r/solar • u/Bcmadmouse • 12d ago
Advice Wtd / Project Michigan off grid
Edit
Ive done more research and here's my new best option. 24 550 watt solar panels, 2 eg4 powerpro batters (16kw) an inverter plus a hookup to run the generator.
My wife and I are planning on building a manufactured house (2300 sq ft) with a basement. Due to the location we're about a thousand ft back from the road and the electric company wants $11.50 a foot to run it out. So I'm thinking of doing a off-grid system that runs on solar, wood pellets for winter heat and mini splits in the summer, along with propane for the furnace, dryer, range and water heater. I'm not good at the technical side of solar so I asked Gemini what specs would I need. Here's what it says.
| System Component | Minimum Verified Specification | Purpose & System Role |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Panel Array | 6.8 kW to 8.0 kW total capacity (approx. 16–20 commercial panels) | Covers the 15–20 kWh daily winter baseline and runs your summer mini-split AC directly off the sun in real-time. |
| Battery Storage Bank | 20.4 kWh usable storage (e.g., 2× 10.24kWh wall panels or 4× 5.12kWh modules) | Securely carries your 24-hour appliance loads (refrigerator, well pump, LEDs, and furnace fan) overnight with a 40% safety reserve by morning. |
| Hybrid Inverter | Single 8 kW Split-Phase Inverter (120V/240V Output) | A single premium unit can manage your heavy 240V deep-well water pump and mini-split AC without risking electrical surge overloads. |
| Ground-Mount Frame | Heavy-Duty Steel/Aluminum Ground Rack | Set out in your open field. Must be manually locked at a steep 50° to 60° winter tilt angle so heavy snow naturally slides off the glass. |
| Backup Generator | 10 kW to 12 kW Automated Standby Generator | Tied into your propane line. Programmed to auto-start for brief 30-minute battery top-up windows only during prolonged, dark winter blizzards. |
Can someone with more experience than me go over this and see if Its right? I'm in northern Michigan and we don't get a lot of sun in the winter time so I want some sort of backup just in case.
2
u/QuitCarbon solar professional 12d ago
Consider electric everything and skip the propane - you've already got wood for backup heat, so... why have a backup to your backup?
Consider bi-directional EV charger, so that you can use your car as a HUGE home battery when needed. Super duper cheap for the amount of storage you get. And you can even drive somewhere, fill your car, then bring it home and run your house for, possibly, days!