Ten years ago I was living in a major city and made the decision I needed to get out and get off grid. I bought some books, watched some videos, picked up a mishmash of components, and got to work learning and applying. I was afraid to buy a bunch of stuff and ultimately fail. So I went as cheap as I could to make a proof of concept system to prove to myself I could actually do this. I used a remote control car battery, a cheap PWM controller, a little inverter for my car I used for my laptop, some spare automotive fuses, and a small solar panel. I dragged my franken-solar system outside into my backyard, and crossed my fingers for the moment of truth. I plugged in and hit the power button on my Xbox. It powered up. It was amazing. My first actual experience with solar power. It worked!! I was euphoric! That moment cemented my determination to move off grid. And one year after my proof of concept test in my backyard, I did it.
I bought a bare parcel of land with no utilities of any kind available, quit my job, and moved to the remote wilderness and formally started my off grid journey. My system evolved over time, as did my homestead. My array kept expanding. I changed system voltages. I tried different types of batteries. And now, after nine years of changing and fine tuning and expanding my system (with the help of Backwoods), I have a multi-array system generating about 33.6 kilowatt-hours a day, and 19.2 kilowatt-hours of lithium storage.
I’m proof you can dive into solar and do it yourself, no matter how unrelated your professional field of knowledge or education might be (I was a nurse!). Now when bad storms strike, and the power grid goes down, the only way I know it is when my friends from town come over to charge their phones and get warm.
Joshua’s Gear Manifest –
Magnum MS4024 Inverter
Eclipse 24-200 Batteries x 4
Victron 250-100 Charge Controller x 2
Victron Lynx PI
Victron BMV-712
Victron Blue Smart IP22 24/16 Battery Chargers x 2
AIMS 24V 45Amp Battery Charger
Midnite Solar Breakers
Midnite Solar Combiner Boxes
Midnite Solar Breaker Boxes
Midnite Solar Surge Protectors
EMP-Ferrite Kit
Made in USA Heliene and Mission solar panels (Approx. 4.6KW in panels total)