The EU is seeing a surge in off-grid living as more and more people rely on renewable energy sources to power their homes. Even recently, Robyn Swan, 33, made headlines after selling all her belongings and leaving her home for off-grid living. She bought a seven-acre land near Stirling and got a 40ftx80ft container built there, all to fulfil her dream of living in a rent-free container.
Initially, she didn’t use electricity for 8 months, saved £4,500 and purchased an off-grid solar inverter to power her new home. Her monthly bills were greatly reduced, and she claimed that she’s spending £259.43/month including food, council tax, and phone bill. Solar energy produced by the solar off-grid power station not only helps her save money but also contributes to the EU sustainability goals.
Let’s discuss more about how you can get the perfect off-grid solar inverter and why Jackery portable power stations are the ideal options for your new lifestyle!
What to Consider When Applying Off-Grid Solar Inverters In Shipping Containers?
When planning to live in a shipping container, solar energy is the only viable option since it requires minimal wiring and upkeep. Here are some things that you should consider when getting an off-grid solar inverter for your off-grid house:
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Legal Compliance
Firstly, you should figure out the legalities associated with off-grid inverter installation. It mainly depends on the area where you live, but some common rules and regulations include:
- Building Permit: Well, in many countries, you have to acquire a permit before off-grid solar inverter installation. While the technicalities may vary for containers, it’s essential to contact the local government and get the necessary permits. This ensures that the solar inverter system is installed legally and safely, protecting container owners from heavy fines.
- Electrical Certification: Proper electrical certifications from professionals in the EU are also necessary. They give container owners the much-needed peace of mind that the off-grid solar inverter is installed professionally, minimising fires or other hazards. On top of that, these certifications often validate the energy output, efficiency, and durability of the inverter.
- IEC 62446-1 and CE Marking: Make sure the off-grid solar inverter you invest in carries CE Marking. It signifies that the product meets the European safety, health, and environmental requirements. In addition, it should comply with the IEC 62446-1, an international standard for testing, maintaining, and documenting PV systems.
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Power Matching and System Stability
Another thing you should do when choosing the right off-grid solar inverter for a container lifestyle is assess your energy needs. Figure out your daily and monthly energy consumption.
You can make a list of all the appliances and electronics you plan to run on the solar system. Sum the wattage of all to get an estimate of your total energy demand.
For instance, if you want to run the electric fan (300 W), bulbs (50 W), or an electric heater (1000 W), your expected power output needs are around:
- Power Output Requirements: 50 W + 300 W + 1000 W = 1,350 W
Don’t forget to add a charge controller with the off-grid solar inverter to regulate energy flow and enhance system stability.
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Energy Storage Facility’s Compatibility
Off-grid solar inverters will run smoothly during the day. However, if you don’t invest in an energy storage solution, you might not enjoy renewable energy at night or during cloudy weather.
Therefore, you must connect the LiFePO4 battery to your solar system.
It must have enough capacity to store excess energy produced during the daytime so your container stays illuminated even when it’s dark outside. Nonetheless, compatibility between the battery and your solar system is a must for efficient performance.
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Environmental Conditions of the Container
Most importantly, you should pay attention to the weather conditions in the area where your container is located. If you live in Vienna, where hot summers and dry, cold winters are normal, you should invest in a durable and weather-proof off-grid solar inverter.
It’s advisable to pick systems with high IP ratings to minimise the risk of damage. Other than that, the insides of the container should have proper ventilation. This eliminates the risk of batteries overheating, so your off-grid solar inverter serves you for years.
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Installation and Maintenance Costs
You should also factor in the installation and maintenance costs of off-grid solar inverters. Contact different electrical professionals and get a quote. Read reviews to find the one that’s reliable and also affordable.
As far as maintenance is concerned, solar systems require minimal maintenance. Once installed, you’ll have to tend to simple cleaning, and the system will perform smoothly for a long time.
It is recommended to directly invest in LiFePO4 battery solar generators, such as Jackery’s solar generators and portable power stations, which offer a one-stop solution for power generation and energy storage, addressing issues of compatibility and maintenance costs. They offer incredible power output, high durability, and competitive pricing. All products are even backed with extensive warranties that further secure your investment.
What Equipment Can the Selected Off-Grid Solar Inverter Pair With?
If you wonder which products you can connect to your off-grid solar inverter, here’s some analysis:
| Electric Appliance | Function | Power Range |
| TV | Plays different entertainment shows | 50 to 200 W |
| Dishwasher | Helps clean dishes by ensuring the distribution and directing of detergent as well as water | 1200 to 2400 W |
| Refrigerator | Keeps food in the container cold and away from microorganism growth | 350 to 780 W |
| Washing Machine | Washes clothes and other textiles by using detergent and mechanical agitation | 400 to 1400 W |
| Electric Kettle | Boils water and other liquids for making tea, coffee, and hot drinks in containers where conventional cooking isn’t easy | 1200 to 1500 W |
| Oven | Cooks and heats food by creating a controlled environment of intense heat | 750 to 3000 W |
However, when choosing the right off-grid solar inverter for powering these electrical appliances, you need to focus on compatibility and mobility. The solar system must be compatible with all appliances and electronics to avoid any damage. It should also be lightweight and easy to transport to any part of the country you live in for better accessibility.
