Off-grid systems are not tied to any utility power lines and are most common in remote areas where connecting to the utility grid is more expensive than purchasing an off-grid system. In off-grid systems, the solar electric system represents the home’s main source of power. Batteries store unused solar energy for use at night. Generators, small wind systems, and other fuel sources are sometimes used as backup power when the solar power stored in the batteries is not enough to meet household needs. These systems can be installed on a home’s roof or mounted on the ground.
These systems consist of the following:
- Solar panels mounted on the roof or ground
- An inverter to convert electricity produced by the system from DC into AC energy
- A rectifier (sometimes used to change AC to DC and back again to get the most use out of a system)
- A charge controller to prevent overcharging the battery
- A junction box that connects the solar panel wiring to the breaker panel on the home
- A junction box for backup power supply from a generator
- A utility meter that displays the amount of power used, produced, and stored in the battery bank