What is a kilowatt hour?
If you’ve started looking into solar, kilowatt hours (kWh) is a term you’ve probably seen – but what does it mean and how do you use this term to find...
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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...
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What's the difference between a Standard and a Hybrid solar kit?
Looking at our solar kits but not sure whether to go with a Standard or Hybrid kit? Here's a rundown of the key differences in function, contents, and recommended uses.
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Should I get a generator or a bigger kit? Or both?
When planning out your off-grid power needs, it's important to consider how your power needs, usage, and generation will change across the year. Specifically, it's important to consider what these will look like...
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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.
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Solar Power FAQS: How do I Know What Size Solar System I need?
You can estimate your power usage with an online load calculator, or do the estimate manually: calculate watt hours by using each appliance’s power rating, multiplied by the time (hours) it...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Q+A: In a Complete Off Grid Solar System with Batteries, How Many Batteries Do I Need to Go Off the Grid?
How many batteries do I need to go off-grid in New Zealand? Start by asking what you plan to run, not how many batteries you need to go off the...
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Q+A: Is going off the grid legal?
Going off the grid? If you’re wondering if off grid living is legal, the answer is simple - yes. In New Zealand, where GridFree is based, you’re not required to be connected...
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Why is my inverter shutting off due to "battery low voltage"?
Both our standard inverter and hybrid inverter/chargers have low voltage protections. In a hybrid inverter, you may get warning about "battery low voltage" or "battery over-discharge", and in a standard system...
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Why Aren't Lithium-Iron Batteries Standard?
Without question, lithium-iron batteries present some distinct advantages that other types of batteries don’t offer - but we still have lead acid batteries as the default in our kits.
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What is the Best Inverter for Off-Grid Solar?
The inverter is one of the four essential components in an off-grid solar system. The sole purpose of an inverter is to convert the Direct Current (DC) power that comes...
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PWM vs MPPT Charge Controllers: Which one should you choose?
A charge controller is an essential component of every off-grid Solar system, as it protects the battery from overcharging and optimises the energy coming from the solar panels. Because it...
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Why are Off-Grid Solar Quotes So High? (and Why They Don't Need to Be)
Off-grid solar quotes are so high because they’re designed to work on even the lowest sunlight hour days. But they don’t need to be. A simple change in your habits...
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Roof Mounts vs Ground Mounts for Off Grid Solar
We have a lot of customers asking for our advice when it comes to choosing between a roof mount or a ground mount for their off-grid solar setup, so in...
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What Battery Is Best For Off-Grid Solar?
There are a lot of battery options on the market now for off-grid solar. It can be confusing about what options are best, especially with new technology being offered and...
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