Going off-grid can be a liberating but also potentially stressful experience. Off-grid power is one of those bigger issues. Whether you live solo or you have a family or friends you live with, power is important. Here are some thoughts about powering your off-grid life to ensure you have enough power.
Look to the Sky
An obvious option for off-grid power is to use solar. This is of course a great free way to power your home once the kit is paid for and set-up. However, there are issues with this. Solar works well when the sun is shining and even when there is partial sun. Yet there is an issue with this as when it is dark it will not work or run anything. One solution is to have one or more large-capacity batteries like ours. When you fill up the battery during the day, the power that has been stored can then be used overnight. Yet this still leaves problems in the winter months when light is much reduced. This will not be enough to fulfil power needs during the day let alone have any saved capacity for the evening and overnight.
Generating Capacity
You can use a generator to power off-grid. These typically use petrol, diesel, propane or natural gas so are not as clean as solar. However, some do use solar or allow you to switch from one type of fuel to another. If you are off-grid and using a generator, then it must be running at the time you want to use energy. So basically, it needs to be running all the time even if you only require a small amount of energy. This can be quite inefficient as running a generator all the time can use up excess energy. This is because the generator does not just generate the exact amount of energy you need. Also, for some, this lack of efficiency goes against some of the principles of off-grid life. It makes you extremely dependent on external energy such as diesel where the prices can fluctuate greatly.
Hybrid Life
There is another way that generates enough power as well as being less reliant on external energy sources. This is being hybrid and getting the best of two systems. If you have one or more of our large-capacity storage batteries, this can take the strain. You use the generator when you need large amounts of power, but at the same time you charge the batteries. Then the batteries can cover small loads or amounts of power when you need them. The batteries will get low at some point and then the generator starts automatically to charge them up. This means the generator is on only as and when it is needed. This saves fuel, makes the system efficient and powers your off-grid system the way you want to.
A hybrid system is a great way to get your off-grid power working for you. With new technology comes positive change to make off-grid power stress-free. They also keep your home and space running when you need them most. Our batteries provide off-grid power without compromise. While personal research is important in choosing a product such as storage batteries, this should not replace professional advice. We always recommend getting some expert help to be sure our batteries are the correct product for your needs.