not those people. Instead, I am here to share how we are building our Australian homestead entirely from scratch on a shoestring budget. 

Our property is totally off-grid meaning when we first moved here there was no plumbing, electricity, phone service or running water. We spent every dollar we had simply buying the property and then getting here, which in hindsight I could probably recommend not doing. Instead, it is advisable to have an extra, reasonably large chunk of money with which to set up your property.  

But we were inspired by the pioneers before us, and figured if they could do it then surely we could, especially considering we have the significant advantage of modern technology. And to be fair we have, but it has not been without blood, sweat and a few tears. (The tears were from me, not Grant.) 

Before I get into this post I should preface it by saying we are not recommending products nor telling you how to install a solar system. That would be silly because we are not electricians and dealing with electricity can be incredibly dangerous and is best done by a licensed professional. 

However.  

Grant is a bit of a jack of all trades and he has installed ours. Not without mishap I should add, there are good reasons electricians cannot be colourblind. If you were considering tackling a DIY solar system (which I am not advocating) Always ensure you have done copious research, understand your equipment, ensure everything is earthed correctly from the get-go, that you have circuit breakers and that your home is fitted with good quality smoke detectors.  If you don't know about earthing or the difference between positive and negative, you need to call in the professionals. 

Basic off-grid solar system

When we first moved here, we camped in a little old vintage caravan. We had a tiny solar system that consisted of a single 200-watt panel with a second-hand 600-watt inverter and one 12V battery. It could run 12v lights, a 12V TV, a small fan, and charge phones. I could only put it on a few minutes at a time to check emails/messages etc via the satellite internet. It was not ideal and I was thankful when we upgraded it. Over time we added more panels so we ended up with 4 12V panels and 3 12V batteries, a good quality charge controller and it worked with a second-hand 700-watt inverter. We made do with this system for three years, along with a generator as back up power.

When we first moved to the farm, we literally camped for the first 4 months. Here are the boys in the old caravan, watching the TV and Angus is playing a tablet. 

Now we are in the process of finishing the installation on a 2.6-kilowatt system which consists of 10 260watt 24volt second-hand house panels which cost $800 along with a $700 3.5 kilowatt inverter charger.  We are still using our old batteries for now until we can afford a bigger battery bank. We charge things during the day and use any big appliances during the day when there is peak power production. We run our generator at night to run the dishwasher as our system is too small for that. Though it can run the washing machine on a cold wash and the fridge and will also run a chest freezer in the future. It is a vast improvement.  

When we upgraded the solar we also upgraded our fridge to a seven-star Hisense 417L fridge/freezer from a 280L gas/240V Bushman fridge. Which is far better suited to a family our size. One day when we put a cabin on our property for accommodation, the gas fridge will be used there. 

If you are wanting to learn about basic off-grid systems, you might find this link interesting Basic diagram of an off-grid solar system

What size solar system do I need?  

The size of the solar system you need will depend on how much power you use and how much you are willing to simplify. As a family of 6, we made do with our first tiny solar system for 6 months and the upgraded system for 3.5 years. It meant we had to run a generator for the washing machine and any large appliances and made do with a small gas fridge as it was what we could afford at the time. We also have our yurt wired to 12V lighting to save power. 

If you want to run an air conditioner and other big appliances you will need to invest in a significantly more extensive system and are best to get it installed professionally.  

Here is a calculator to help you work it all out. Off-grid power calculator

What appliances can run on solar power

You can run pretty much any appliance on solar if you have a big enough system. However, some appliances are more energy efficient than others. For example, our fridge is the most energy-efficient fridge on the Australian market, and the next most energy-efficient fridge is an LG inverter fridge both of these are commonly used in off-grid settings. Front loader washing machines are generally more energy efficient. If you can turn your spin cycle on your washing machine down and wash with only cold water it will draw far less power. You will need to do some research about what items are vital to your life and design a solar system that suits that. There is no right or wrong size solar system, off-grid can mean something other than low-tech. It's important you make the choice that reflects your lifestyle and budget. 

Appliances with a heating element like a kettle generally draw a huge amount of power, so we use an old-fashioned stove-top kettle. We cook using an LPG oven or our wood-burning Aga. However slow cookers are quite energy efficient and we should be able to run one on our new system during the day. You will need a bigger system than ours to run a dishwasher too. 

We do not have a bread maker, microwave or any heating kitchen appliances like a toaster or sandwich press. We make toast on top of the wood aga in winter and under the gas grill the rest of the year. I make do with a simple stick blender and a set of handheld beaters in the kitchen appliance department. 

We run a generator to use grinders/circular saws, use the washing machine on a hot wash when necessary and the dishwasher. 

Batteries for solar systems

If you are totally off-grid like us, you will need a battery bank or every time a cloud passes over your whole system will drop out. The battery bank allows the system to draw on extra power if needed. 

There are various kinds of batteries and the size of the battery bank you need will depend on your budget and the lifestyle you wish to lead. A lot of people on the grid don't have battery banks, they simply feed back into the grid when their panels produce more power than they need and draw back out from it if they need more. Over the month this is tallied up and they will receive a detailed account at the end of the month. Some people get a small amount of credit, or others may still receive a small bill depending on how many panels they have and depending on their production vs usage. 

As far as batteries go, there are a couple of different kinds. The main being lithium and lead acid batteries. 

Lithium batteries are increasingly common because you can drain them to a lower percentage, are long-lasting and more powerful. However, they are significantly more expensive. 

We make do with old-fashioned 12V lead acid batteries which you shouldn't drain beyond 50% or you risk shortening their lifespan. However, they are significantly more affordable, though have a shorter lifespan. 

Main problems of solar systems

You will probably need a backup source of power like a generator over prolonged cloudy periods or in winter when the days are shorter. 

Going off-grid can seem a lot to get your head around if you are used to power automatically arriving at your home via the grid. The reality is, it's not for everyone.

If you are on a budget and can only afford a simple system, it will require a significant change in how you carry out tasks around your home, but this isn't necessarily all bad. It is good to be aware of our power usage and to live more simply regarding technology if possible. While technology isn't inherently bad, it does require the earth's precious resources to produce. Technology is a huge blessing for those with physical ailments or disabilities to help them live a good and independent life. But if you are able-bodied, perhaps it is a good time to look at the gadgets in your life and question whether you really need them.  

It wasn't that long ago when people lived good lives, more connected to the earth and its resources far more simply than we do now. 

These days I make bread by hand and I have come to love the process. Many 'slow' kitchen tasks can be deeply satisfying and grounding, not unlike planting seeds in the garden. It is good for our bodies to work at a human pace and to be connected to our surroundings. Marketing has made us believe that doing things the quickest way is inherently better, but that is not necessarily the case. It is however a great way to sell us lots of things to "save time". Things we pay for with hours of our lives that we have traded for money.  

We are not experts when it comes to solar power and all the different systems that are out there. If in doubt, always call in a professional. I am simply sharing what we have done, and how we have found it works for us. 

Much love,

Emma

xx