10 Things to Know Before Going Off-Grid
How do you go off-grid with solar? To run your home entirely independently of Eskom you need three things working together: enough solar panels to cover your daily energy use, a battery bank large enough to carry you through the night and several cloudy days, and an off-grid inverter to replace your grid connection.
The cheaper route is to first reduce what you consume — LED lighting, gas cooking and solar geysers — then size the system to match. Not sure what you need? Use our solar calculator or request a quote.
Everyone would love to generate their own electricity for their own consumption to avoid power outages and constant price increases! Here are a couple of things to consider before taking the plunge, as it is far cheaper to convert the power-hungry items in your home or business than try to run them entirely off solar.
Going completely off the grid can be costly, but if you're prepared to make the necessary lifestyle changes, this price can be brought down hugely. You don't need to make all the changes at once, but it's good to know where to start.
1. Convert your Lighting
If you're using old incandescent light bulbs, you're literally burning money. Even the newer energy-saver bulbs have limitations when you have many of them. Replace all your light bulbs with LED light bulbs. This will significantly reduce your base electricity usage and directly reduce the size (and cost) of the solar system you require.
2. Convert your Appliances
Converting your cooking and hot water heating to alternative power is the next big change. Electric stoves, ovens, geysers, heat pumps, and heaters all use massive amounts of power. Where possible, replace these with their dedicated solar alternatives (like solar geysers), or replace them with gas.
3. Change Consumption Patterns
Change when you use your power. If you can shift your heavy usage to position most of it during peak sunlight hours (midday), you will drastically reduce the load on your batteries during the evening. This might not seem like a big deal, but the less you discharge your batteries at night, the longer they will last.
4. Battery Storage is Expensive
As mentioned in point 3, batteries have a finite lifespan. This lifespan is greatly reduced if your batteries are discharged too far on a regular basis. In order to avoid having to replace your batteries often in a fully off-grid setup, you will need lots of them. We're talking 20 to 30 large batteries or massive lithium banks!
5. Do you have the Space?
A full off-the-grid system requires a lot of physical space. Not only do you need space for +/- 20 panels (for a standard 5kW system) on your roof or lawn, you also need the space to house the batteries mentioned in point 4. The battery bank needs to be housed in a secure, cool, dry area, as their lifespan is heavily affected by ambient temperature.
6. Why so many Panels and Batteries?
If you are going entirely off-grid, there is generally no backup from Eskom. In order for your house to function normally even if you have three consecutive days of severe rain and heavy cloud cover, you must over-engineer the system to have enough battery storage to carry you through that period without a charge.
7. Maintenance Requirements
Solar systems generally do not require a lot of maintenance. You should purchase maintenance-free lithium batteries to avoid the hassle of checking water levels. The only other aspect that needs attention is the panels. They should be hosed down occasionally to ensure maximum efficiency. They gather dust and bird droppings over time, reducing their output.
8. Return on Investment (ROI)
The pay-off period for a completely 100% off-grid solar system is quite long if you're looking to convert a whole house or business. A full off-grid system is mainly reserved for enthusiasts with a specific non-financial gain in mind (total independence or rural locations). If your motivation is financial, then you should strongly consider Hybrid systems as an alternative. These systems are far less expensive, use Eskom as the emergency backup, and offer massive long-term savings.
9. Have a Mechanical Backup
If your intention is to completely sever ties with the municipal grid, keep in mind that all technology has limitations. If your solar inverter trips or fails, you will sit in the dark until it is fixed. Investing in a backup generator to run your primary electrical systems during emergencies is a highly prudent decision.
10. Use Professionals
This is going to be your primary source of electricity. Make sure that you buy high-quality components with local backup and support. Are you prepared to wait weeks while an overseas supplier assesses a warranty claim on your inverter while you sit in the dark? Stick to quality brands with local support (like Bundu Power) and use professional, certified electricians who know what they are doing.
Off-Grid Solar: Frequently Asked Questions
- Convert your Lights to LED
- Convert your heavy Appliances
- Change energy consumption patterns
- You will need 2~3 days battery backup
- You need lots of space for panels & batteries
- Limited maintenance required
- Very long return on investment
- Always have a generator backup
- Only use quality products
- Have it installed professionally
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