Tech Insight : Complete Solar Installation for an Off-Grid Tiny Home

In this video, join us as we visit Rémy, a solar energy professional who has been living completely off-grid for years. With his expertise as a solar installer and teacher, Rémy shares how his autonomous system, powered by solar panels, operates even in the harsh winter conditions of Quebec.

🎥 What’s featured in the video:

• A field analysis of the solar panel setup under -14°C conditions.
• A guided tour of the electrical system inside the tiny home.
• Insights into the performance and reliability of an off-grid solar installation during winter.

📍 Filmed in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec, this video proves that energy independence is possible year-round, no matter the season.

👉 Watch the video to explore the full setup and discover how you can achieve reliable off-grid energy, even in challenging climates!

FAQ

Do solar panels produce in winter in Quebec?

Yes, sometimes very well. During filming, in December in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts at −14 °C under clear skies, Rémy's 4,250 W of panels were producing about 3,400 W. Cold improves panel efficiency and snow reflects light (the albedo effect).

Why set the panels vertical in winter?

So snow does not build up on them and they never need clearing. Rémy tilts them at about 30° from spring to fall, then stands them upright at the first snowfall, in early November, until April. The production loss is small and partly offset by light reflected from the snow.

Can you build your own wooden racking?

That is what Rémy did, on a south-facing site sheltered from the wind by the forest: a simple wooden structure on concrete deck blocks, built in two days for about $600. It has held up for almost 4 years; he simply plans to replace any boards that warp. This requires a careful assessment of wind and loads; on an exposed site, professionally designed racking is still the better choice.

How is a stand-alone system like this one set up?

The panels feed a Victron MPPT RS charge controller with four inputs, so panels with different orientations, tilts or models can be added without changing the device. Four 48 V Volthium lithium batteries provide about 20 kWh of storage, kept inside the house at room temperature. A 3,000 VA inverter supplies 120 V, while lighting, USB outlets and refrigeration run directly on 12 V and 24 V.

Why install a disconnect switch near the panels?

For code compliance and safety: in case of fire, firefighters can cut off the panels, whose DC voltage here approaches 300 V. The 55 m (180 ft) cable to the house meets code and is buried where people walk over it.