Kicking your utility to the curb sounds like a great deal, but it's more difficult than it sounds. Here's what it takes to go off the grid with solar panels. CNET contributor Eric Mack knows all too ...

Like all solar energy systems, off-grid systems use solar panels to harness the sun’s energy for residential or commercial buildings. However, unlike more common grid-tied systems, they store some of ...

Electrical mistakes in DIY solar setups can be expensive or dangerous. This detailed tutorial shows step-by-step how to safely wire your off-grid solar array, including battery connections, fuses, ...

Whether it's to help lower electricity costs or just a general desire to live unplugged from the rest of society, more and more people are choosing to go off-grid. While the concept of "off-grid" ...

If you connect your panels to the grid, you won't be responsible for producing all your own energy. That's not the case if you go off the grid. Going solar doesn't mean going off the grid -- unless ...

After one of my most recent Alibaba import adventures, I was left with a shipping container in my yard. These engineering wonders are great for many uses outside of merely transferring goods around ...

Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Solar panels are an incredibly useful way to get power to buildings that aren't wired up to an electrical grid. Why use messy extension cords ...

I'm in Tampa on my 5th day without power. I have a rechargeable battery and solar panels that meets my family's basic needs. I want to expand our offline power to increase our comfort the next time a ...