| Using off grid solar power has gotten a lot easier | | | | you should evaluate if your home receives |
| now, with recent improvements in technology and | | | | enough sunlight to merit one. If not, you may |
| an increased concern about the environment. | | | | wish to look at other sources of green power, |
| Once limited to people who lived in remote places | | | | such as wind. |
| where electricity was either expensive, | | | | There's a limit to how much power can currently |
| inconvenient, or impossible, off grid homes are | | | | be produced from the sun. Solar panels are costly |
| now moving closer to civilization. Taking your | | | | and you need plenty of space. This means that |
| home off the municipal power grid is less | | | | most people in off grid situations need to carefully |
| expensive and easier than it has ever been, and | | | | monitor their usage to make sure that they are |
| solar power is the most common way to do it. | | | | not overtaxing the system. When you're off the |
| In a setup like this, you will need: | | | | grid and you're out of power, you're really out of |
| - solar panels | | | | power, after all. |
| - a regulator | | | | However, most people are able to reduce their |
| - batteries | | | | power requirements to the point where they can |
| An inverter allows you to use AC power instead | | | | meet their energy production and they always |
| of DC, and most systems have computerized | | | | have plenty of stored energy for their daily |
| control centers to make it easy to monitor what's | | | | routines. |
| going on in your system. Whether or not your | | | | Off grid solar power is a great choice if you want |
| home is right for off grid solar power will depend | | | | to be more self reliant, are concerned about the |
| on your location and how your home is situated. | | | | sustainability of your power generation, or if you |
| It is important to be able to get enough hours of | | | | just want to be able to control things a little more. |
| sunlight per day to charge your batteries with all | | | | It will save you money in the long run, though |
| the power you need. In southern latitudes with | | | | initial setup can be costly. You won't have to |
| mostly clear weather, this can be pretty easy. | | | | worry about rate hikes or inconsistent service. It's |
| However, farther north, or where there is often a | | | | all in your hands. In return, you must learn to take |
| lot of cloud cover, this can be trickier. | | | | care of your system and adjust your life |
| Before you start installing an off grid solar system | | | | accordingly. For many people, it's worth it. |