Home Off-Grid Solar Systems

Cut the utility bill or go fully off-grid. A properly designed home solar and battery system pays for itself and keeps the lights on during outages.

Size My Home System

Off-Grid vs Grid-Tie vs Hybrid

Fully Off-Grid

No grid connection. Completely self-sufficient. Requires large battery bank (3–5 days autonomy) and generator backup. Highest upfront cost but no utility bills. Best for remote properties where grid connection cost is prohibitive.

Grid-Tie + Battery

Connected to the grid but with battery backup. Sells excess solar back to utility, draws from grid when batteries are low. Best of both worlds for most homeowners. Lower battery requirements (1–2 days backup).

Backup Only

Battery bank charged by solar and/or grid. Only powers critical loads during outages. Most affordable entry point — suitable for areas with infrequent outages. Can be expanded later.

Why Home Systems Use 48V

For any home system over 3 kWh of storage, a 48V system is strongly recommended:

  • Smaller wire gauges — at the same power, 48V draws 4× less current than 12V (P=VI), meaning thinner, cheaper wiring
  • Lower resistive losses — heat loss in wires is proportional to current² × resistance; 48V is dramatically more efficient
  • Better inverter efficiency — 48V inverter/chargers (Victron MultiPlus, Schneider XW+) handle 3,000–8,000W with better efficiency curves
Quick guide:
<3 kWh / <400W solar → 12V
3–10 kWh / 400–1,200W solar → 24V
>10 kWh / >1,200W solar → 48V

Typical Home Power Loads

ApplianceWattsDuty CycleHours/DayWh/Day
Refrigerator (AC compressor)150W35%24h~1,260 Wh
LED lighting (6 fixtures)60W100%5h300 Wh
TV (42–50")80W100%5h400 Wh
Laptop + desktop265W100%6h1,590 Wh
Phone charging ×360W100%3h180 Wh
Pressure well pump500W10%24h1,200 Wh
Coffee maker1,000W100%0.25h250 Wh
Microwave1,200W100%0.2h240 Wh
Typical daily total~5,420 Wh

This does not include heavy loads like HVAC, electric water heater, or electric range — those require very large systems or generator backup.

Recommended Home System Configurations

Essential Backup (48V)
  • 1,200W solar (4× 300W)
  • 10 kWh LiFePO4 at 48V (2 days)
  • 40A MPPT controller
  • 3,000W inverter/charger

Powers critical loads: fridge, lights, laptop, pump. ~$8,000–$12,000

Whole-Home Off-Grid (48V)
  • 3,000–5,000W solar
  • 20–30 kWh LiFePO4
  • 60–100A MPPT controller
  • 5,000–8,000W inverter/charger
  • Generator backup

Full home power. ~$20,000–$40,000

Grid-Tie + Backup (48V)
  • 5,000–10,000W solar
  • 10–20 kWh LiFePO4
  • Hybrid inverter (grid-tie capable)
  • Net metering + backup

Sells excess to grid, draws grid as backup. ~$15,000–$30,000

Inverter/Charger: The Heart of a Home System

A home off-grid system needs an inverter/charger — not just an inverter. The charger component lets you charge from a generator or grid connection when solar isn't enough. Key options:

  • Victron MultiPlus-II 48/3000 — Industry standard for off-grid homes. Excellent BMS integration, ESS functionality for grid-tie, and rock-solid reliability. Victron's ecosystem (MPPT controllers, Color Control display) makes monitoring easy.
  • Schneider Electric XW+ — Excellent for larger North American systems. UL listed, grid-interactive capable, handles 120/240V split-phase natively.
  • Growatt SPF 5000ES — Budget-friendly 48V option for fully off-grid builds, popular with DIY homesteaders.

Generator Integration

A backup generator is essential for year-round off-grid homes. The inverter/charger automatically charges the battery bank from the generator when the battery drops below a set threshold. Best practices:

  • Size the generator to match the inverter/charger's input rating (e.g., a 3kW inverter charger needs at least a 4kW generator)
  • Run the generator at 70–80% load for best fuel efficiency
  • A 6,500W dual-fuel generator (runs on propane or gasoline) is popular for remote homesteads
  • Auto-start generators can be triggered by the inverter/charger's generator control relay
Electric Heating and Cooling: Heat pumps, HVAC systems, and electric water heaters are the biggest loads in a home. A single 3-ton heat pump draws 3,000–4,000W continuously. Sizing solar for heating/cooling requires massive arrays and battery banks. Most off-grid homeowners use propane, wood, or passive heating instead, reserving solar for everything else.

Calculate your home off-grid system

Enter your appliances in our system calculator. Set autonomy to 3–5 days for whole-home off-grid builds.

Open Home Calculator