This article was originally published at ModernSurvivalOnline as part of an ongoing preparedness writing contest, written by John from Iowa.
The first thing to remember about building an off-grid solar array is that it’s not cheap. The power itself is free and sustainable, but getting there costs money — and a person can spend as much as they want in that direction. I didn’t go all-in on my system, since I mainly wanted the ability to power a few small appliances and recharge rechargeable batteries. I’ve since set up several systems in different locations, plus the ability to build portable arrays when needed.
My Main Off-Grid Solar Array
My main array consists of four 85-watt panels and one 30-watt panel, mounted on the southern side of a utility building.
These feed into a 21-amp ICP charge regulator/controller, which also displays the status of the battery bank,
then runs to a bank of eight 12v deep-cycle marine batteries. I’ve paired that with a 2,000-watt power inverter to produce standard 110v household current,
plus two 12v cigarette-lighter-type sockets for running 12v appliances directly — fry pans, ovens, coffee makers, and similar items all work fine off this setup.
One limitation: I don’t like cutting trees, since you can’t really replace them in your lifetime, so my system doesn’t get full sun all day — only about two-thirds of what it could get. Even so, it comfortably meets my needs. It’ll run a small freezer, a portable ice maker, a 110v chainsaw, and recharge just about any battery type.
Secondary Portable Array
I also keep a secondary array at a nearby building, used mainly as a backup system. It’s built from one 85-watt panel and two 50-watt folding panels,
feeding into a smaller charge controller and just two 12v deep-cycle batteries. That runs to a second 2,000-watt inverter, which serves as a backup in case my primary unit fails. The folding panels on this array can plug directly into the main array using polarized two-way plugs,
making it easy to add power to the main system when needed.
Separate Off-Grid Building with Solar Power
At my pond, I mounted a 30-watt solar panel on a shelter house roof,
running to a smaller charge controller
and a single 12v deep-cycle battery. That powers 12v RV-type ceiling lights in the shelter house, plus a couple of 12v cigarette-lighter outlets. I can plug a 400-watt inverter into that 12v system to produce 110v power for most small appliances I might need out there.
Totally Portable Solar Setup
Last but not least, I keep several smaller, highly portable panel setups that can provide 12v power just about anywhere with sun exposure.
As I mentioned at the start, none of this is cheap. I built it up gradually over a long period, which is what made it affordable. I started small — a couple of Volkswagen solar cells, a plastic battery box with a built-in 12v lighter socket and external terminals, and a deep-cycle battery — then added a splitter to allow multiple lighter sockets for plugging in two panels or running multiple devices at once.
