A practical guide to solar and alternative energy for preppers — what to buy, how it fits together, and exactly how much you need to keep your household running when the grid doesn't.
Regional blackouts can last days. A stored-energy system keeps lights, comms, and refrigeration running independent of utility repair crews.
Generators need gasoline or propane, which run out and require storage. Panels keep producing as long as the sun rises.
Start with a single panel and power bank, then grow toward a full home battery bank — no need to buy the end state on day one.
Converts sunlight to DC power. Rated in watts — more watts, faster charging.
Regulates voltage from the panel so it charges the battery safely, without overcharging.
Stores energy for night use and cloudy days. Sized in amp-hours (Ah) at a given voltage.
Converts stored DC into standard AC so it can run household devices and outlets.
Check off what you'd actually run in an outage, adjust hours of use, and see the battery bank and panel wattage that setup needs.
A folding panel and a portable power station. Charges phones, radios, and headlamps. Fits in a bag.
Roof or ground-mounted panels feeding a fixed battery bank. Runs fridge, lighting, and comms for days.
A full array, large bank, and inverter sized for year-round, everyday living — no utility hookup at all.