Guides

Learning library

Long-form guides — written for campers, cabin owners, and outage prep

Start with the fundamentals, then dive into the topic you need.

These are the deep guides I wish existed when I was piecing together my first van solar kit. Pick one card below or jump to Off Grid Power 101 for the full roadmap.

All guides

Off Grid Power 101The big-picture map — panels, batteries, inverters, and how it fits together.Solar panels for off-grid livingTypes, costs, and what to look for when you are sizing a real-world array.How to size an off-grid systemLoad math, battery days, and mistakes I see people make on paper first.Solar backup batteriesStorage chemistry, depth of discharge, and matching batteries to your loads.How inverters workAC vs DC, pure sine, and why inverter choice matters for sensitive gear.Off-grid vs on-grid home batteriesWhen a hybrid setup beats full off-grid — and vice versa.Solar wiring & cablesGauge, length, connectors — the unglamorous stuff that prevents fires.Microinverters vs string invertersShade, expansion, and maintenance trade-offs explained plainly.NEMA & IP ratingsOutdoor gear ratings decoded for sheds, vans, and coastal installs.UK off-grid solar systemsRegion-specific constraints and kit patterns that actually ship in the UK.Off-grid solar glossaryQuick definitions when a spec sheet throws jargon at you.Solar water pumpingPressurized water without grid power — pumps, head, and storage.

Looking for product write-ups? Head to portable power reviews.

Practical how-tos

Job pages for sizing a backup to a named load — arithmetic hours, named watts, no fake tests.