A Simple Off-Grid Solar Quiz:
One LED Light, Three Battery Voltages Introduction As we head into a new year, I want to start with something simple, but powerful. When people think about off-grid solar systems, the conversation often jumps straight to panels, batteries, and inverters. But real understanding starts much smaller. Sometimes it starts with a single LED light bulb.…
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Short-Term System, Long-Term Thinking
Making Smart Choices in a Transitional System Introduction We get called out to some interesting solar setups from time to time, and this one definitely qualifies as a “tricky solar decision.” The customer has a mix of gear: Their goal is to run a temporary system for a couple of years before upgrading to a…
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Voltage Imbalance in Solar Arrays
(One Controller, Mixed Panels) Introduction We get called out for solar upgrades all the time, it makes up about half of our work. Just recently, we had a customer who wanted to add a second solar array to an older Magnum Energy system running a PT100 charge controller. Their existing array is made up of…
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Pole-Mount Solar Array
How to Know If a Pole-Mount Solar System Will Work for You Introduction Over the years, I’ve installed several pole-mount solar systems and just recently have another customer interested in putting one in. They’re one of my favourite ways to set up a solar array, especially for off-grid cabins. But they’re not the right choice…
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Choosing the Right Generator for Your Solar System
What You Need to Know Introduction Every once in a while, I get a call from a customer whose old generator has finally quit for good. The question is always the same: “What generator should I buy next?” And my answer is always the same: “Well… that depends.” A generator isn’t a one-size-fits-all purchase, especially…
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Leaving the Cabin?
It’s Okay to Turn Off Your Lithium Batteries Introduction I just had a customer call me about his solar system. He was heading out for five weeks and wanted to know what he should do while he’s away, keep the system on so the sun can keep charging the batteries, or shut everything down? My…
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Powering the Next Generation:
Why Families Are Investing in Off-Grid Cabins Introduction Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many families who are building or upgrading their off-grid cabins. The conversations often start with practical questions, how big should the solar system be, how long will the batteries last, or what kind of inverter they’ll need.…
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Why Winter is the Best Time to Plan Your Solar Project
Introduction When most people think about going solar, they picture sunny summer days and long hours of daylight. But the best time to plan your solar project is actually during the winter. Depending on where you’re located, panels may be covered in frost or snow, but that’s exactly why winter is the perfect season to…
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When to Add More Solar Panels: Signs Your Array Isn’t Keeping Up
Introduction At IOTG Solar, we believe a solar system should be more than “just enough.” It should match your lifestyle, your energy habits, and your future goals. But over time, many owners find their system just isn’t keeping up like it used to. Maybe you’ve added an EV or switched to electric DC fridge, maybe…
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How Smart Relays Can Automate Your Off-Grid Power
Introduction Wi-Fi AC plugs are available in many brands and can control almost anything that plugs into a standard home AC outlet from anywhere using Wi-Fi, but what about DC devices? I was recently asked by a customer how he could control a DC-powered device remotely over the internet, a device that itself relies on…
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