System Example #1 Tiny Home / Mobile Home Off-Grid Solar Power
Produces .5 kWh to 5 kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
Sized for smaller stationary applications (cabin, greenhouse, workshop, etc.) or mobile applications (RV, boat, etc.). We recommend a 12 or 24-volt battery-based system. Standard components include solar modules, solar mount, lightning arrestors, charge controller, cables, breakers, wiring boxes, 12/24 V battery charger/converter or AC inverter/charger, and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), lithium titanate or lead acid batteries. Optional but recommended components are a battery meter and system communication hub (Victron Cerbo).
These small systems can provide 12/24 V DC power for lighting and 120 V AC power (if using an inverter) for home electronics, Starlink, small water systems, light duty power tools, and some smaller kitchen appliances. A generator is optional but recommended to keep batteries charged in low-light winter conditions. A battery monitor is highly recommended for best system performance. Alternatives to electric heating and cooking are required (propane, natural gas, etc.).
Solar Panels
100 W to 1,000 W array, based on estimated power consumption and location. 100 W flexible or traditional glass modules, or larger 60 or 72 cell modules (350 W or more), typically wired in parallel.
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground, Side-of-Pole, and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available for stationary applications. For mobile applications we recommend RV Mounts for traditional glass modules, or adhesives for flexible modules.
Charge Controller
10 A PWM up to 100 A MPPT Charge Controller (Midnite Brat or Kid, Victron BlueSolar or SmartSolar), based on array size and battery bank voltage.
Inverter/Charger
If AC power is desired, a Victron Phoenix inverter or Victron Multiplus inverter/charger is recommended. A Victron Blue Smart IP battery charger can be used when no AC power is needed.
Hardware
Lightning arrestors, inverter disconnect, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring. Optional high-quality 2 kW or larger generator (sourced locally) recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr or Victron BMV 712, optional but highly recommended
Batteries
1-3 Eclipse Lithium 12 V or 24 V batteries, 1-3 Eclipse Lithium Titanate 12 V batteries or up to 12 Trojan T-105s and cables.
Approximate system cost: $1,600 – $5,000
System Example #2 Conserving Cottage
Produces 2.5 kWh to 7.5 kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
An excellent size for a year-round home for 1 to 3 people who conserve energy. We recommend a 24 or 48-volt battery based system and inverter/charger to provide 120 V AC power for lighting, Energy Star rated appliances (refrigerator/freezer, clothes washer, etc), microwave, DC or 120 V AC well pump, TV/DVD/stereo, Starlink, computers, power tools, etc. Larger systems could power an Energy Star dishwasher as well. In northern latitudes, a high-quality 3+ kW generator with Auto Generator Start functionality (sourced locally) is highly recommended for winter battery charging and while using high load appliances. Alternatives to electric heating and cooking should be used (propane, natural gas, wood, etc.).
Solar Panels
500 W to 1,500 W array, based on estimated power consumption and location
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available from General Specialties Mfg and Tamarack Solar.
Charge Controller
15 A to 100 A MPPT Charge Controller, based on array size and battery bank voltage (Victron SmartSolar, Midnite Classic or Hawke’s Bay)
Inverter/Charger
3000 W inverter/charger (Victron MultiPlus or MultiPlus II)
Hardware
Lightning arrestors, inverter disconnect, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring, EMP kit optional. A high-quality 3+ kW generator (sourced locally) is recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr, Victron BMV712 or Victron SmartShunt, Victron Cerbo GX communication hub
Batteries
24 V or 48V battery bank consisting of 1-2 Eclipse LiFePO4 24 V 200 Ah or 48 V 200 Ah batteries, 8 golf cart batteries (T105) or L-16 lead-acid batteries.
Approximate system cost: $7,000 – $16,000
System Example #3 Conserving Family Home
Produces 7.5 kWh to 15 kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
Sized for a year-round home for a small family. We recommend a 48V battery based system with 1 or more large inverter/chargers to provide 120/240 V AC power for lighting, Energy Star rated appliances (refrigerator/freezer, clothes washer, dish washer, etc), microwave, DC or 120/240 V AC well pump, TV/DVD/stereo, Starlink, computers, power tools, etc. In northern latitudes, a high-quality 3 kW to 6 kW generator with Auto Generator Start functionality (sourced locally) is highly recommended for winter battery charging. Alternatives to electric heating and cooking should be used (propane, natural gas, wood, etc.).
