From $17,995 inc GST (for a small house/tiny house), off-grid solar electricity is ideal for homes or buildings where it’s not possible to connect to mains or grid electricity.

To view our new ULTRA range of off grid systems click here.

These areas might be in remote parts of New Zealand where getting connected to the national power grid is not possible or not financially viable.

But it’s not just about the convenience of reliable 24/7 power. There are other benefits too:

• No more power bills
• No grid connection fee
• Clean and sustainable energy
• Peace of mind
• Independence

And many more…

At Power Station, we are manufacturers of self-contained, relocatable, off-grid solar systems. Apart from your solar panels, the core components are housed in a sturdy steel case and are designed to sit neatly inside your property (such as a garage).

GENUINE EXPERTISE

We have been importers and wholesalers of solar components for 10 years and have installed countless residential, off-grid and commercial solar systems around New Zealand. We are “Solar Energy Solution Engineers” which means we use our world-class expertise to design the absolute best customised off-grid system that fits your lifestyle and needs. Every one of our clients is different with unique requirements. You will be the same.

PRICING

Because we are importers, manufacturers and wholesalers, we can keep prices low without sacrificing quality. Pricing starts at $19,950 (including GST) for our PS1 model that is perfect for a tiny house or small dwelling or holiday home. As properties go up in size, more power will be required which means more components of higher specification – and therefore a higher price.

You can read more about pricing and the best sized system for your requirements on our Systems & Pricing page. Are you ready to talk to us? Call us on 0508 765 276 or click below to get in touch.

Off-grid solar electricity is a source of power for homes or buildings where grid electricity is not available. Even if main power is available, some people choose to live sustainably as a lifestyle choice. Off-grid solar systems allow total independence from the New Zealand power grid and autonomy from your local power company. Power bills become a thing of the past.

The sun shines on solar PV (Photo Voltaic) panels which convert energy into electricity. The panels are mounted in an ‘array’ normally on your roof, and sometimes on the ground. The panels generate electricity which is used to power your home. A bank of batteries is also part of an off-grid system, so, at the same time your batteries will be charged. When the sun is not shining during the day or at night, the batteries will kick in and provide electricity to use. When batteries are depleted to a certain level (for example extended periods of bad weather) an auto-start back-up generator will replenish them.

An important part of your off-grid solar system is your auto-start back-up generator which is used to keep the battery bank topped up as required.

THE SYSTEM

• Solar PV panels (1) mounted on your roof or near your house capture energy from the sun and convert this energy into DC electricity.
• A solar Inverter/charger (7) converts this DC electricity into 230V AC electricity.
• Power is sent to the main house switchboard (3) where it is distributed to power appliances and lighting as required.
•  The battery inverter can do two things: It can convert surplus DC power and store it or it can allow the batteries to provide power to the house by converting DC electricity into usable AC electricity.

Off-grid solar is a fantastic solution if you you don’t have access to mains grid power, or if you want a sustainable lifestyle. But it needs to be done right! There’s a lot to consider and plan – and a lot that go wrong if it’s not done properly. To save possible stress and expense, check out our 4 Biggest Mistakes when it comes to off-grid solar.

MISTAKE #1: BUYING A SYSTEM THAT SUITS YOUR BUDGET, BUT NOT YOUR NEEDS

Yes, it’s important to know that the price you pay is fair. Our Power Station systems are extremely competitively priced when comparing apples with apples.

But one of the biggest mistakes customers make is buying what they think they can afford – not what they actually need. It’s a false economy and can cause a multitude of headaches later down the track.  If you are buying a car, you can get away with spending based on your budget. After all, even a cheap car will get you from A to B. Off-grid solar is not the same.

Generally the size of the system affects the price. If you have expectations about power use that go beyond the specifications of the technology then you could be be disappointed. Exceeding power loads too frequently and asking too much of your battery bank and generator can harm your system.

It’s just not worth the inconvenience and the potential expense unless you are prepared to downsize your lifestyle and rely on your generator (which kind of defeats the purpose).

Our engineers help you get exactly what you need and help you understand the rules and mindset that it takes to run an off-grid system without stress and without risk to your investment.

We recommend that you invest in the biggest battery bank that you can afford, that your system can handle. Doing this will reduce anxiety, reduce over-use of a generator and wont compromise the battery bank. We’ll help you to calculate what you need, and what you don’t.

MISTAKE #2: NOT MODIFYING YOUR LIFESTYLE AND NOT LIVING WITHIN YOUR RESOURCE

If you are used to having mains power, or if you live in town, then you’ll be accustomed to on-demand electricity. Most people don’t even think about power as a resource that you need to manage. The only time you might consider power as a manageable resource is when you get a high power bill!

Off-grid is different. Yes, there’s no monthly bill, but you can’t just expect to live the same way and treat your solar system like an ‘on-tap’ never-ending resource.

If you have ever lived in the country on tank water, you will know that it needs to be considered a resource and managed during parts of the year when rain fall is low. Off-grid solar has to be managed too.

