Frequently Asked Questions 

​The simple answer is: Yes! We have customers running large homes with all the amenities with no connection to the power grid at all. We can help you determine the right equipment necessary to run a single light bulb or an entire off-grid island (seriously....check our portfolio!). 

High power loads such as hot tubs and central air conditioning are excellent topics for an energy efficiency conversation with our engineers. For example, a typical residential hot tub requires at minimum a 5,000W of 240V electrical power just to run the water heater. Using a heat pump spa heater requires less than 1,000W. The initial heating time is longer, but once the hot tub is up to temperature the amount of energy required to maintain the water temperature is much, much lower. So rather than spending a lot of money on additional batteries, solar panels, and inverters, work with our engineers to recommend a heat pump spa heater instead. Many existing hot tubs can be retrofitted as a hybrid system, which means adding a heat pump to the existing hot tub.

Pro tip: Get a spa heat pump that can also cool the water for a refreshing dip in the "hot tub" in the summer time!

​Yes you can, IF you have a connection to the electric utility in your area and IF they allow you to enter into an interconnection agreement. The majority of our customers either don't have a utility connection or just want the utility to act as a backup for extended cloudy weather. In other words, they choose to not sell back to the utility.

It used to be the case that electric utilities offered a 1:1 credit for any excess power you sold back to the utility. But across the country, more and more states are loosening previous laws that required electric utilities to offer favorable payments or bill credits to such customers. However, in Ohio, West Virginia, and other states in our operating regions, laws have been relaxed allowing the utilities to offer half, one-third, or even less. More and more of our customers are choosing to not sell back to the utility, and instead store any excess solar production.

Today, the question isn't can I sell excess power back, but should I bother? Consider storing your excess production in battery storage for use overnight or during inclement weather. You'll have a higher up-front cost in batteries, but you'll get a 100% ROI with battery storage PLUS be able to ride out any grid outages.

While it is technically possible to do so without the aid of a generator, the true answer is "it depends". Four main factors would determine whether or not a generator would be required in additional to solar:

• Your load requirements - how much energy do you need to power your minimally required "stuff" at the time of lowest solar power output - typically winter. 
• Your available size and location of space to place solar panels - do you have enough physical space to install enough solar panels to efficiently produce the solar needed to charge the batteries necessary for the required output. 
• Your geographic location - How much sun you get, how long it is available daily, and how much time you spent under cloud cover, darkness and snow all factor into whether or not you can produce enough power solely from the sun.
• Budget - Batteries are far and away the most expensive part of any system like this, and the longer you want to run in times of low solar output dictates the number of batteries, especially if you have no generator or grid backup. This can also apply to the number of solar panels. Typically, during the spring, summer and early fall months, a reasonable number of panels can supply the needed power. However, when you get into the low sun months - winter - you will need many, many more panels to produce the same amount of electricity. A generator is typically a much less expensive augment during this time than is an over-provision of solar panels. 

There are other factors, but the four above are key to determining whether or you not you may need a generator to help augment solar generation, especially with no access to the grid. Almost all of our offgrid customers maintain some type of generator if for nothing else, emergency backup. But, in the northern half of the country - where winter from November to February leaves a never-ending cloud cover - it will in almost all cases be a requirement to augment what little sun that does show its face with a generator, powered by whatever dino-juice you prefer. This generator can also be typically automated such that it turns on and off automatically with no outages, as needed. 

​While we are happy to provide full installation services, we also have a range of solutions for those interested in DIY. From retail sales of parts and pieces, all the way to design and pre-build for plug-n-play installation at your site by yourself or your favorite electrician, we can help. Call for options today!

​While the degree of tilt that is optimal changes with location and season, the most efficient direction to point solar panels is the USA is south. This ensure the maximum time of exposure to the suns rays through the day. This does not mean that panels pointed in other directions will not work - they will - it simply means the other cardinal directions tend to be less efficient. 

Absolutely you can add solar, batteries and inversion to an existing property - this type of project represents the highest percentage of our customer base. While its great to be able to build a new home, and add all your power requirements to at that time, the vast majority are added to an existing property. There are many options, and whether or not any existing wiring or panels will need replaced will be driven by age, condition and requirements. Call today for a consultation, and we can see what may be available for your needs!

