About startOFFgrid

A hobby project that became a resource for the off-grid community.

Our Story

startOFFgrid.com started as a hobby project of Nikola Strahija (Croatia), born out of the necessity to design, research, and build battery systems from scratch.

Nik's first experience with Li-Ion battery packs goes back to 2008 when he built his own 2S and 3S LiPo packs for an airsoft rifle. Over the years, he has researched and built several battery packs based on lithium chemistry — in different form factors and as drop-in replacements for power tools. His latest home project involves a solar-powered A/C system with an 18650 battery bank, designed to capture enough solar energy to sustain A/C operation and deliver enough peak current to start it.

As of mid March 2020, startOFFgrid gained a new supporter, Nino Andrasec, in the role of content and SEO advisor. Nino has produced many B2C websites for companies ranging from entertainment and fashion to industrial manufacturing.

Thank you to everyone who has helped with bug reports, suggestions, and criticism during the early phase of this site — especially N. Dalton, B. Rooseboom, W. Neville, and others.

What We Cover

  • Off-grid solar system design for RV, van life, cabins, and homes
  • Battery chemistry comparisons (LiFePO4, Li-Ion, AGM, Lead-Acid)
  • Free calculators for system sizing and DIY battery pack building
  • Honest component reviews with affiliate links to help keep the site running

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the site free and allows us to continue creating content.