HOW TO DIY OFF-GRID SOLAR

SPEND THE TIME UP FRONT AND PLAN IT CAREFULLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

- BRADLEY FORD

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE TERM "OFF-GRID" conjured images of doomsday preppers or Ted Kaczynski. Today, off-grid is going mainstream, with numerous manufacturers offering equipment to provide the comfort and connectedness we're accustomed to. Solar in particular has become more accessible, with robust system components available to DIYers.

Some reasons to choose off-grid energy include spiraling utility costs and the increased frequency in grid disruptions by natural disasters. But with remote work becoming more common, many people are choosing to build, and live, in areas where it can be costly to connect to the grid-if it is even available. This is where I found myself when my wife and I bought property to build a seasonal cabin. The location isn't too remote, with utility poles about 1,500 feet away through the woods. But it would cost roughly $10,000 to clear trees, set poles, and run overhead lines, so we considered other options. With some basic calculations, it seemed we could install a solar system ourselves for a little less money, with no future utility bills.

As I started researching and planning, I inevitably had questions about the equipment we would need. While there are many companies offering some or all of the components, in many cases they seemed nearly identical from brand to brand. In fact, much of the equipment is manufactured overseas, so it wouldn't be a surprise if at least some of it is made in the same factory. This became more apparent as I reached out to various companies with questions. Some never responded; some replied overnight, their responses peppered with translation issues. One brand, EG4 Electronics, had an address and phone number in Texas and real people that answered the phone.