Solar Panels
1,500 W to 3,000 W array, based on estimated power consumption and location, using larger 60 or 72 cell modules.
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available from General Specialties Mfg and Tamarack Solar.
Charge Controller
50 A to 80 A MPPT Charge Controller, based on array size and battery bank voltage (Victron SmartSolar or Midnite Classic or Hawke’s Bay)
Inverter/Charger / Power Center
Midnite E-Panel or Victron VE Panel with 1 or 2 48 V Victron Multiplus or Quattro inverter/chargers (use 2 inverters for 240 V AC applications), or Midnite Rosie or All-In-One inverter/charger.
Hardware
Lightning arrestors, inverter disconnect, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring, EMP kit optional. A high-quality 3 kW to 6 kW generator (sourced locally) is recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr or Victron BMV712, Smart Shunt or Lynx Shunt. Victron Cerbo GX communication hub
Batteries
2-3 Eclipse 48 V 100 Ah or 1-2 48 V 200 Ah Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries, 2-3 Midnite Powerflo 5k or 1-2 Midnite Powerflo 16k LiFePO4 batteries, or 8-16 L-16 size lead acid batteries.
Approximate system cost: $9,000 – $18,000
System Example #4 Active Family Solar Home
Produces 12.5 kWh to 20 kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
This option offers more power for a medium-sized family or a home office/small business. 48 V Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are recommended, particularly if future expansion is expected. Active Family size systems can power the loads listed in Example #3, plus additional Energy Star rated appliances (refrigerators, chest freezers, dishwasher, etc) as well as extensive electronics and power tool use. A 5 kW to 10 kW high quality generator with Auto Generator Start functionality (sourced locally) is highly recommended for winter battery charging. Alternatives to electric heating and cooking should be used (propane, natural gas, wood, etc.).
Solar Panels
2,500 W to 4,000 W array, based on estimated power consumption and location, using larger 60 or 72 cell modules.
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available from General Specialties Mfg and Tamarack Solar.
Charge Controller
60 A to 100 A MPPT Charge Controller, based on array size (Victron SmartSolar or Midnite Classic, Hawke’s Bay or Barcelona)
Inverter/Charger / Power Center
Midnite E-Panel or Victron VE Panel with 2 Victron Multiplus 5k or Quattro 5k inverter/chargers or 1-2 Midnite Rosie or All-In-One inverter/chargers
Hardware
Solar combiner box, lightning arrestors, inverter disconnect, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring, EMP kit optional. A high-quality 5 kW to 10 kW generator (sourced locally) is recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr or Victron BMV712, Smart Shunt or Lynx Shunt. Victron Cerbo GX communication hub
Batteries
2-4 Eclipse 48 V 200 Ah Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries, 4-8 Midnite Powerflo 5k or 2-3 Midnite Powerflo 16k LiFePO4 batteries.
Approximate system cost: $15,000 – $26,000
System Example #5 Large Home/Small Business
Produces 22.5 kWh to 50 kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
Backwoods Solar ran on a system this size when it was a home-based business. This example provides for substantially more power for a large family home and/or business, art studio, or shop. In addition to powering all the loads listed in Example #4, this system size can power air conditioning during peak sun hours. A 48 V lithium (LiFePO4) battery bank is standard for systems of this size. A 7.5 kW to 12 kW high quality generator with Auto Generator Start functionality (sourced locally) is highly recommended for winter battery charging.
Solar Panels
4,500 W to 10,000 W array, based on estimated power consumption and location, using larger 60 or 72 cell modules.
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available from General Specialties Mfg and Tamarack Solar.
