Whole home off-grid build (2024)

I'm looking to build an off-grid system to power our house and farm. My power company does not allow solar to be connected to the grid so we have no choice but to go completely off-grid. I currently have a sub panel with generator hook up in our barn just off the house. It back feeds my main panel in the house. I was going to run the solar the same way I do the gas generator and manually turn off my main grid breaker and back feed the home panel from my barn sub panel.

My average electric usage is 50kwh/day.

I was looking at the system from signature solar in the link below. I was thinking about running two of these systems. The cost seems to be the best bang for the buck. However, it appears the AC amp output of two 6000xp inverters is not enough to run the whole house. The only inverter I can find that would possibly handle the loads of a whole house is the Growatt 12000T. It looks like I would need two. However, reviews seem to be mixed on their reliability.

Any thoughts?

240VAC Split Phase @ 100A = 24,000W @ Inverter without correction for losses & inefficiencies.
50kWh a day is a LOT of juice ! Assuming you want 3 days Autonomy (no solar/gen input - battery only) that is 150kWh of battery.
1 48V/100AH Battery has 5,120WH or 5.1kWh (150kWh ÷ 5kWh = 30 pcs)
The Solar Array(s) required to generate 50kWh per day will be HUGE _AND_ remember you have to account for the worst generation periods such as December where you "might" get 6 hours of so-so Sunshine.

RULE 1) It is FAR CHEAPER to Conserve than it is to Generate & Store.
Get rid of Grandma's Fridge that you inherited that only cools your beer !
Look at your ENERGY PIGS ! Fridge/Freezer, AC System, Cookstove , heating etc...
Do a full & proper assessment of your power usage BEFORE doing anything more... Work out what your "Critical/Essentials" are to live (summer or winter) then work out wants & would likes

jeeptj12 said:

I'm looking to build an off-grid system to power our house and farm. My power company does not allow solar to be connected to the grid so we have no choice but to go completely off-grid. I currently have a sub panel with generator hook up in our barn just off the house. It back feeds my main panel in the house. I was going to run the solar the same way I do the gas generator and manually turn off my main grid breaker and back feed the home panel from my barn sub panel.

My average electric usage is 50kwh/day.

I was looking at the system from signature solar in the link below. I was thinking about running two of these systems. The cost seems to be the best bang for the buck. However, it appears the AC amp output of two 6000xp inverters is not enough to run the whole house. The only inverter I can find that would possibly handle the loads of a whole house is the Growatt 12000T. It looks like I would need two. However, reviews seem to be mixed on their reliability.

Complete Off-Grid Solar Kit EG4 6000XP | 8000W PV Input | 6000W Output | 48V 280Ah | 14.3kWh | WallMount Indoor Battery + Up To 7200W PV Solar

Signature Solar provides solar panels, off-grid solar systems, grid-tie, and hybrid systems. Quality solar inverters, bifacial solar panels, complete solar kits, solar batteries. Featuring brands such as EG4 Electronics with their solar battery, LifePower4 and EG4 LLifePower4 and EG4 LL

signaturesolar.com

Any thoughts?

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Going completely Off grid may be a bit tough to accomplish with this much load required. Have you considered an approach where you take some loads off grid and leave grid as backup?

Mattb: I did but it seems like a lot more work, and a lot more money to do so. It was also more invasive with putting all the equipment in a very small pantry.

Sergio: The so-so days, I will flip back from the grid.