Solar
Off-Grid Solar Systems
Everything you need to build a complete off-grid solar system — from solar panels and LiFePO4 batteries to charge controllers, inverters, wiring, and safety hardware. Mac's Batteries has been helping Eugene-area DIYers go off-grid since 1943.
What Goes Into an Off-Grid System
Every off-grid solar system has the same four core components, regardless of size. Get these right and your system will be reliable, safe, and easy to expand.
Solar Panels
The energy source. We stock new and used panels from 100W to 310W — 12V small panels for vans and campers, and larger residential-format panels for cabins and home systems. All used panels are MPPT tested before sale.
See solar panels in stock
Battery Bank
Stores the energy you generate. LiFePO4 lithium is the gold standard for off-grid: 3× lighter than lead-acid, 95% usable capacity, 3,000–6,000+ cycle lifespan, and Bluetooth BMS monitoring. We stock 12V, 24V, and 48V options from 100Ah to 330Ah.
See lithium battery pricing
MPPT Charge Controller
Regulates the power flow from panels to batteries. MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) extracts 20–30% more energy than older PWM controllers by converting excess panel voltage into usable charge current. We carry Victron and EPEVER Tracer models.
See MPPT controllers
Inverter
Converts DC battery power to 120V AC so you can run standard appliances. Pure sine wave inverters work with sensitive electronics, motors, and anything you'd plug into a wall. We stock Renogy, Magnum, and EPEVER models from 200W to 2000W.
See inverters
System Size Guide
Most off-grid builds fall into one of three tiers. Actual sizing depends on your measured daily load — see our Getting Started guide to calculate yours.
Starter System
Van / Camper / Weekend Cabin
Components
100–200Ah 12V LiFePO4
MPPT 20–40A · 300–1000W pure sine
Mid System
Full-Time RV / Small Cabin
Components
200–300Ah 12V or 100–170Ah 24V LiFePO4
MPPT 40–60A · 1000–2000W pure sine
Whole-Home System
Cabin / Home Backup / Ranch
Components
48V battery bank or multiple 24V strings
MPPT 60–80A+ (multiple) · 3000–5000W+ pure sine
Budgets are rough estimates for components only. Actual costs depend on current inventory and your specific load requirements. Get a free consultation.
Don't Forget the Rest of the System
The four core components are just the start. A safe, reliable off-grid system also requires proper wiring, fusing, disconnects, and monitoring hardware.
Wiring & Mounting
PV wire, battery cable, MC4 connectors, roof mounts, z-brackets, rail kits, cable gland boxes, distribution bars, and combiner boxes.
Fuses & Disconnects
DC-rated breakers, ANL/Class-T fuse holders, inline MC4 fuses, battery disconnect switches, DC fuse panels, and surge protection devices.
Monitoring & Control
Shunts, Bluetooth battery monitors, MPPT remote displays, DC/DC chargers for vehicle charging, and pre-charge circuits for large inverters.
Need Custom Battery Cables?
Off-grid systems often need cables that aren't off-the-shelf. We build custom battery cables in any length from 6 AWG to 2/0 AWG — hydraulic crimp, marine-grade heat shrink, same-day service.
Custom Cable ServiceReady to Go Off-Grid?
Bring your load list or just your questions. We can help you choose the right components, avoid common sizing mistakes, and build a system that actually works for your use case.