Two Cabins, One Solar System?
What to Know When Powering Buildings 450 Feet Apart Off-Grid Introduction In last week’s article, I introduced a recent project involving a customer who owns a 20-acre property with two cabins about 450 feet apart. She reached out for help designing an off-grid solar system, initially to power one cabin, but with a long-term goal…
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Designing Solar Systems That Truly Fit
It Starts with the Conversation Introduction One thing I’ve learned over the years of designing and installing solar systems is that getting to know my customer is the most important part of what I do. Time and time again, it’s the key that opens the door to discovering what my customer truly wants and needs,…
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IoT-Enabled Solar Monitoring
Why It Matters For Today’s Solar Systems Introduction Over the years, I’ve installed many solar systems for a wide range of customers. Some were content with simply having reliable power, they didn’t care about the details, as long as everything worked. Others were more interested in the finer aspects of their system and wanted extra…
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Luxpower Hybrid Inverters
What We’ve Learned From Real Off-Grid Installations Introduction At IOTG Solar, we’re always testing new equipment to ensure we’re offering the best possible solutions to our customers, especially when it comes to off-grid and hybrid systems. Over the past few months, we’ve installed several complete systems featuring Luxpower hybrid inverters, paired with new solar panels,…
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Genstart Modules
Turn Your Honda Generator Into A Two Wire Start System Simple & Easy Introduction In this week’s article, I share a video about a simple GenStart module that allows you to remotely start and stop a regular Honda generator. By simply touching two wires together, the generator starts, and when you release them, the generator…
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The 4 Key Points
The 4 Key Points You Need To Know Before You Buy Solar Introduction If you’re starting to explore solar, whether it’s for a home, cabin, or off-grid setup, it can be tough to know where to begin. I’ve added a short video to walk you through 4 key things you should know, have and understand…
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Solar With Confidence
Why Support Makes All the Difference Introduction Investing in a solar system is a big decision, one that can transform your relationship with energy, save you money over time, and bring you closer to energy independence. But while the technology itself is powerful, the real game-changer is support. Whether you’re buying a solar system for…
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MPPT VOLTAGE & CURRENT
Understanding Voltage and Current in MPPT Solar Controllers Introduction When designing or installing a solar power system, especially for off-grid or hybrid setups, one of the most critical components to consider is the MPPT solar charge controller. Whether you’re using a standalone unit, like the Victron 250/100, or a hybrid inverter with built-in MPPTs, such…
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What is a Bypass Switch?
Understanding the Role of a Bypass Switch in Solar Systems Introduction Last week, I wrote about portable power stations, inspired by a customer who chose one to power their cabin instead of a full solar system. Since their energy needs are minimal, this solution works well. However, if the battery runs low at night, the…
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Portable Power Stations vs. Permanent Solar Systems
Choosing the Right Solution for Your Cabin Introduction A customer recently asked me to install a bypass switch in their cabin so they could easily connect a portable power station, such as a Bluetti or Anker SOLIX. The idea was simple, they wanted the flexibility to use one of these units instead of installing a…
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