What have done towards your prep?

[Pete Grey]

Our previous plans for electricity use and generation after an event were simple with portable solar panels charging batteries, our 100W folding panel being the main one. We now realise we need more generation and storage.

Our house unfortunately doesn’t have a south facing roof one reason why we’ve not already got a modest off grid solar system, this would have been Plan A.

We never thought a ground array would be suitable for us either, this would have been Plan B.

However I don’t know why I haven’t thought earlier, the garden shed faces south and roof slopes down at 45 degrees, so Plan C.

As a basic starter a 240W eco-worthy kit, £250, they say 1kw/h per day. This I expect would be 10-15A for 8-10hours a day at best in summer. In winter maybe 4-5A for 4-5hours with luck, but still very useful.

I have already ordered a second leisure battery, £90, we will need a better inverter, £60+, and then allowing for cable, fuses, bits and pieces, we will have a versatile system for under £500.