Off-Grid Design Questions

It starts with how you live

An off-grid design starts with your property, what you run and what you’re planning. The questions help us understand your everyday life and explain the equipment that could suit it.

You can start the conversation without knowing every appliance rating or having the house plans finished. We’ll work through what you know and identify the details to confirm.

Are you building a house, starting with a shed, or powering an existing home?

Some customers build the shed first, install the solar and batteries there, and build their home later. That can let the system supply construction power before it supplies the finished home, where the design supports both stages.

Knowing the order of the build helps us plan equipment locations, cable routes and future loads. Construction equipment can have different power demands from household appliances, so we discuss both.

We also ask when you would like power available. That helps us assess the installation sequence and explain any dependencies before agreeing on timing.

When would you like power available?

Are you planning six or twelve months ahead while buying a property, or have you already moved in and are looking for power as soon as possible?

Tell us your preferred timeframe and any fixed dates, such as settlement, moving in or the start of a build. We will explain the design, site preparation and installation steps, then confirm a realistic schedule with you.

Do you have existing solar?

How old is the system, and would you like to keep it, add to it, or remove it and install a new system?

If you know the panel capacity and inverter model, send those details through. Photos of the equipment labels and any information about its performance are useful too.

We will assess the existing equipment and explain what can be retained, what is compatible with the proposed design, and what replacement involves.

Where will the panels go?

We ask about the roof material, dimensions, direction and any shade. Roof plans or clear photos are a useful start.

The available space helps determine how many panels can fit. Panel dimensions vary, so we compare the actual equipment with the usable roof area.

If the roof faces east and west, we can explore panels following the roof or a suitable mounting arrangement. Winter production is especially important for an off-grid home. We assess the location, roof angle, shade and proposed layout rather than apply one percentage loss to every property.

Ground-mounted panels may also be an option, including where a roof is not available yet. Ground mounting introduces its own structures, site works and costs. We explain which approvals and works are included in the proposed design, who handles them, and how they affect timing.

How many people will live there, and do you have an electricity bill?

The number of people gives us some background. Your actual electricity use tells us more.

If you have a current bill, look for average daily use in kilowatt-hours, written as kWh. We also ask when you use that energy. Daytime use and overnight use place different demands on solar generation and battery storage.

A bill from your current home is a starting point. We ask what will change at the new property: different appliances, working from home, more occupants or a workshop, for example. We build the design around realistic expectations rather than assume everyone will use less electricity after moving off-grid.

Is this your full-time home or a weekender?

A property used every day has a different pattern from a shed or holiday home visited on weekends. We ask when you’ll be there, which seasons you visit and what stays switched on while you’re away.

A weekender can still have a busy evening with cooking, heating and several guests. Lower weekly electricity use does not automatically mean a small inverter will suit the property. We consider the busiest periods as well as the average day.

Will you use town water or tank water?

Tank water often involves a pump. We ask what pump you have or plan to install, what it supplies and when it runs.

The pump’s running power and starting demand both matter. A photo of its model label helps us establish the details. Bore pumps, irrigation and pressure pumps can have quite different requirements.

How will you cook?

We ask about the oven, cooktop and the other kitchen appliances you use together.

Is the cooktop induction, ceramic or gas? Is the oven electric, gas or wood-fired? Knowing the type and model helps us understand how it fits into the rest of your home.

An all-electric home is an option to explore. The design accounts for appliances such as an induction cooktop and electric oven, including their use in the evening. If you prefer gas or want it as a backup, we can discuss that too.

Think about a normal dinner: what is cooking, what else is running, and for how long? Those details are more useful than choosing equipment from a headline power rating alone.

Would a wood-fired cooking and heating option suit your home?

For a cooler property with a suitable firewood supply, a wood-fired oven is another option to discuss. It can combine cooking with room heating, changing how much of those jobs you ask the electrical system to cover.

Australian-made examples include the Nectre Bakers Oven and Nectre Big Bakers Oven. These are examples to explore, rather than a recommendation for every house. Consider installation suitability, flue requirements, fuel handling and whether you want the room heating that comes with cooking. An alternative cooking arrangement may suit warmer weather.

How will you heat your water?

We ask whether you’re considering gas, a heat pump or an electric storage tank with a resistive element.

With suitable controls, an electric storage tank can heat water during the day when solar energy is available. That stores energy as hot water for later use.

We compare the tank, element power, household hot-water use and winter solar production. A heat pump uses a different approach and can reduce the electricity consumed for water heating, so its characteristics also belong in the comparison.

