Off-grid solar planner
Plan the system before you buy the equipment.
For cabins, RVs and vans, workshops, tiny homes, emergency backup, and full off-grid homes. This is a standalone tool: you don't need the home solar calculator first.
- 1Tell us what you're poweringPick the project, appliances, and how much you want to run.
- 2See your system sizePanels, battery, and inverter update instantly.
- 3Get your shopping listGear filtered to fit your plan, with safety notes.
What are you powering?
Use a starting point; you can refine every load.
Select the loads
Essential loads are the appliances you need during an outage or limited-sun period.
Choose your power goal
This changes which loads the first plan prioritizes.
Fine-tune assumptions
Your estimate updates instantly as you choose.
Last step · Shopping list
Gear that fits your plan
Products are filtered to your estimate of 1,232 W continuous, 7.65 kWh of battery, and 0.8 kW of solar. Anything too small for your plan is hidden. Check every spec against your final design before buying.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Watt My Roof earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon links are marked “Amazon”; supplier links earn nothing. Products never change your system estimate. Read the full disclosure.
Solar panelsArray modules sized to the planRequired
- Renogy 100W N-Type 12V Solar Panel
Best for: Small 12V systems on RV and van roofs, sheds, and starter cabin kits.
Limitations: Low wattage per panel means more wiring and mounting points on larger arrays.
About 8 for this plan
View on Amazon → - Renogy 400W N-Type Panel Set (2 × 200W)
Best for: Van, cabin, tiny-home, and workshop roofs where space is limited.
Limitations: Sold as a 2-panel set. Confirm your charge controller's voltage limit before wiring panels in series.
About 4 for this plan
View on Amazon → - Full-size 400W+ panels from a solar supplier
Best for: Larger cabin, homestead, and full-residence arrays.
Limitations: Often shipped by freight. Mounting, roof penetrations, and ground-mount footings need structural review.
Visit solar supplier →
Battery storageStorage sized from usable and advertised capacityRequired
- HQST 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery (1.28 kWh)
Best for: Budget 12V banks for RVs, vans, sheds, and small cabins.
Limitations: Low-temperature charge protection, but no self-heating. Keep it above freezing to charge. Each battery needs proper fusing.
About 6 for this plan
View on Amazon → - Renogy 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Mini Battery (1.28 kWh)
Best for: Compact 12V banks where space is tight, such as van builds and tiny homes.
Limitations: 12V banks above about 8 batteries carry very high current. Check the series/parallel limits in the manual.
About 6 for this plan
View on Amazon → - 48V rack or wall-mount LiFePO4 from a solar supplier
Best for: Whole-cabin and full-residence banks paired with a 48V inverter/charger.
Limitations: Heavy, high-energy equipment. Battery location, ventilation, clearances, and fire code need professional review.
Visit solar supplier →
InverterContinuous and surge capacity must match the loadsRequired
- Renogy P2 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter (12V)
Best for: Running plug-in appliances from a 12V bank in vans, RVs, and workshops.
Limitations: Inverter only: no battery charger and no transfer switch. Do not connect to a building's wiring without an electrician.
Confirm its surge rating covers 1,735 W
View on Amazon → - Renogy 2000W Pure Sine Inverter with UPS Transfer (12V)
Best for: RVs and cabins that switch between shore/generator power and the battery.
Limitations: The built-in transfer is for plug-in use. Feeding a panel still requires listed transfer equipment and an electrician.
Confirm its surge rating covers 1,735 W
View on Amazon → - 48V all-in-one inverter/charger from a solar supplier
Best for: Cabins, homesteads, and full residences with 120/240V loads.
Limitations: 240V output, AC wiring, grounding, and the service connection are not DIY work.
Visit solar supplier →
Charge controller and monitoringSafely charges the battery from the array and shows state of chargeRequired
- Renogy Rover 40A MPPT Charge Controller (12/24V)
Best for: Small 12V or 24V arrays on RVs, vans, and sheds.
Limitations: 100V PV input limit. Check your array's cold-weather open-circuit voltage. About 1 kW of solar at 24V.
View on Amazon → - Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 Bluetooth (UL 1741)
Best for: Reliable 12V/24V charging with app monitoring for vans, cabins, and workshops.
Limitations: 100V PV input limit. About 1.4 kW of solar at 24V.
View on Amazon → - Victron SmartShunt 500A Battery Monitor
Best for: Accurate state-of-charge tracking for any 12–48V bank.
Limitations: Must be installed on the battery negative so all current flows through it.
View on Amazon →
Fuses and disconnectsOvercurrent protection and a way to shut the system offRequired
- Blue Sea Systems MRBF Terminal Fuse Block (30–300A)
Best for: Compact fusing right at the battery post on small 12V/24V banks.
Limitations: 58V DC max; fuse sold separately. Large lithium banks usually need a Class T fuse instead.
View on Amazon → - Blue Sea Systems m-Series 300A Battery Switch
Best for: Manual battery shut-off for service and emergencies.
