Sizing a System

Inverters

Off-Grid

Sizing for an off-grid system entirely depends on the load profile of the building. Preforming a load calculation is very valuable to determine the size of solar system you need. Off-Grid inverters will typically range from 6kW to 12kW in output capacity and can be stacked in parallel for larger systems. For smaller homes/buildings (cabin, shed or garage) a single inverter will typically be sufficient. For medium size homes/buildings(1500-3000sqft) that have larger appliances (heating/cooling, washer/dryer, stove etc.) the system would typically need two inverters. For large homes/buildings (3000+sqft) three or more inverters will typically be needed.

Whole Home Battery Backup

For whole home battery backup systems, we use 200a feed through hybrid inverters. If your home has a 200-amp rated electrical service panel, a single inverter would be sufficient. For homes with a 400-amp rated electrical service panel, two inverters would be needed to achieve whole home backup, or a single inverter could be used for a half-home backup system.

Batteries

Wall Mounted

Wall mounted batteries are typically the preferred battery to install. This is because they can better accommodate system location, aesthetics and performance. Wall mounted batteries aproximatly have a 14kWh capacity. On a full charge, this alone could run a typical home refrigerator for around 6-7 days. We typically recommend two of these batteries (28kWh) as a base size for battery back-up systems.

Server Rack

Server rack type batteries can sometimes be the better option depending on the space they are being installed and the capacity of the system. Often with server rack battery systems, we can achieve higher battery density in a smaller space. Server rack batteries will often be the choice for 60kWh + systems. A single server rack battery has approximately a 5kWh capacity. On a full charge, this alone could run a typical home refrigerator for around 2-3 days. These batteries fit inside of a server rack cabinet, allowing 6 batteries per cabinet. We typically recommend getting a full cabinet with 6 batteries (30.72kWh) as a base size for most battery back-up systems.