How-To Articles

Going off-grid? Learn more with our off grid resources specially for New Zealand - videos and blog posts that talk through your solar power FAQs, installation questions, and more about our off-grid solar power kits too.

Start here for all your solar power FAQs to walk through what you need to know before you set it up, what not to run, and ideas for troubleshooting.

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PLANNING STAGE

One thing customers are never told when getting a quote for off-grid solar?

What they can do to lower the cost. We believe this is a massive disservice to a customer.

Why are Off-Grid Quotes so High?

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Living Off the Grid: 9 Surprises and Misconceptions
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Living Off the Grid: 9 Surprises and Misconceptions
Thinking about going off the grid in New Zealand? We had a chat with some off-gridders to hear all about what surprised them most when they moved off grid, and what misconceptions they would like t...
Effects of Shadow on Solar Panels
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Effects of Shadow on Solar Panels
Occasionally customers will call us wondering why they can’t seem to fully charge their batteries despite having plenty of sunshine - more often than not, there’s a shadow being cast on their panel...
Top Tips from Off-Gridders
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Top Tips from Off-Gridders
Our Facebook group, GridFree NZ, is full of off-gridders with plenty of knowledge about all the different areas of off-gridding, so we pulled together some of their advice to help you on your journey!
What are the best methods to heat water off-grid?
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What are the best methods to heat water off-grid?
Electric hot water cylinders use a LOT of power, so it's best to heat water off grid with an instant gas hot water camping shower, a woodburner and wetback, or evacuated tube solar hot water for ...
How to run a washing machine/dishwasher on solar
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How to run a washing machine/dishwasher on solar
You may have seen our larger kits listing a washing machine or dishwasher in the What Can This Kit Run? section - much like with running anything on solar, there's a couple things to keep in mind t...
Is off-grid solar right for me?
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Is off-grid solar right for me?
If you're asking whether an off grid solar system is the right choice for your lifestyle, the first thing to understand is the difference between off-grid and grid-tied solar.
How to choose your off grid battery storage size
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How to choose your off grid battery storage size
Start by asking what you plan to run, not how many batteries you need to go off the grid. The standard three bedroom household will likely require 8-12. The more you intend to live like a person on...
Q+A: What Does Grid Free Mean and How to Go off the Grid with Solar
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Q+A: What Does Grid Free Mean and How to Go off the Grid with Solar
Taking short breaks from the city on the weekends, escaping the city rent trap, or starting to build a life on family land—when it comes to answering the question "what does grid free mean", it dep...
Q+A: All about Batteries: What is the Best Deep Cycle Battery for Solar?
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Q+A: All about Batteries: What is the Best Deep Cycle Battery for Solar?
What is the best battery for off-grid solar? Wondering what is the best battery for off-grid solar? Our standard 200Ah Gel Deep Cycle Battery is a workhorse that is popular with our customers and ...
Q+A: How Much Does an Off Grid Solar Setup with NZ Solar Panels Cost? Plus Saving Tips
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Q+A: How Much Does an Off Grid Solar Setup with NZ Solar Panels Cost? Plus Saving Tips
From a holistic point of view, the costs of an off grid solar setup in NZ (solar panels, batteries, and everything else you need) really comes down to the type of life you want to live. It can vary...
Going Off-Grid Q+A: Getting the Internet Off Grid
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Going Off-Grid Q+A: Getting the Internet Off Grid
Going off-grid does not at all mean going without internet - as seen with our founder, Craig who frequently does Zoom calls from his off-grid cabin! There are a few options people use to get the in...
Q+A: What do the maintenance costs look like after the initial off grid solar setup?
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Q+A: What do the maintenance costs look like after the initial off grid solar setup?
When using a completely off grid solar system, you’ll find there’s not a huge amount of maintenance costs tied into NZ solar panels for your off grid solar setup. Six months down the line, what wil...

More Off Grid Resources

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