If you're moving off the grid, one of the first things you need to consider is the installation of solar photovoltaics (PV), better known as solar panels. These give you and your family the ability to continue your daily activities with less hardship.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
May 2024 Update: We've powered our off-grid home with solar panels for the past eleven+ years. We have updated our system several times, most recently to include a Tesla 2 Powerwall system.
What Are Solar Panels?
In simple terms, solar panels allow you to capture your daily sunlight and convert it into the electricity you use around your homestead. This helps to provide small creature comforts to your off grid home. It allows you to run off grid appliances, such as an off grid washer or dryer.
Depending on your situation, adding solar panels may help you power your off grid water system or other home systems. Consider a solar system setup if you're preparing to go off the grid.
How Solar Panels Work
Current solar panels are made up of many silicon wafers. These wafers gather the sun's rays and create electricity.
The power created by solar panels is called direct current (DC), which gets stored in batteries.
This DC power must go through an "Inverter" to change (invert) DC power to alternating current (AC). Whether you're on the grid or off the grid, your home operates on AC current.
Cost of Solar Panels
Although still requiring an initial cash outlay, solar panels have come down substantially in price over the past decade. In 2010, the cost to purchase panels in the US was about $2.50 per watt. And just seven years later, in early 2017, that cost had fallen to just $0.38 per watt.
Unfortunately, panel prices increased by about 20% in early 2018. This was about the time the US took steps to implement tariffs on imported solar panels. They have since resumed their downward pricing trend.
The solar industry even has its own name for this trend. It is called Swanson’s Law for the falling price of solar panels. This was popularized in a 2012 article in The Economist.
In summary, Swanson’s Law states that solar panel prices decrease by 20% for every doubling of worldwide panel shipments. This is about a 10% cost decrease each year in the real world.
If you're building an off grid homestead or off grid cabin, make sure to budget for solar in your off grid costs.
And if you're looking at buying an existing off grid home, look carefully at the solar panel system and specs. If it needs upgrading, you could face significant costs.
Where to Install Solar Panels
Always install solar panels so they face in a southerly direction. This allows you to take full advantage of the sun and get maximum exposure.
Solar panels can be mounted in a variety of different ways.
Different Ways to Install Solar Panels
You might not think there's much to consider regarding your install location, yet there are many factors that come into play.
- Does your yard have clear access to the southern exposure to the sun?
- Does the space around your home limit you?
- Do you have to be concerned about livestock being able to damage your panels?
- Are you in a location (such as where we live, in Canada's subarctic Northwest Territories) with minimal winter sun?
- That same sun is extremely low in the sky in our winter months, so trees cause more solar blockage.
- Do you want the ability to “track” the sun?
- How much snow do you get in the winter that could require regular cleaning?
As part of our off grid home winter routine, I adjust the panels to capture the sun best as it moves lower across the horizon.
Each installation method has many pros and cons, and I will try to address each in the following installation methods.
Fixed Ground Mounting for Solar Panels
Ground mounting is as it sounds. It refers to mounting your panels on racks outside in your yard.
These are extremely handy because they are easy to install. They are a great choice when your yard is clear of trees or structures that could block the southern exposure to the sun.
They are very easy to maintain. You can easily wipe them free of dust throughout the year and snow during your winter preparation and maintenance.
There is, of course, the risk of damage from some daily "playground" activities or even vandalism or horseplay.
Fixed Roof Mounting 1
Fixed roof mounting has many advantages over fixed ground mounting. However, it can be harder to access for maintenance.
Cleaning snow and dust off the solar panels is not as easy and requires more planning. Your panels will, however, face less physical risk due to vandalism and inadvertent damage from yard animals, including children.
You can also face greater risk if in an area with high winds. Generally, these require the racking to be mounted on brackets and bolted down to the roof.
If you go this route, ensure you have waterproofed all entry points.
Fixed Roof Mounting 2
Similar to the first noted fixed roof mounting, these are on your roof yet not bolted down.
You can use different ballast (heavy material) to hold your racking in place. This reduces the potential of rainwater entering your home through the bolt seams.
You can use concrete blocks, sandbags, or whatever material you may have available.
Fixed Roof Mounting 3
Use this method when installing solar panels when your home has a metal roof.
As you know, corrugated metal is a rigid material with an up-and-down aspect. Here, you can buy hardware to attach your panels directly to the roof.
This reduces drilling through the roof, and some hardware removes that requirement.
Wall Mounting
Take advantage of south-facing building walls as module mounting surfaces.