The control arrangement can prioritise essential loads and battery charging, then heat water when the system has sufficient capacity. The switching times depend on the weather, battery charge and design. We do not assume the batteries will be full by a fixed time every day.

If the batteries are in the shed, how will the house connect?

This is worth discussing before trenches are dug.

We ask about the distance between buildings, future house loads, hot-water control, an electric vehicle charger and communications between equipment.

Your electrician or system designer specifies the power cables, protection, conduits and communications arrangement for the site. Planning future capacity and control pathways early can avoid reopening a trench later.

The appropriate arrangement varies between systems. A particular cable type does not, by itself, establish how hot water or vehicle charging will be controlled.

Will you use air conditioning—and how will you heat the home in winter?

Cooling on a sunny day can coincide with solar production. We still check the size of the air conditioner, the hours it runs and the other appliances operating at the same time.

Summer generally gives us longer daylight hours and more solar energy to work with than winter at the Australian locations we serve. Where the roof, equipment and site allow it, a larger solar array can help supply daytime cooling directly. We check the inverter capacity and any evening cooling too.

Winter heating is a different part of the conversation. Heating into the evening or overnight draws on stored energy when the panels are not generating. Cold or cloudy periods also affect the overall design.

We ask whether you plan to use a fireplace, reverse-cycle air conditioning or another heating source. That helps us work through battery storage, winter generation and backup arrangements with you.

Long winter nights and shorter days make this a key part of the conversation. More storage can carry energy into the night, while extra panels can improve collection during daylight. Neither creates sunshine during a prolonged cloudy spell. We discuss the role of a generator and how often you’re comfortable using it. The expected running time depends on the weather, loads and complete system design.

Is there anything else that heats or cools quickly—or draws a lot of power?

This is our chance to catch equipment that is easy to leave off the list. Think about electric space heaters, clothes dryers, spa heating, large refrigeration, workshop machinery and anything else you use regularly.

Tell us what it is, when you run it and what else is usually running. A model label or appliance specification helps if the power rating is unclear. Equipment used for a short burst can affect inverter sizing even when its total daily energy use is modest.

Do you have an electric vehicle, or plan to get one?

We ask how far you drive, when the car is at home and how quickly you would like it charged. Daytime charging can use solar directly when the car is available.

We assess extra panels, charger output and the power available alongside your household appliances. Roof space, winter production and equipment limits shape the design.

How did you hear about The Off Grid Shop?

We like to understand what brought you to us and what you’ve already learned. Have you watched any of Mike’s videos, spoken with someone who has one of our systems, or found us through a search?

If a topic would be easier to understand with an example, we can send a relevant video from The Off Grid Shop YouTube channel. You can watch it in your own time and bring your questions back to the conversation.

How are rebates shown in the design?

The design proposal will clearly identify the applicable incentive assumptions, any discount included and the amount payable by the customer.

Eligibility, equipment requirements and paperwork are confirmed for the particular installation. We explain the sign-off process and any conditions before you proceed, including what happens if eligibility changes.

Can you help with finance options?

We can provide links to finance options for you to consider. You can also ask your existing bank about its options.

Compare the total amount repayable, interest, fees, loan term and any security required. The familiar lender is one option to compare; it is not automatically the lowest-cost choice.

What budget would you like us to work within?

Once we understand the property and how you live, we ask about budget. There’s little value in designing a system that sits well outside what you’re comfortable spending.

Sharing a budget lets us explain what fits, what trade-offs are involved and what could be staged. We can distinguish the essentials for a workable system today from additions that may suit you later.

Can we plan for more batteries or panels later?

Some systems allow additional compatible batteries or solar panels. We consider that at the beginning, including the limits of the particular inverter, battery platform and solar controllers, along with available roof space and wiring.

It can make sense to allow inverter capacity for the appliances you plan to add. That can avoid replacing an undersized inverter later. We balance that headroom with the cost, standby consumption and the battery’s ability to supply it, rather than choose the largest inverter automatically.

We design the initial system to cover the agreed loads and backup arrangements. Adding batteries later depends on manufacturer rules, model compatibility and sometimes the age or condition of existing batteries. Extra panels also depend on the electrical limits and physical space. We explain the supported expansion path in your design so you know what is possible.

Let’s talk about your property

Bring your plans, an electricity bill if available, and the details of the appliances that matter to you. We’ll explain why we’re asking each question and work through the information together.

Get a custom design

Keeping your grid connection?

Read our On-Grid Design Questions for grid-connected solar and battery planning.