OFF-GRID BLOG
Off-Grid Solar Array & Battery Bank In Waldo, Maine
We are so happy to share the details on this solar installation we just completed in Waldo, Maine. All utilities for this home are running on the 6-kilowatt roof-mounted solar array connected to SOL-ARK hybrid inverter/charge controller/automatic transfer switch, paired with 2 kilovault HAB 7.5 KWH lithium batteries (with a total storage capacity of 15 KWH). This roof-mounted system provides all power to this off-grid home, there is an auto generator back-up to cover any instances where the solar can't keep up with the demand (during any short, dark winter days).
This home is a cellulose filled, double-wall construction, making for a low energy demand even on the coldest days in Maine. The nearest existing power pole is a quarter-mile from this site, so we were able to install this off-grid system for the same cost as installing new poles and extending the grid to the site.
From the inside, you would never know this is an off-grid home – all outlets and switches are AC, which is the same found in any traditional grid-tied home. All light fixtures are low-voltage, appliances and well pump were chosen with efficiency and low draw in mind and to promote longevity of the battery bank. In the past, living off-grid meant using minimal electrical draws and a more primitive lifestyle, but due to recent advances in battery technology, it now has become possible to achieve all conveniences of a modern-day home, without power from the electric utility company grid.
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