The Retreat Kit
The Retreat Kit

The Retreat Kit

$35,800.00

The Retreat Kit is the ultimate off-grid energy solution, helping you build your perfect off-grid retreat in NZ. This is one of our largest off grid solar systems, and it provides plenty of power for everything you need in your home. Includes a hybrid inverter/charger and Lithium batteries as standard (electrician required). The Retreat Kit was built to provide off-grid solar power for bigger families even in the most remote locations.

Kit Contents, Specs, and Manuals can all be found below.

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This kit is on pre-order, please call to confirm arrival

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Want to chat? Call 09 218 5533, or email info@gridfree.store.

Download the information on this page here.

Find shipping rates here, or at the bottom of the page. 

Information about upgrades can be found lower down the page.

Installation: The solar panels and their cables are the only parts in these kits that are okay outside. The charge controller, inverter, and hybrid inverter are not IP rated and should be kept away from moisture including condensation.

DoD: Depth of Discharge. Refers to what percentage of the total battery capacity can be used regularly without damaging the battery. For example, with a Lead Acid battery, a 50% voltage reading should be considered 0% power left, and you should stop using power. 

What are peak sun hours? Read this article.

How do you know how much power you need? Read this article.

What not to run on solar? Read this article.

 

What can the Retreat Kit run?

Below is an example of one day's total power usage, if you're getting at least 3 sun hours - this is ~24,000Wh of energy per day and can be expected for >80% of the year. (Learn more.) These items are a guide to what you might run over one day, and they can be swapped out to suit your needs within the generation estimate. (Read more.) We highly recommend having a back-up generator with these kits if you won't be able to conserve power during low-sun periods.
(Need a jargon breakdown?)

2000W Coffee Maker

10 minutes (300wh)

25W Phone Charger

24 hours a day (600wh)

50W Fan

8 hours a day (400wh)

Efficient Fridge/Freezer

24 hours a day (1000wh)

1800W Kettle

20 minutes (600wh)

60W Laptop

24 hours a day (1440 wh)

2000W Microwave

20 minutes (600wh)

600W Water Pump

4 hours a day (2400wh)

20W Wireless Router

24 hours a day (480wh)

100W Television

6 hours a day (600wh)

2000W 4 Slice Toaster

24 minutes (400wh)

200W Cordless Vacuum

60 minutes (200wh)

500W Washing Machine

4x a week avg (250wh)

240W Lighting

8 hours a day (1920wh)

375L Chest Freezer

24 hours a day (460wh)

60W Cordless Tool Charger

12 hours a day (720wh)

1800W Dishwasher

2 hours a day (3600wh)

1500W Hair Dryer

15 minutes (375wh)

2000W Airfryer

30 mins a day (1000wh)

Starlink Satellite

24 hours a day (1000wh)

Not sure how much power you need? Read this article to learn how to calculate your needs.

This example doesn't account for days when you may have to cut back on power use (or supplement with a generator) due to several days of poor weather preventing your batteries from fully recharging each day. Learn more here. Our kits should not be used for vital or life-supporting systems, and we recommend finding alternative solutions for Water/Space Heating, Cooking, or EV charging to maximise your budget - Why?

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Custom Kit Options

Includes everything you need to get up and running.

<p>Includes all the cables, crimp connections, circuit breakers, and mounting hardware required. (You may need to buy conduit to run the wire through, which is not included in the kit, as this will vary for every install). We also offer the tools required if you wish to make any changes or alterations to the base kit, and a number of related accessories.</p><ul><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/products/tw-solar-400w-perc-mono-half-cell-solar-panel-full-black-module">20x 400W+ TW Solar PERC Mono Half-Cell Full Black Solar Panels</a></li><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/products/growatt-alp-lv-lifepo4-battery-5kwh">4 x ALP 5kWh LifePo4 Lithium batteries</a></li><li>1x ALP Battery Base</li><li>1x ALP Battery Cable Set</li><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/products/growatt-spf-6000es-plus-6kw-48v">1x Growatt 6000ES PLUS Hybrid Inverter</a></li><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/collections/circuit-breaker/products/200a-mccb">1x 200A MCCB With Enclosure</a></li><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/blogs/how-to-articles/how-to-choose-your-solar-panel-mount">5x Standard Mounting Set (4x Panels)</a></li><li>2x 20m 6mm2 PV Cable Pair (red &amp; black)</li><li>2x DC Isolator</li><li>4x 20A Fuse and Fuse Holder</li><li>1x MC4 Toolkit (includes 4x MC4 pairs)</li><li>1x 3m 10mm2 Combiner Cable Pair (red &amp; black) (M8)</li><li>1x 8-Way With Combiner</li><li>1x 1m 35mm2 Battery Cable Pair (red &amp; black) (M8-M6)</li><li>1x PV Warning Labels</li><li>1x Growatt Wifi Monitor</li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Retreat_Kit.pdf?v=1717716649">Full Installation and User Manual</a></li></ul>

