Off grid living is becoming more popular due to the new normal. The downtime is pushing people to make rash decisions or fulfill their plans.
The increased accessibility to solar panel systems is making off grid living more feasible. They are not as popular as grid-tied systems, but off grid systems are available anywhere.
Are you interested in owning an off grid solar system? Our guide will discuss everything you need to know. Continue reading to learn more.
What is an Off Grid Solar System?
An off grid solar system is free from the grid. Anything untoward happening to the grid will not affect your home. When power outages happen, your home does not suffer.
However, breaking away from the grid also means you cannot draw extra power from it. Instead, these systems have built-in batteries.
Unlike grid-tied systems, off grid systems draw energy from batteries when energy production is low.
It means the battery must have enough capacity to store excess power. These considerations make off grid systems more complex to design. The solar company must perform a detailed analysis to discover the right solar array size.
Batteries are more expensive than off grid solar panels. Inverters and other equipment will bulk up the price. You will likely shell out between $45,000 and $65,000 for an off grid system.
Benefits of Off Grid Solar Power Systems
The primary advantage of an off grid solar power system is energy independence. Even when there’s no sunlight for some time, your home can draw power from the batteries. Infrastructure faults do not affect your power supply.
Your solar panel system will fulfill all your electricity needs. They are perfect for rural areas with no access to the grid.
However, you can’t take advantage of net metering programs when you go off the grid. It means never getting credit for selling excess electricity. It is not a drawback since you are unlikely to pay energy bills.
Off grid systems work at all scales—from solar chargers for mobile devices to residential solar panel systems. You can buy or build a solar system to get electricity in an RV. Portable solar generators are also optimal when you are out camping.
How Off Grid Solar Panel Systems Work
A functional off grid system needs solar panels, a charge controller, a battery, and an inverter. Some homes use an alternative power source, such as a gas-powered generator. It is their last resort when their solar battery runs out of energy.
The panels collect energy from the sun and transfer it to the charge controller. It regulates the amount of power going to the battery. With this, the battery remains full.
The charge controller also delivers energy to the inverter. It will convert DC to AC power, allowing home appliances to use the energy.
Choose the Right Solar System Now
An off grid solar system offers a lot of advantages. It gives your home independence while reducing your carbon footprint. However, it is not as desirable when you have ready access to the grid.
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