Business Details
For more than 40 years, Backwoods Solar has sold customized renewable energy equipment. We sell: solar panels (also called solar modules), wind turbines, micro-hydro turbines, all balance of system components, custom-built solar panel system kits and custom-designed solar power system plans. We know the solar energy components we sell because we live with these solar products in our homes.
Firsthand experience gives us the unique ability to personalize whatever renewable energy system you need. We pride ourselves on our custom-built residential off-grid solar kits and tailor-made grid-tie solar kits, solar-direct water pumping systems, small off-grid cabin systems, RV systems, as well as commercial grid-tie systems.
We do not believe in selling pre-packaged solar equipment kits because each situation is different. We do believe in fully exploring and researching the needs associated with your solar power project; helping you understand what solar electricity products you need; and then putting together a one-of-a-kind solar energy system that is ideal for your property.
Firsthand experience gives us the unique ability to personalize whatever renewable energy system you need. We pride ourselves on our custom-built residential off-grid solar kits and tailor-made grid-tie solar kits, solar-direct water pumping systems, small off-grid cabin systems, RV systems, as well as commercial grid-tie systems.
We do not believe in selling pre-packaged solar equipment kits because each situation is different. We do believe in fully exploring and researching the needs associated with your solar power project; helping you understand what solar electricity products you need; and then putting together a one-of-a-kind solar energy system that is ideal for your property.
Services
About Us
Steve and Elizabeth Willey started BACKWOODS SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS as a home-based business in 1976, after successfully pioneering the use of photovoltaics for their own mountain home, two miles from utility lines. They happily helped their neighbors get solar panels for homes that needed off-grid power and wanted to help others too.
Catalog request
The Backwoods Solar Planning Guide & Catalog is not only a comprehensive guide to our products and services, it's a handy reference tool and an incredible resource for anyone interested in off-grid home solar, micro-hydro, and wind power systems. You'll find detailed product information, as well as design, technical planning, educational and reference information for all your questions about renewable off-grid power systems and solar energy.
Learning Center
We love to help people learn about off-grid living and educate them about off-grid power systems, solar panels and how it all works together to power your home or business. These articles answer some of the more common questions we receive so it's a great place to start or refresh your knowledge. If you have any other questions or if you're ready to get started on a system quote, please give us a call 208-263-4290.
Off-Grid Worksheets
Off-Grid Solar Array Sizing Once you've determined your daily energy consumption in watt-hours, follow the advice offered below. There are many methods used. Off-Grid Battery Sizing Worksheet We suggest a battery bank sized to provide enough energy for three days of energy consumption without any. Off-Grid Load Calculation Worksheet Start by finding how many watts each appliance will consume.
Solar Array Sizing
Once you've determined your daily energy consumption in watt-hours, follow the advice offered below. There are many methods used for calculating your system's solar array size. This insures that the system will give the power needed on the lowest sun production day and any other day will exceed this output.
AC DC Load Worksheet
Start by finding how many watts each appliance will consume. Do not add appliances that should be propane-fueled, such as cooktops, hot water heaters and electric heat. Then multiply rated wattage of each appliance by the number of hours per day, on average, that appliance runs. This gives the total watt-hours per day for each light or appliance.
Living Off-Grid Articles
Eclipse Battery Review by Brian Betz My name is Brian Betz and I'm a sales tech here at Backwoods Solar (BWS). I have worked for. Watt Phantoms are Lurking in the Shadows of Your Home Save the treats for the little spirits and trick the phantoms that already skulk inside. OWNING YOUR GRID-TIE SYSTEM Leased solar, commonly known as third-party owned solar has earned attention as an alternative to purchasing.
What is AC Coupling
Most grid-tied solar electric systems do not include a method for storing the power that the system is producing and will shut down during a utility power outage. When the grid goes out, so does your solar power systems. By adding batteries, you can store the energy that the solar array is producing and use it during an electrical outage.
Tax Credit
The The Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 extended the 26% Federal Tax Credit for solar, wind and geothermal electric systems through 2023. Combined with state rebates and low component prices the savings can be even greater.
Customer Stories
I am 68 years old, retired, and possess some basic acquired electrical skills from past experience and online research. For my retirement years, I bought 40 acres of wooded property in a very rural area of East Central Missouri. I'm building a cabin on this property so I need electric power. Grid power was available but at a distance away that would have cost $20,000+ just to get the line to my cabin and then monthly bills.
Reviews (8)