Most RVs have an on-board 12v battery that is used to power on-board lights, water pump, electric brakes break-away system, a radio, and ceiling fans. The battery is charged when you plug your camper into an external electrical service – called shore power.

Without a shore power connection, however, none of the AC appliances or receptacles will work unless the camper came with an inverter. Generally speaking, only the newer, higher-end RVs came from the factory with an inverter, and even then it was likely only sized to run a residential refrigerator.

To provide power to the microwave, television, blender, toaster, air conditioner, etc. when camping without electrical hookups, a properly designed and installed off-grid power system can be retrofitted into RVs new and old. However, this process always starts by understanding what your goals are then consulting with us to provide appropriate options. Don’t worry, even if you aren’t sure what you really want, we can guide you through the process to meet your needs and budget.

Simply put, this means camping in authorized locations that have no electrical, water, or sewer hookups and generally in areas not specifically developed for campers.

Dry camping usually indicates camping in a designated camping area without electrical, water, or sewer hookups at the camp site. There may or may not be potable water spigots in a dry camping location.

In both cases, there will be no electrical hookups and your on-board power system needs to be configured to meet your usage needs. This can range from just having lighting all the way to having all the comforts of home.

There is no easy answer to this question. One small solar panel and solar charge controller can keep a charged battery charged while in long-term storage. A rooftop full of solar panels and adequate battery storage can enable running air conditioning, microwaves, etc. This is often limited to the amount of rooftop space on top of the vehicle or trailer and possibly supplemented with ground-mounted solar panels. We have even helped clients generate additional power by creating solar awnings over their RV windows. There are many options we can discuss during a free consultation.

Yes, it is very possible and depends heavily on the size of the vehicle or trailer, amount of battery capacity, amount of solar panels, size of inverter(s) installed, and efficiency of the air conditioning unit.

Roof-top units found on the vast majority of RVs are highly inefficient and consume the majority of power in an off-grid scenario. Often it is advantageous to remove the inefficient roof-top AC unit and replace it with a quiet and efficient mini-split air conditioner. These typically use about 25% of the power and run nearly silently. The cost of the mini-split is often offset by requiring fewer batteries and a smaller inverter. And, if the roof-top unit is removed, that allows for additional solar panels to run the air conditioning longer.

At Off-Grid Power Systems, we look for power efficiency options to help our clients save money in the long run and be more comfortable when camping off-grid.

Generally speaking, traditional silicon glass panels with aluminum frames are the most durable, cost-effective, and electrically efficient solution. These panels will typically last 20-30 years.

Silicon module flexible solar panels are lighter in weight, but typically less efficient and less durable. They often carry warranties of only 1-3 years. They can not be walked on and require different installation methods to make sure there isn’t too much heat build-up between the flexible panel and underlying roof.

CIGS panels are flexible, more durable, and close in electrical efficiency to traditional rigid panels. They can be walked on and adhered directly to the roof without worry about heat build-up damaging the solar panels. However, these panels cost quite a bit more than traditional panels, but have certain use cases where they are preferred to traditional panels.

Absolutely, subject to the rules where you are camping or boondocking. Most campgrounds do not allow generator usage overnight or for more than one or two hours during any 24 hour period. Running the generator can be a nuisance for neighbors who have to listen to it and smell the fumes. It can also be a nuisance and hassle for the camper. Our clients are usually looking for alternatives to running their generator or to limit use of the generator to charging batteries during the day when there isn’t much solar generation due to clouds, rain, or lots of shade in the campsite.

Generators can be used to supplement solar generation and can even be automated by the installed power system to stop and start the generator automatically based on power load, battery charge, time-of-day, or a combination of those.

This is not an easy question to answer. The most complete answer is “it depends”. It depends on the needs, goals, use, and size of any off-grid system. It also depends on whether a client prefers to install a system themselves and just wants help with sizing and answering questions or if they desire a full, turn-key system installed by us.

Systems designed and fully installed by Off-Grid Power Systems start at $10,000 including solar on the roof, lithium batteries for energy storage, and an inverter for running  small ac appliances (i.e. TV, microwave, hair dryer).

Larger systems for full-time off-grid living, large motor coaches, wanting to run air conditioning off-grid, etc., will require more solar collection, power generation, and energy storage. We will work with each client to design and install an appropriately sized system for their needs.