Cottage and off-grid power

A power station and a few solar panels can run a weekend cabin well in summer. Year-round off-grid living in Canada takes a much bigger, professionally designed system.

Realistic solar numbers

A panel's rating (for example 400 W) is its output in ideal lab conditions. In practice, expect about 70 to 80% of that in full sun, for only the middle hours of the day.

Rough planning figures; Natural Resources Canada publishes local solar potential maps. Cloud, shade, panel angle and snow cover change results a lot.

A typical summer cottage setup

• Needs: LED lights, a 12 V or efficient fridge, water pump, phones, Wi-Fi or a cell booster. Often about 1.5 to 2.5 kWh a day.
• Setup: a 2 kWh power station plus 400 to 800 W of portable or fixed panels.
• Cooking and hot water: keep these on propane. Electric kettles, stoves and water heaters will drain a battery fast.

Winter and shoulder-season visits

• Bring the power station home or keep it in a heated space. Most lithium batteries can't be charged below 0°C, and some can't safely be stored in deep cold.
• Plan to recharge from a vehicle or a small generator; winter solar alone won't keep up.
• Drain water lines if the cottage isn't heated.

Well and lake pumps

A small 120 V shallow-well or lake pump (often 500 to 1,000 W) can run from a 2 kWh station if its start-up surge fits within the station's surge rating. Deep wells with 240 V pumps need a larger system or a generator.

When to call a professional

If you want panels permanently mounted and wired into the cottage, or a battery bank larger than a few kWh, have a solar installer design it and an electrician install it under permit. Insurance companies may ask for proof of a permitted installation.