Arrange module arrays parallel to the wall, tilted away from the wall, or configured as an overhanging canopy.
They will already have a certain slope that allows natural run-off of rain (easy wash) and much of the snow you may have.
The disadvantage of wall-mounted solar panels is that they are generally stationary. This reduces the ability to adjust based on seasons and the sun's height.
Tracked Mounting
This method can greatly increase your solar panel efficiency.
Using a tracker can increase your solar input by 25% – 40% over fixed mounting. You can install trackers either on the ground or can be roof mounted.
Ground-mounted tracking hardware can easily add 15% – 20% to the cost of a project over fixed mounting hardware. Since rooftop installations require more engineering and labor to complete, the system cost difference can be even higher.
Top of Pole Mounts
Top-of-pole mounting is another fixed mounting method.
Your panel cluster remains stationary even though the setup can look similar to a tracker.
Top of pole mounts often allows for seasonal tilt adjustments. This can help increase solar input, particularly during winter conditions.
Total Equipment Required (Including Optional)
Solar Panels
We have already discussed these as the equipment that captures the sun’s rays to create energy. Our off grid home power system currently includes nine 250-watt panels.
Inverter for DC to AC
The inverter is the device you use to convert Direct Current to Alternating Current. Solar electricity is DC, yet most household loads require AC power.
This unit does the inversion almost seamlessly and has close to 100% efficiency ratings.
Note that if you operate direct current appliances, they can be fed directly from the solar system without an inverter.
Charge Controller
You will require a charge controller if your off-grid solar power system operates with a battery bank. This is the brains between your solar panels and your battery bank.
The charge controller determines how much current should get pushed into your batteries for the best performance.
It is critical because it establishes how efficiently your solar system runs. It also determines the operating life of the batteries by preventing them from overcharging.
Battery Bank
Although optional, I feel a battery bank is an essential part of your system (unless, of course, you get a Powerwall.) Unless you live in an area with sun 24/7 and 365 days a year, you must store power.
If you are grid-tied, many communities require the hydro utility to buy back or "store" your excess power. And if you are not grid-tied, you will need a method to store this power yourself.
This gives you a source of power at night time or when it is cloudy outside.
Backup Generator
Again, this is not a mandatory add-on, yet it is nice to have. A backup generator improves the reliability of your setup and gives you an alternate power source.
If you have many days without sunshine, this can generate power in those gaps. Today, these generators can be set up to start automatically, which is convenient when you have those extended periods without the sun.
It can also help when operating equipment or appliances that draw a heavy load. Learn more about how to buy a generator for home use before making the purchase.
Transfer Switch
You must install a transfer switch whenever you hook a backup generator to your setup.
This helps you to switch between two sources of power. For example, if a diesel generator backs up the solar system, you can now choose the power source.
For greater convenience, these can be automatic or manual.
AC Load Center
An AC Load Center (electrical panel) holds all your switches, fuses, and circuit breakers. This is required to maintain the required AC voltage and current to corresponding loads.
DC Load Center
A DC Load Center is similar and includes all appropriate switches, fuses, and circuit breakers. This helps maintain the required DC voltage and current to corresponding loads.
Automatic Start
An automatic start is an electrical device that ties to your charge controller. It “communicates” with your battery bank and knows when it is low or has an increased load.
In these situations, it will "autostart" your generator to give you extra comfort and peace of mind.
Where to Buy Solar Panels
Due to their popularity, solar panels can now be purchased just about anywhere.
You can even buy them in local hardware stores like Lowes, Menards, Home Depot, and Canadian Tire, to name a few.
The decision of where to buy solar panels might depend more on your usage, and the number of panels and power required.
Although the local hardware store is convenient, cost efficiency may be reduced. If you’re looking for a full system, you’re better off searching for a full system provider.
Typing “solar installations” into your web browser will yield thousands of potential sites. Check with the Better Business Bureau, personal contacts, local companies, etc., to get the best fit for your needs.
You can even buy across borders with minimal duty these days. I suggest you look at the 250 to 400-watt range for a better cost per watt. These can easily be run in series or parallel, a topic for another article.
Solar Panels for Home Installation
If you’re new to powering your home with solar panels, research your options. Talk to other off grid homeowners and ask experts many questions.
Learn all you can before you invest your time, energy, and money into installing a solar power system.
Remember, if you're thinking about living off the grid, one of the key conveniences you need to consider is the installation of solar photovoltaics (PV) or better known as solar panels.
These allow you protection, convenience, and the ability to continue your daily activities with less hardship.
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