Essential Off-Grid Solar Kit 400W 12V | Optional 2.4kWh LiFePO4 Battery

1. What do I need to complete my off-grid solar power system ?

A solar panel has to be connected to a charge controller to regulate current, and a battery to store the electrical power. You will need adapter kit cables to wire the solar panel(s) and charge controller, and tray cables connecting the charge controller to a deep-cycle battery.

2. What does off-grid and on-grid mean ?

On-grid simply means solar power equipment (array or solar panel) is connected to the electrical grid, while off-grid refers to systems that are not connected to the grid and therefore store the generated power for later use. Off-grid systems are not affected by grid blackouts.

3. Can I add more solar panels to the Rover 60A and expand my system power output?

Yes, more solar panels can be added to this system to increase the power output. The Rover 60A has a maximum PV input current of 60A, maximum PV input voltage of 100VDC, and maximum input solar power of 520W at 12V or 1040W at 24V. You can wire more solar panels in series / in parallel to achieve larger power output, however you are limited by the maximum input voltage and current the charge controller can handle. It is safer to build a system operating at around 90% of the rated voltage and current to ensure there is a tolerance for any system overvoltage or overcurrent.

4. Will this solar kit power my AC unit ?

In order to determine what size solar kit is appropriate, you must first define the total load to be expected of the solar power system. Most manufacturers will publish a specification sheet of the AC unit online and will include a nameplate sticker on the AC body. Both can be used to determine the actual power rating of the AC. BTU is a common measuring unit for energy in AC and water heater products, however we are intrested in the energy rate, or simply power. Power will be listed in units of Watts, and can be used to determine the total load resulting from running the intended AC unit. Multiply the power rating recorded in watts by the total number of hours of operation intended, to obtain the total watt-hours. Divide the total watt-hours by the peak sun hours in the location of installation, and multiply by a safety factor of 1.5-2, to obtain the total number of watts your panels should produce to power the air conditioner load. The total power load can be divided by the power output of one panel to obtain the number of panels needed.

5. When do I need an inverter ?

If you intend to use this solar power kit as a power supply for home appliances (e.g. coffee maker, TV, etc.), then you will need an inverter to convert the output voltage from a 12 VDC system to a 120V AC output socket. Renogy offers a variety of inverter products to suit your unique system and meet your power demand.