An Illustrated Guide to Emergency Solar
Part 1: An affordable, portable setup
You probably don’t need anyone to list out all the reasons for investing in some kind of emergency solar option. Even the most hardcore, off-grid homesteaders still use technology, even if they wish they didn’t. And yet, rooftop solar remains a big commitment. They’re expensive to install. If you’re doing it yourself, it’s time-consuming and potentially dangerous.
There’s another option.
I’ve figured out a way to rig a portable setup with folding panels and a solar generator for a home or apartment. Compared to a rooftop system, it’s more affordable and gives you more options, and it’s much safer for beginners. I’m sharing the first part of the guide now. In the next version, I’ll talk about slightly more elaborate setups with LifePO4 batteries. All of this will go into the final version of the guide, which you can read about on this Substack page.
You can support it here.
One extra thing: When you wire panels in parallel, you also make each panel function independently. So if one fails, it doesn’t affect the others. In that sense, it’s better than series wiring, where one failure can cascade.
In the next update, I’ll share work I’m doing on edible weeds.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you Jessica. Any wisdom for those of us that rent and can’t make physical changes to the house? And do/will you have an article on storing the electricity being generated?
This is very helpful, Jessica. We have a few Ecoflow Delta Pros with extra batteries we’ve accumulated over the past few years, and currently use during power outages. We also have purchased numerous solar panels which we haven’t set up outside yet. I’m trying to plan a way to avoid hauling the Delta Pros up stairways for solar charging during an extended outage and thinking I could maybe use a connected solar generator(s) and then charge the Pros with the generator(s)? Yes, all of these items are expensive, but less than rooftop (as you pointed out) and we have kids with special needs who cannot survive without power, so we go without many things now to put money toward this endeavor. I have to look more into that option, and your research and writing has been very helpful! Thank you for your hard work!!