The Tiny House Pro is designed as a straightforward way to get started with off-grid solar, combining solar panels, battery storage and an inverter into a compact system that can provide power for the essentials.
For Stanley, it’s proving to be a good fit for his cabin.
“Pretty good starter kit to get into solar off the grid.”
Getting to know his new solar system
Like any new off-grid setup, there’s a little bit of a learning curve when you first start using solar and battery storage.
Stanley quickly got a feel for how his system performs in different weather conditions. On sunny days, he found the battery could recharge from around 70% within a few hours, while rainy days take considerably longer.
That’s one of the realities of living with solar. The amount of energy available changes with the weather, so understanding how your system behaves throughout the year is an important part of getting comfortable with off-grid living.
So far, Stanley’s verdict is simple:
“All round good kit.”
Keeping the batteries happy through winter
Stanley also contacted the GridFree team during his first days with the system after noticing a cell or module low temperature alarm appearing in his system app.
Our technicians were able to explain what was happening. The temperature around the batteries had dropped close to 0°C, which is important to be aware of with lithium battery systems.
While the batteries can discharge in temperatures below freezing, they should not be charged when the temperature is below 0°C. The battery management system can limit or stop charging to protect the battery cells.
For anyone installing lithium batteries in a colder environment, keeping the batteries somewhere insulated and weatherproof can therefore be an important part of the setup.
Stanley is already planning ahead for next winter, with plans to build an insulated enclosure around his batteries using rigid insulation board, while maintaining the required clearances and ventilation around the equipment.
A small cabin, now powered by the sun
For Stanley, the biggest change is perhaps the simplest one.
His little cabin is now grid free.
The Tiny House Pro has given him a straightforward starting point for generating and storing his own electricity, while also giving him the opportunity to learn how solar works in his particular location and conditions.
And as Stanley gets more familiar with his system and prepares the battery setup for the colder months, his little cabin is one step further towards the kind of independent living that off-grid solar makes possible.
If you're also looking to power your freedom with off-grid solar, like Stanley did:
👉 Talk to the team