Charge Controller
Single 100 A or 200 A MPPT charge controller up to multiple 200 A MPPT charge controllers, based on array size (Victron SmartSolar or Midnite Classic, Hawke’s Bay, or Barcelona)
Inverter/Charger / Power Center
Midnite E-Panel or Victron VE Panel with 2 Victron Multiplus 5k or Quattro 5k inverter/chargers or 1-2 Midnite Rosie or All-In-One inverter/chargers
Hardware
Solar combiner box, lightning arrestors, inverter disconnect, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring, EMP kit optional. high-quality 7.5 kW to 12 kW generator (sourced locally) is recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr or Victron BMV712, Smart Shunt or Lynx Shunt. Victron Cerbo GX communication hub
Batteries
4-6 Eclipse 48 V 200 Ah Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries, 8-12 Midnite Powerflo 5k or 3-4 Midnite Powerflo 16k LiFePO4 batteries.
Approximate system cost: $28,000 – $45,000
System Example #6 High Power Off-Grid Solar
Produces 50+ kWh on a sunny day, depending on solar array size and location
This example offers maximum power for multiple smaller households, or a large family home and/or business, complete with outbuildings for a workshop, art studio, etc. Multiple Energy Star rated appliances can be run (refrigerator/freezers, chest freezers, dishwashers, etc.), as can office equipment including printers, computer servers and network equipment. 10,000+ W of power at 120/240 V AC are provided by a large 48 V battery bank. A 10 kW to 21 kW high quality generator with Auto Generator Start functionality (sourced locally) is highly recommended for winter battery charging.
Solar Panels
10+ kW array, using large 72 cell modules in excess of 400 W each. Bifacial modules are an excellent choice to harvest more power during winter months.
Mount/Racking
Roof, Ground and Top-of-Pole Mount options are available from General Specialties Mfg and Tamarack Solar.
Charge Controller
Multiple 100 A or 200 A MPPT Charge Controllers working in parallel. (Victron SmartSolar or Midnite Hawke’s Bay, or Barcelona)
Inverter/Charger / Power Center
1-2 Midnite E-Panels with 2-4 Victron Multiplus 5k or Quattro 10k inverter/chargers or 2 Midnite Rosie or All-In-One inverter/chargers
Hardware
Solar combiner box, lightning arrestors, inverter disconnects, breakers, breaker boxes and wiring, EMP kit optional. A high-quality 12+ kW generator (sourced locally) is recommended in northern latitudes.
Meters
Midnite Whiz Bang Jr or Victron BMV712, Smart Shunt or Lynx Shunt. Victron Cerbo GX communication hub
Batteries
6+ Eclipse 48 V 200 Ah Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries, 12+ Midnite Powerflo 5k or 5+ Midnite Powerflo 16k LiFePO4 batteries.
Approximate system cost: $50,000+
System Example #7 Grid-Tied Solar Critical Load System
Grid-Tied Battery Backup for Critical Loads
Critical Load Systems are essentially the same as off-grid battery based solar electric systems but they are sized to only support the homeowner’s designated “critical” loads in the event of a grid power outage. Some examples of critical loads are refrigerators, freezers, lighting in one or two rooms, Starlink internet, or CPAP machines. Backing up only a home’s critical loads keeps the cost and size of the system down versus sizing a system to support the entire household. The circuits for the critical loads are isolated to a secondary breaker panel separate from the main house panel. This secondary panel is the tie-in point for the Critical Load System.
The system would have all the components of an off-grid system: solar panels, MPPT charge controller and an inverter/charger to run the critical loads. By using an inverter/charger with a built-in battery charger, the critical load system itself can be backed up by a generator. Critical load systems are typically NOT used for net-metering, or selling extra power back to the grid.
Critical load systems are typically sized similar to our System Example #2 or #3. Extra battery bank capacity will lengthen system run time if needed. Backwoods Solar will generally size a battery backup system for approximately 3 days of autonomy. This is the amount of time that it takes for the batteries to be safely depleted without damage to the battery bank. Due to the multitude of variations used in battery backup systems, we recommend calling Backwoods Solar for a custom design and quote.
Approximate system cost: $7,000 to $15,000+ depending on loads
Backwoods Solar is Here to Help
Your home solar electric system is an important decision and something you will appreciate for years to come. Contact Backwoods Solar if you have any questions or need assistance in determining what parts to get and how they all work together.