Limitations: 48V DC maximum. Disconnect loads before switching under heavy current.
View on Amazon → - MidNite Solar MNEPV20 DC PV Breaker (20A)
Best for: Disconnect and overcurrent protection between the array and charge controller.
Limitations: Confirm the amp rating against panel specs and the DC voltage rating against cold-weather array voltage. Needs a DIN-rail enclosure.
View on Amazon → - Blue Sea Systems Class T Fuse Block
Best for: High interrupt-rated main fuse for LiFePO4 banks feeding an inverter.
Limitations: Fuse sold separately. Size it from the inverter manual and cable ampacity, not by guesswork.
View on Amazon → - MidNite Solar MNPV6 Combiner Box
Best for: Combining three or more parallel strings with individual breakers.
Limitations: Breakers sold separately. Grounding and conductor sizing should be reviewed.
View on Amazon →
Wiring and connectorsOutdoor-rated conductors and compatible connectorsRequired
- WindyNation 10 AWG PV Wire, 100 ft Red + 100 ft Black
Best for: Array-to-controller runs on small and mid-size systems.
Limitations: 10 AWG is for PV-side current only. Battery and inverter cables are much heavier gauge. Check voltage drop on long runs.
View on Amazon → - Stäubli MC4 Connectors, 10 Pairs
Best for: Genuine MC4 connectors that mate correctly with most panel leads.
Limitations: Don't mix connector brands at a single joint. Stäubli specifies its own crimp tooling.
View on Amazon →
Tools and metersVerification tools for safe installation and troubleshootingRecommended
- Klein Tools MM325 Manual-Ranging Multimeter
Best for: Checking battery voltage, polarity, and continuity on small systems.
Limitations: 600V max and 10A current limit. Use a DC clamp meter for battery and PV current.
View on Amazon → - BougeRV Solar Crimper Kit with MC4 Connectors
Best for: Building your own PV extension cables for 14–10 AWG wire.
Limitations: Included connectors are generic. Use matching connectors on both sides of each joint.
View on Amazon → - Klein Tools MM420 Auto-Ranging TRMS Multimeter
Best for: Everyday DIY testing with true-RMS AC readings from the inverter.
Limitations: 600V max. Not for high-voltage strings.
View on Amazon → - Klein Tools CL390 AC/DC Clamp Meter
Best for: Measuring DC current from panels and batteries without breaking the circuit.
Limitations: AC-only clamp meters cannot read DC solar or battery current, so confirm it is AC/DC.
View on Amazon → - iCrimp Solar Crimping Tool Kit (crimper, cutter, stripper, spanners)
Best for: All-in-one kit for building and disconnecting MC4 cables.
Limitations: Not Stäubli-certified tooling.
View on Amazon → - Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter
Best for: Professional-grade meter for people maintaining larger systems.
Limitations: 600V max.
View on Amazon →
Labels and PPERequired labeling and personal protective equipmentRecommended
- Photovoltaic System Label Kit (NEC 2017/2020)
Best for: Marking disconnects, conduit, and DC sources for inspectors and first responders.
Limitations: Confirm which NEC edition your jurisdiction has adopted. Some inspectors require specific wording.
View on Amazon → - Ergodyne Skullerz ANSI Z87.1 Safety Glasses
Best for: Eye protection when crimping, drilling, and working near batteries.
Limitations: Not arc-flash rated.
View on Amazon → - MAGID Class 0 Rubber Insulating Gloves (ASTM)
Best for: Added protection when working near energized battery terminals.
Limitations: Choose your size, wear leather protectors over them, and inspect before each use. Gloves don't make live work DIY-safe.
View on Amazon →
Portable power stationsAll-in-one battery and inverter for smaller or temporary setupsRecommended
Your plan is larger than a portable power station can run day to day. A component system (panels, battery, inverter) fits better.
Keep learning
Build confidence one decision at a time.
Use the existing Watt My Roof guides alongside this planner while you decide what to do yourself and where to bring in a qualified professional.
Direct answers
Off-grid planning questions
Can I use this planner for a full residence?
Yes. Choose the full-home goal and include heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, laundry, vehicles, and other large loads. A real full-residence system also needs a site-specific electrical, structural, permitting, and professional review.
What is essential versus optional equipment?
Panels, batteries, an appropriately sized inverter, mounting, wiring, overcurrent protection, disconnects, and grounding are common system components. Transfer equipment, service-panel work, and battery installation may require professional review or installation depending on the design and local rules.
Do I need to use the home solar calculator first?
No. The off-grid planner is a separate, standalone tool. The home solar calculator is for grid-connected homes that want to offset an electric bill; the off-grid planner sizes panels, batteries, and an inverter for systems that run on their own.
How is the shopping list chosen?
Products are hand-picked and filtered to fit your calculated plan, with budget, balanced, and premium options. Some links are Amazon affiliate links, which are clearly disclosed. Products never change your system estimate.