Off-grid 4.0

To maximize the output wattage of the solar panels, each system was designed to face south or equivalent.

The solar array’s power generation capacity is dependent how much shading and the angle of the rays as they hit the solar panels. Peak power occurs when the rays are at the right angles to the panels, our recommendation is to use a 45 degrees angle if on ground or equivalent on roof. We used an average year round daily peak sun hours of 3 hrs without no shade.

The efficiency of batteries depends on the temperature at which they are stored. We recommend that lithium-ion batteries and sealed lead-acid batteries (AGM and gel cells) to be stored in a controlled temperature room with a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius at worse.

Most batteries are rated at 77°F (25°C), which means their specifications are based on how the battery’s cells perform at 25°C. As a rule of thumb, batteries lose about 10% of their rated capacity, as measured by the cells, for every 15-20 degrees below 80°F. For a larger battery bank, we recommend building an insulated shelter with small controlled fans (small heater for winter) to increase life of the batteries.

Each system is designed for 2 days of autonomy (DoA), which is how long you can run your loads without the sun.

Each panel requires at least of 24ft2 of space.