Off Grid Toilet Options
Going off grid and trying to plan your toilet system? Here are some common plumbed and no-plumbing toilet options and considerations for each, so you can work out the best off grid...
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Business Spotlight: Podlife
When we were at Fieldays in 2022 we had a chance to chat to some great off-grid related businesses, and one of our favourites was Podlife! Their modular pre-fabricated pods are...
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Getting Power to a Rural Property NZ
Have you just purchased a lifestyle block? Maybe you’re moving onto family land that has no services? Getting power to a rural property is usually the first task, so that you can progress all...
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How do I know how much solar power I need?
If you’re going off grid and asking yourself “How do I know how much solar power I need?,” this article is for you. We'll show you how to calculate how...
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Meet Some Fieldays Exhibitors!
We're here at Fieldays today and there's lots of other really good off-grid businesses here, so what I thought is I'd take the camera along and we'd ask a bunch of...
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How to Cook Off-Grid
One of the main things we tell people when they’re looking to power a full time off-grid lifestyle is that our solar kits aren’t designed to handle cooking – so...
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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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GridFree Kit Installation Instructions 2022 + 2023
You can download a copy of the instructions for your kit on this page - they include the instructions for installing the panels as well as the wiring diagrams. If...
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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...
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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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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...
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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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A Quick Guide to the Weekend Warrior Kit
Weekend warriors, find the power you need to take to go off-grid and get away from the city. With our Weekend Warrior campervan solar panel kit, NZ is yours to explore. Learn how to...
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A Quick Guide to the Lifestyle Kit
When choosing where to build on your lifestyle block, getting solar power for off grid living with a GridFree Lifestyle Kit means you don’t have to be constrained by the costs of...
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A Quick Guide to the Freedom Kit
Building your life off-grid starts with the right power solution. The GridFree Freedom Kit is one of our bigger off grid solar power systems, and it's our most popular kit for...
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