Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, BC

Latest Posts and Projects

Modern Home Energy Storage

Comparing EP Cube, HomeGrid, Powerwall, and others in the new world of home energy storage. Introduction The world of renewable energy storage is evolving rapidly, offering homeowners innovative solutions that combine efficiency, scalability, and sleek designs. Among these advancements are new hybrid inverters and home storage batteries like the EP Cube, HomeGrid Stack’d Series, and…
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Community Solar: Powering a Brighter Future Together

How Shared Solar Projects Make Clean Energy Accessible, Affordable, and Impactful for Everyone Introduction You know, I never realized this was actually a thing until recently. I remember hearing about it a couple of years ago, but for some reason, it didn’t really resonate with me at the time. Now that I’ve done some research,…
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Top Solar Trends to Watch in 2025

Innovation, Efficiency, and Accessibility: The Future of Solar Energy in 2025 Introduction As we close the chapter on 2024, we reflect on a year filled with innovation, growth, and change in the solar energy sector. At IOTG, we’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the latest hybrid inverter systems and cutting-edge battery storage…
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Mixed Panels

How Connecting Different Solar Panels or Adding New Ones Affects Your System Introduction I often visit locations with very old solar panels, some of which seem like relics from another era. They often have an unusual appearance, and it’s common to find just one or two panels, occasionally three if you’re lucky. These panels are…
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Generator Showdown: Non-Inverter vs. Inverter

Uncover the Pros, Cons, and Top Picks for Your Power Needs Introduction Recently, a customer asked me whether a Victron inverter charger could work with a “dirty power” generator or a non-inverter generator. The answer is that most high-quality inverter chargers, including Victron, can handle these types of generators. However, in the past we’ve occasionally…
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Taking Charge

Charging Basics: Understanding Bulk, Absorption, and Float for Lead-Acid and Lithium Batteries Introduction Charging your batteries the right way is more than just plugging them in, it’s about understanding the process and setting the correct parameters to the type of battery you’re using. Whether you’re working with traditional lead-acid batteries or modern lithium options like…
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Power Play

Choosing the Perfect Inverter Charger for Your Off-Grid Getaway Introduction Designing an off-grid solar system is like piecing together a puzzle, each step building toward a clear and functional whole. We began by assessing our needs with a  load list , identifying the essential appliances and devices we wanted to power in our cozy cabin retreat.…
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From Sunlight to Storage

The Role of a Solar Charge Controller Introduction With our little cabin design from the past three articles, (  From Cabin Lights to Water Pumps ,  Your Off-Grid Lifeline ,  One Array All Seasons .) We’ve now reached a point where things get a bit more complex, making it the perfect opportunity to get into some critical concepts…
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One Array, All Seasons

Creating a Solar Array Built for Winter’s Worst Introduction Our goal is to help you understand how to calculate the right solar panel capacity for your system, from meeting your load list to ensuring winter battery charging. If you haven’t yet read our articles on  Load List  and  Battery Capacity,  these are foundational steps leading…
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Your Off-Grid Lifeline

Building a Battery Bank for Every Season Introduction When we assess a home, boat, van, or any other setup for an off-grid system, our process always begins with reviewing the load list in a consultation call. During our discussion, I send over a comprehensive sheet that outlines nearly every type of load they might consider…
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