Solar Panel Placement Precautions
You cannot just randomly place your solar panels on the container. Instead, you need to be very mindful of your area and the direction of sunlight. Here are tips that you should follow during solar panel placement:
- As a general rule of thumb, add 15 degrees to your latitude during winter and subtract 15 degrees from your latitude during summer.
- The angle for solar panel placement varies depending on your location. For instance, in Hungary, the best solar panel efficiency is achieved by placing the panels at a tilt angle between 30 and 40 degrees.
- Place roof guardrails to protect against falls during solar panel installation and maintenance.
- Installation of solar panels must be carried out by qualified professionals to ensure correct wiring and mounting. This lowers any electrical hazard and keeps you and your loved ones living in containers safe.
How to Improve the Off-Grid Container Life?
Living off-grid means you’ll have a hard time finding the basic life utilities, whether it’s water or food. Here are some things that you can do to enhance your off-grid container life:
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Water Resource Management
Water is an important part of our lives; we need it for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. However, living off-grid in a container doesn’t offer you quick access to such commonly available resources.
Issues like water contamination or scarcity might occur. Proper water resource management is important to ensure sustainable and reliable access to clean water.
The following are some tips that help you in this regard:
- If you live in rainy areas like Bergen, you can collect rainwater in different pots and use it for sanitation and irrigation.
- You may also install solar-powered pumps to pull water from the ground and directly into a tanker for drinking and cleaning.
- If you have a river nearby, you can get a filtration system and purify the river or lake water for your needs.
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Living Environment Design
For a comfortable off-grid container lifestyle, you should also focus on improving the overall design of the living environment. You can use renewable energy sources like off-grid solar systems.
They provide you with consistent energy without any ongoing costs, increasing self-sufficiency while lowering energy bills.
You can design the container in such a way as to gain maximum sunlight for high conversion. On top of this, make room for natural ventilation to maintain a cool and comfortable environment throughout.
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Crop and Flower Cultivation
You can’t always travel miles just to get some fresh vegetables, so one of the things you can do when living off-grid is to grow your own crops.
For instance, you can focus on hardy and climate-appropriate species such as potatoes, beans, and carrots that are easy to grow. Turnips and herbs like basil are also good options. This provides you with a fresh and nutrient-rich diet that makes your health better. Other than that, you can spend time cultivating various flowers in your garden.
Some suggestions include Lavender, Rosemary, Jasmine, and other grasses. However, it’s advisable to check whether the flowers you plan to grow are compatible with the current environment.
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Poultry Raising
You should raise poultry to further reduce your reliance on external food systems. You can build a small cattle and chicken farm. This provides you with a reliable source of proteins and iron, like milk, meat, and eggs. The cherry on the cake is that all this significantly lowers your food expenses and boosts self-sufficiency.
Are We Paying Too Much for Our Off-grid Solar System?
Finding affordable solar products like off-grid solar inverters can sometimes feel overwhelming. You get confused by the varying prices and technicalities. Therefore, it is suggest that you consult different manufacturers, ask about their prices, and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Jackery is quite a good option in this regard, as it is competitively priced, and all solar generators and power stations come with extensive warranties. Here are the two hot-sale Jackery solar generators that you can try for your off-grid container living:
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Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2
The first option is the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2, which offers 1070Wh capacity and a whopping 1500W output. It can easily power all small—to medium-sized appliances in your off-grid container without any hassle.
What consumers really like about this product is its versatile charging options, including a car adapter, a wall outlet, and solar panels. This ensures that, irrespective of your location, you can always have a fully charged solar generator. Its power station also highly portable, weighing a mere 23.8 pounds, 10% smaller than mainstream products on the market.
You can carry it anywhere when you need energy without having to worry about added burden. There’s a lifepo4 battery that lasts for 10 years, even with daily usage, so you stay assured that you’ve made the right investment.
Key Features
- Upgraded ChargeShield 2.0 technology protects against any possible damage
- 1070Wh capacity and 1500W output can power most container appliances
- Impact and fire-resistant casing ensures the solar generator serves you for a long time
- Operates at 22dB³, maintaining the serene atmosphere of off-grid living
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Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2
If you need something more powerful and flexible, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 v2 is ideal. It offers an exceptional 2042Wh capacity and 2200W output, which can easily run all your container home appliances.
Whether it’s an oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator, you can rely on this solar generator to power everything. This generator comes with 2 AC outlets, 1 USB-A 18W, and 2 USB-C ports ( 100W + 30W), so you can connect multiple appliances to it simultaneously.
Its design is quite portable and features CTB structure technology. Overall, the generator is compact and weighs a mere 17.5 kg, so you can move it around easily even if there’s no help around.
Key Features
- 2042Wh capacity and 2200W output, enough to power all your appliances and electronics
- Weighs 17.5 kg, which makes it portable
- Multiple charging options include wall, car, solar, and hybrid charging
- Makes noise as little as ≤30dB, so there’s no disruption even when the generator is placed indoors
Conclusion
If you are all set to embrace a container lifestyle, don’t forget to invest in a reliable off-grid solar inverter. Jackery has some amazing options available that aren’t only durable but have innovative designs. Get in touch with them today to take a step towards sustainable living!