3+ Days Autonomy

Solar off grid (stand alone) systems are designed to power a certain load demand for a certain amount of time. These loads can be as simple as a solar system for a single light with a storage demand of 3 days autonomy, in case of cloudy weather, to an entire home’s power demand with a refrigerator, lights, TV, microwave, and all of the other amenities of a household. The solar off grid system is designed very specifically for the demand being asked of it.

Components & Batteries
An off grid solar system is put together with components that make power from the sun and then store it for night time use, as well as days when sunshine is scarce. Solar panels are mounted in a southern, sunny location. They are usually mounted on an adjustable, tilt angle rack for greatest solar harvest year ‘round. These solar panels are wired to a controller, which regulates the amount of power that feeds into the battery bank. The battery bank is the storage system for the entire power source and can be made up of an array of various types and brands of batteries, depending on location and use. Most often, the batteries are 6 volt, deep cycle, lead acid batteries. The controller which regulates the charge to the batteries keeps the batteries healthy and kept from overcharging.

The batteries’ stored power is then turned into usable AC power with an inverter, if AC and not DC power is desired for the loads. This inverter provides the solar- created AC power to the loads in the house, as well as regulating how much power is drawn from the batteries. The inverter protects the batteries by keeping them from being overdrawn or overcharged by the loads in the home, as well.

Generator Back-up
The off grid system can be designed for three or more days of autonomy, in case of cloudy weather. In many cases, a backup generator is used to supplement power when inclement weather persists, requiring a power source to assure that the home never runs out of power. This generator can be programmed to start automatically if the battery voltage drops too low, keeping the entire power system autonomous and reliable.