Conservation is the key. First you need to treat power as a limited resource and learn new habits to reduce power wastage.  There’s lots of ideas to do this, but could include:

• not leaving lights on
• not running electrical heating at night
• planning your use of power (for example understanding the power loads of different appliances and not using them at the same time if there’s a risk of exceeding capacity)
• When the weather is poor, put your feet up and read a book! Don’t do the washing, vacuuming or dishes
• Regular maintenance of your generator

The first step is designing a system that gives you what you need. And that’s where we can help.

MISTAKE #3: CUTTING CORNERS WITH THE BACK-UP GENERATOR

When your battery bank runs low, your back-up generator will auto-start and start replenishing the batteries. If you have a holiday home and you honestly only use it in mid-summer, then yes, you may not need a generator.

Problems arise if you have a property that you occupy full time or during the winter season. Don’t skip on investing in a generator because you think you won’t need one and don’t buy a cheap generator just to save a few bucks. It’s false economy and you may regret it. Here’s why:

We recommend a self-start generator of at least a 7 kVA output. The Honda models we recommend are competitively priced and super-quiet. A smaller generator may be a bit cheaper, but it will also be running far too often and for long periods just to keep up. Cheap generators can be noisy, inefficient (costly to run) and are not always designed for heavy use and can result in break-downs.

An under-sized auto-start generator that struggles to keep up which runs far too frequently, can be bloody annoying! Especially if you have neighbours in close proximity or if there are people in the house who like their sleep!

Using non-specified or non-recommended generators may also void your warranties on your system due to the risk and potential damage they can cause. We’re here to help you get it right and we can talk to you about your situation.

MISTAKE #4: IGNORING REGULAR MAINTENANCE

The quickest way for your off-grid lifestyle to turn to tears is to ignore regular maintenance especially when it comes to your auto-start generator.

The generator needs to be started once per fortnight for one hour to keep in good running order and replenish your batteries. You’ll also use this time to check the fuel supply.

The rest of your solar system is reasonably low maintenance but there are recommended service intervals which we can talk to you about.

1. DISCOVERY

Off-grid solar needs to be done right. And remember, there is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits all’ system. Everyone is different.

The Discovery process starts with listening to you and finding out about your situation. Because we’ve designed, supplied and installed countless solar systems, we know the questions to ask. We even help with questions that you don’t know to ask!

For example we’ll want to understand:

• Your reasons for going off-grid solar
• Your lifestyle habits when it comes to power use and times of the day
• The design of your house/building and roof
• The number of occupants and family make-up (couple? children?)
• Any potential change in future power useage
• Appliances used – how much and when

And lots more…

Our Energy Audit is a breakdown on paper of your power consumption activities. We help you through this audit which gives us an indication of your power useage so we can start designing the right system for you.

2. PLANNING

The information we get from you during the Discovery step is critical for the Planning phase. Because your situation will be unique to you in terms of lifestyle, habits, power usage, house design etc, our solar engineers will develop a plan that works for you now and into the future.

Here are some of the things we take into account when we design your system:

• Your power usage based on lights and appliances you use, and for how long
• The design of your home and roofline
• The aspect of your home and best way to maximise the use of solar panels
  
• Your lifestyle habits and their effects on power use
  

You’ll get all the education and information you need to ensure you are completely comfortable with the system we recommend.

The Planning step involves one of our qualified solar engineers or technicians making a customised plan for your property or building. It’s all based on your lifestyle, power needs and budget and it’s designed to give you everything you need and nothing you don’t.

3. Install and Test

Our systems are ‘installer-friendly’ and we can refer you to an installer in most parts of NZ. They are independent of us and can provide you a quote direct. 

4. ENJOY!

Congratulations! You’re now living off-grid, free from your local power company and free from ever having another power bill. Our service doesn’t stop there. We’ll always be available for any questions or concerns and we’ll give you advise about periodic maintenance for ongoing peace-of-mind.

When it comes to making an important investment that directly affects your peace of mind and lifestyle, you will want to know that you are in good hands and that you are getting the very best value that you can.

VALUE FOR MONEY & TRUST

Power Station is part of SolarKing New Zealand which is one of the longest running, independent (not owned by the power companies) solar suppliers, designers and installers in New Zealand.

We are importers, and wholesalers of quality solar components and technology, and have been for many years. That’s why we can provide your Power Station solar system at the best possible price. We are extremely competitive and our pricing does not come at the cost of cheap equipment.

For a small unit, cottage or tiny house, we can supply an off-grid solar system for $18,500 inc GST. Because we have the expertise in-house to customise the right off-grid system for you, you’ll always get what works, and what you need.

MADE IN NEW ZEALAND

All of our Power Station products are manufactured in New Zealand from the best quality, carefully chosen components that we have been sourcing locally and internationally for many years.

Extensive warranties apply to all the key components of our systems for your peace of mind.

ONGOING SERVICE

First and foremost, we are solar experts and engineers. That means we take time to design the system you need to minimise future problems.

We help you with initial training and tips and are always available at the end of the phone or email if you need help or advice from a qualified solar technician.

It costs nothing to take the first step. Talk to us. You’ll be dealing with qualified solar experts who can give you honest advice based on your situation. We’ll need to know about your goals and your requirements, so the first step is all about listening to you.

Even if you’re just researching at this stage, get in touch. We’d love to give you a hand.

To get started, call us on 0508 765 276 or click below to organise a free phone consultation.