Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, BC

Latest Posts and Projects

What is Agrisolar?

Harnessing the Synergy of Agriculture and Solar Energy Introduction If you have a backyard, you quickly notice in the summertime that items like sheds, sun umbrellas or lawn chairs can affect grass growth. When I go to cut the grass, I often find that it grows better underneath or around these objects due to the…
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What Is A Hybrid Inverter Charger?

Are These for Grid-Tie or for Off-Grid? Introduction We’ve been designing, selling, and installing solar systems with inverter chargers, solar panels, solar controllers, and batteries for years. We’ve also been upgrading old systems to brand-new ones and adding to existing systems for quite some time. It takes many components to create a complete system. But…
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High Frequency Inverter vs low Frequency Inverter

Which type do I have or which type Should I Get? Introduction By the early 1980s, pure sine wave inverters had become more commercially available, providing improved performance for a broader range of applications, including renewable energy systems, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and sensitive electronic equipment. When I first got started with solar energy and…
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Can I Add Any Type Of Solar Panels To My Existing Off-Grid System?

Does it Matter at all if they are Different Wattages and Voltages? Can This Be Done We often get asked if new panels can simply be added to a customer’s existing system. This process is usually easiest if the original installation was done within the last year or so, as obtaining the same type of…
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How Does Extremely Hot Temperatures Affect My Off-Grid Solar System?

Extremely hot temperatures can have several effects on an off-grid solar system, let’s take a closer look Efficiency of Solar Panels Battery Performance and Lifespan Inverter and Charge Controller Performance Cabling and Connectors System Monitoring and Safety Efficiency of Solar Panels Depending on your location, but especially if you’re one of our local subscribers, it’s…
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I Want to Add a New Large Load to my Off-Grid System, How do I Proceed?

I’m wanting to add an electric fridge to my system, what steps should I take? Adding a new fridge I often have customers who include a fridge in their load list when designing their off-grid systems. However, I also encounter customers with existing systems who want to add a new appliance. Recently, someone inquired about…
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The Evolution of Solar Panels: Past vs. Present

Comparing Yesterday’s Solar Panels to Today’s Advanced Models My First Thought I was initially planning to talk about the numerous technological advances in solar panels, including discussions on efficiency improvements and the various types of solar cells, as well as different methods of harnessing solar energy. However, as I considered the depth of these changes,…
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Mark and Sally’s RV Light Connections

Part 1 (Conductor Sizes) Mark and his wife Sally own an RV and want to add a couple of new devices to their 12-volt house battery bank. Although their RV is equipped with a shore power converter, they want these new devices to be powered directly from the battery bank, ensuring they remain functional even…
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A Cabin On The Lake

Upgraded Cabin Power: 3000W Inverter Charger with 1800W Solar and Lithium Battery Bank               Challenge: A Lakeside Cabin with no power whatsoever except for a generator. For years, this customer relied on a generator to run lights, power tools, make coffee, and handle other electrical needs in their cabin.…
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