Daily energy
Estimate how many kilowatt-hours the property may use on an ordinary day and how that changes by season.
Off-grid solar
Power for the property beyond the grid.
Plan solar, storage and backup around the loads your home or rural site must support — through ordinary days and difficult weather.
Dwelling photograph: Portable Dwellings · shown for context, not as a Cell-X Solar project
Supplied and installed in Canterbury.
Ask what is included →
Package prices are in NZD incl. GST and include the equipment and standard installation by Cell-X Solar’s registered electricians in Canterbury. Any site-specific extras are confirmed in your quote. Outside Canterbury, ask us for a quote.
Size from demand
Off-grid is a load-planning exercise — not just a panel package.
Without the grid as an automatic fallback, the system must balance energy use, peak demand, seasonal generation, battery reserve and a practical response to prolonged poor weather.
Six essential inputs
What shapes an off-grid system.
Each input affects the others. Changing one major appliance can change the array, inverter, battery and backup conversation.
Peak demand
Identify the appliances and pumps that may run together so the inverter can be assessed against real loads.
Solar resource
Review location, roof or ground area, orientation, shading and seasonal sunlight before setting an array size.
Storage goal
Plan battery capacity around overnight use, reserve level, weather variability and the desired operating margin.
Backup strategy
Decide whether a generator or another backup source should be part of the design for prolonged low-solar periods.
Future loads
Allow for water systems, electric cooking, heating, workshop equipment, EV charging or higher occupancy where relevant.
A resilient energy plan
Generation, storage and backup must work together.
The final equipment list should make the operating strategy easy to understand.
Solar array
Sized from load data, location and seasonal solar access.
Hybrid inverter
Assessed against peak demand, charging and system architecture.
Battery bank
Planned around overnight use, reserve and low-solar conditions.
Backup source
Considered for prolonged poor weather or exceptional demand.
Conceptual planning diagram only. The actual equipment, controls, connections and supported loads require technical review and confirmation.
Portable living contexts
Different dwellings create different energy patterns.
These dwelling types show the kinds of rural and lifestyle settings where an off-grid conversation may begin.
Rural full-time living
A larger dwelling may need a detailed appliance schedule, seasonal usage estimate and carefully defined backup strategy.
Plan for this context
Compact lifestyle dwelling
A compact footprint can simplify the load profile, but hot water, cooking and heating can still dominate energy demand.
Plan for this context
Bach or occasional retreat
Occasional use may create a different balance between battery reserve, convenience, maintenance and backup planning.
Plan for this contextDwelling photographs: Portable Dwellings. They show dwelling types only and are not Cell-X Solar installations.
Build the appliance list
The biggest loads deserve attention first.
Start by recording appliance ratings, hours of use and which items may operate at the same time. Then decide what can be shifted, managed or supported by another energy source.
Share my off-grid loads01Water heatingType, element rating and timing
02CookingOven, hob and other appliances
03PumpsWater, wastewater and starting demand
04Heating & coolingSeason, runtime and setpoints
05Tools & equipmentPeak power and operating schedule
06Future loadsEVs, added rooms or higher occupancy
A careful process
From site details to an off-grid equipment list.
- 1
Describe the site
Share the location, dwelling, occupancy, solar access and any site constraints.
- 2
Build the load profile
List daily energy, major appliances, peak combinations and seasonal changes.
- 3
Define resilience
Choose the desired reserve, load-management approach and backup strategy.
- 4
Review and compare
Confirm assumptions, the equipment, limitations, installation scope and price before you decide.
Your site and your loads
Request your customised off-grid solar plan.
Share the site, dwelling and major energy needs so Cell-X Solar can prepare an informed starting point to discuss.
Off-grid answers
Frequently asked questions
How do you size an off-grid solar system?
Sizing begins with an appliance and usage schedule, including daily energy, peak loads and seasonal changes. Location, solar access, battery reserve, inverter limits and the backup strategy then shape the equipment list. A household-count shortcut is not enough.
Ask about my siteCan an off-grid property rely only on solar and batteries?
It may be technically possible for some sites, but the system must account for extended low-solar periods, seasonal demand and the owner’s tolerance for load management. A backup generator or another source may still be appropriate and should be discussed honestly.
Ask about my siteWhat appliances are hardest to run off-grid?
High-power or long-duration loads — such as electric water heating, resistance heating, cooking, pumps, workshop tools and EV charging — can materially affect array, inverter and battery requirements. The exact impact depends on ratings and usage timing.
Ask about my siteWho installs an off-grid system?
In Canterbury, Cell-X Solar’s registered electricians install, connect and certify the system. Off-grid systems are quoted individually because every load profile is different. Outside Canterbury, ask us about options for your area.
Ask about my siteCan Cell-X size solar for a portable dwelling?
Yes, a portable dwelling can be assessed, but the site, the dwelling’s electrical layout, occupancy, major appliances and where equipment will be mounted all need review. The dwelling photographs on this page illustrate dwelling types; they are not Cell-X Solar project photographs.
Ask about my siteYour next step
Start with the loads your property must support.
A strong off-grid plan begins with real site and appliance information.
Request my off-grid plan