June 22, 2026 2:35 pm
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Rather than have a generator using propane, are we better off with a PV system and batteries?
June 22, 2026 2:58 pm
@penlight That's a good question! I think generators still have a place in the event there are many days of little sun. I sure wish I had installed batteries when we did our solar though.
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August 21, 2026 5:32 am
Generators are still absolutely essential, particularly for off-grid or remote rural properties. While modern photovoltaic (PV) arrays and lithium battery banks may have been designed to handle daily power needs, the design is often reliant on peak or near peak conditions, they rely entirely on the weather.
Why they are still viable and necessary:
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Multi-Day Low-Solar Events: Extended periods of heavy cloud cover, winter storms, or wildfire smoke will dramatically cut solar production. Without a backup generator, your battery bank will eventually deplete, leaving you completely powerless.
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High Surge Demands: Starting heavy equipment, well pumps, or large electric motors creates a massive surge load. A properly sized generator provides reliable backup capacity to run heavy loads directly or recharge depleted batteries quickly without straining your inverter system.
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True Off-Grid Redundancy: True self-reliance means having a fail-safe. Relying solely on solar without a generator in a remote area risks leaving you stranded without power for days during critical weather events.