We will cover the best 3 solar off grid systems in this article. Whether you want to disappear to an off grid cabin in the woods or reduce the running costs of your suburban house, an off-grid solar panel system is a popular choice.
Solar off grid systems enable people to live without being connected to the national power grid. They can also be used as backup systems to the primary grid if you live somewhere with frequent power cuts.
We will cover off grid solar systems designed for large-scale projects like garages and housing. There are also smaller off-grid options for motorhomes and caravans, which we will cover another time.
It is helpful to have some context when reading about power usage. A laptop computer will use around 30w per hour, whilst a fifty-inch LED television will use around 60w an hour. The average three-bedroom house will consume around 3000w per day.
Small Projects
1600W Pro Off-Grid Kit
– 4 x 400w solar panels
– 4 x Rolls AGM batteries
– Produces 10.0kWh daily
Medium Houses
3200W Pro Off-Grid Solar Kit
– 8x 400w solar panels
– 8 x Rolls AGM batteries
– Produces 23.0kWh daily
Large Houses
4000W Pro Off-Grid Solar Kit
– 10 x 400w solar panels
– 4 x Rolls AGM batteries
– Produces 30.0kWh daily
With the price of energy skyrocketing and the reality of power outages increasing, there is no wonder more people are installing off grid solar systems in their homes. You can have fully integrated systems giving you complete energy independence or a partial system that works with the primary grid.
Both fully and partially integrated systems require the same hardware to run. We will explore the three best off grid solar systems next.
Table of contents
- 1600w Professional Off-Grid Kit (24V, 5.0kWh)
- 3200w Professional Off-Grid Solar System (48V, 14.0kWh)
- 4000w Professional Off-Grid Solar System ( 48V, 14.0kWh)
- How do off-grid solar systems work?
- Summary
1600W Professional Off-Grid Kit (24V, 5.0kWh)
The medium-scale 1600w off-grid solar system is ideal for static caravans, workshops, garages and summer houses. During a British summer, this off grid solar system will produce an average of 10.0kWh daily.
The 1600w Professional Off-Grid kit uses Victron components. Victron is the most reputable wholesale supplier of components for renewable power systems. Using these assures quality products.
The 1600W, Professional Off-Grid Solar System harnesses 24v, runs at 5.0kWh and includes the following components:
- 4 x 400w domestic solar panel
- 4 x Rolls S6-460 AGM batteries for storage (6v 415ah)
- 1 x Victron EasySolar 24/1600 solar inverter charger
- 1 x Victron Color Control GX & enclosure
This case study in Plymouth by Sunstore Solar uses this 16kw professional off-grid system. It also uses an additional x2 domestic solar panel, increasing its power output from 10kw per day to 15 kw per day. The owners use the 16kw off grid solar system to independently power an office in the garden.
You can upgrade
- To a LiGen battery with an increased 4.8kWh usable capacity (24V, 200ah)
- To a LiGen Battery with an impressive 9.6kWh usable capacity (24V, 400ah)
3200W Professional Off-Grid Solar System (48V, 14.0kWh)
The larger scale solar 32kw off grid system is ideal for off grid 2 to 3-bed homes with enough power for the essentials and devices. This solar off-grid system can generate an average of 23.0kWh daily on a summer’s day.
The 3200w Professional off-grid solar panel system uses eight 400w domestic solar panels and stores excess energy on eight AGM batteries for future use. The system is connected using Victron components and comes with quality aluminium brackets.
This large-scale off-grid kit is ideal for off-grid/eco homes. In UK summer conditions, this system could generate approximately 23.0kWh per day. This system includes a 3000Va (2400w) inverter charger.
The 3200W, Professional Off-Grid Solar System harnesses 48v, runs at 14.0kWh and includes the following components:
- 8 x 400w domestic solar panel
- 8 x Rolls S6 460 (6v 415ah) AGM batteries
- 1 x Victron EasySolar-II 48/3000 GX solar inverter charger
- 1 x Victron Color Control GX & enclosure
A recent case study of an off-grid solar system in Brighton shows a similar system to the 32k Professional Off-Grid set-up. This system generates enough power for the amenities in a three-bedroom home. There will be enough power to run all the devices you usually would, and x8 batteries store any excess energy created.
You also get the opportunity to upgrade your batteries, which allows for even more usable power for things like computers, consoles, TVs and power-hungry domestic items like washing machines.
You can upgrade
- 4 x Pylon US2000 2.4kWh 48v Li-Ion Solar Battery which allows for a usable capacity of 7.7kWh
- 5 x Pylon US2000 2.4kWh 48v Li-Ion Solar Battery which allows for a usable capacity of 9.6kWh
Why should you upgrade your batteries? The Lithium batteries allow for a higher charge rate reducing the pressure on your generator by charging your batteries quicker.
4000W Professional Off-Grid Solar System ( 48V, 14.0kWh)
The slightly larger 4kw off grid system generates enough power to supply a four-bedroom house and all its facilities. The system generates up to an impressive 30kWh per day, which is more than enough for any modern home to run on.
This 4000W, Professional Off-Grid Solar System harnesses 48V, runs at 14.0kWh and uses the following main components to deliver renewable energy:
- 10 x 400w domestic solar panel
- 8 x Rolls S6 460 (6v 415ah) AGM batteries
- 1 x Victron EasySolar-II 48/5000 GX solar inverter charger
- 1 x Victron Color Control GX & enclosure
You can upgrade
- 4 x Pylon US2000 Solar Batteries that run at 2.4kWh and harness 48v, which allows for a usable capacity of 7.7kWh.
- 5 x Pylon US2000 Solar Batteries that run at 2.4kWh and harness 48v Li-Ion which allows for a usable capacity of 9.6kWh
Upgraded batteries reduce the workload on your generator. The demand reduction is because Lithium batteries allow for a higher charge rate which recharges your batteries in less time.
This case study of a solar off grid system produces a considerable 3.8kWh which is more than enough energy for a four-bedroom home. In context, a modern fifty-inch LED television will use up to 60w per hour, and you get four thousand watts to play with.
How do off-grid solar systems work?
Solar off grid systems are simple, sometimes called Stand Alone Systems due to their ability to produce power independently. To generate energy and store it, an off grid solar system will:
- Collect the heat from the sun and use it to create electricity using a photovoltaic process in the solar panels.
- A converter then allows the batteries to charge.
- The stored electricity is then sent through an inverter to power your home.
Summary
The off grid solar systems are an excellent investment for your wallet & the environment. They are a complete package with all you need to start creating and storing renewable energy. Today we explored the best three off grid solar systems suitable for buildings from garages to large homes. Each review links to the products. If you would like more information on delivering the off-grid power system, you can also have them fitted if required.
Disclosure: You will find links on our pages that are affiliate links. I am in no way associated with the companies linked in posts. These are products I’ve used personally or have researched extensively to create quality, usable information. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.
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