Downloads and Expansion

Downloads + Datasheets

<ul><li><a href="https://gridfree.store/products/tw-solar-400w-perc-mono-half-cell-solar-panel-full-black-module">20x 400W+ TW Solar PERC Mono Half-Cell Full Black Solar Panels</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/ALP_5.0L_E1_AU_User_Manual_EN.pdf?v=1718662632">Growatt ALP Lithium Battery</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/The_Retreat_Kit.pdf?v=1718662054">Installation Instructions + Wiring Diagram - Lithium</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Solar_Roof_Mount_Instructions.pdf?v=1614327647">Chiko Roof Mount Installation Instructions</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Adjustable_Ground_Mount.pdf?v=1620792356">Chiko Ground Mount Installation Instructions</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Corrugated_Roof_Mount_Instructions.pdf?v=1614327646">Chiko Corrugated Mount Installation Instructions</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Tilt_Mount_Instructions.pdf?v=1614327647">Chiko Tilt Mount Installation Instructions</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/SPF_6000_ES_Plus_User_Manual_EN_202212.pdf?v=1718662797">Growatt 6kW ES Plus Hybrid Inverter Manual</a></li><li><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0068/8780/0879/files/Growatt_Warranty_Claim_Procedures_AU_NZ.pdf?v=1686782829">Growatt hybrid inverter Warranty Information</a></li></ul>

Expansion

<p>With the Retreat Kit as it comes, the battery storage is upgradable.</p><p>It's best to add new batteries within 3-6 months of purchase to ensure longevity.&nbsp;</p><p>The Retreat Kit can be further upgraded by adding up to 5 additional hybrid inverters in parallel, each supporting their own panels and batteries.</p>

Retreat Kit Specifications

Total Weight: 1000 kg

Panels: 20kg each
Lithium Batteries: 44kg each

Dimensions

Panels: 1100x1750x30mm
Batteries: 650x260x170mm

Daily Expected Output

Array: 20 x 400W
Winter: 24 kWh
Summer: 52 kWh

Inverter Output

Hybrid: 6kW Continuous

Storage Capacity

Lithium Batteries: 20kwh (18.4kwh Usable)

Charge Controller

Hybrid: 4000W+4000W
*Hybrid inverter can be paralleled up to 6 units.

How to choose

Solar Panel Mounts

Universal

The Universal Roof Mount allows you to mount your panels flat on any type of roof along a pair of rails. The rails are attached to the roof with L-shaped brackets, and the panels are clamped to the rails, making it much easier to mount four or more panels on your roof.

Corrugated

The Corrugated Iron Roof mount performs similarly to the universal roof mount, but it is a rail-free option that sits in the grooves of corrugated iron. The mounts are secured to the roof and then the panels are clamped onto them directly instead of rails.  

Ground

The Ground mount allows you to mount your panels on the ground along a pair of rails attached to a triangular frame, and the panels are clamped to the rails. The frame is mounted on something secured in the ground, and the angle can only be adjusted during the install.

Tilt

The Tilt mount allows you to mount your panels on a flat/low pitch roof at an angle to maximise solar energy, adjustable by up to 15 degrees after the initial install. The rails are attached to a triangular frame mounted to the roof, and the panels are clamped to the rails.

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