How We Lived Off-Grid for 10 Years on Just 800W of Solar (Family of 4)

Video Description

For nearly 10 years, our family of four lived completely off-grid using just 3 solar panels (800W total) and a 2000W inverter. In this video, I break down how that was actually possible, what we had to change, what worked surprisingly well, and where the limits really were — especially through winters and long stretches of grey weather. I also show the original system we lived on for almost a decade, explain how we managed daily power use, and why I finally decided to upgrade to a larger off-grid solar system this year. This isn’t a “perfect system” or a sales pitch — it’s a real-world look at what living with very limited solar capacity is actually like, and who this kind of setup might (and might not) work for. If you’re thinking about off-grid living, solar power, or just want to understand how much energy households really use day-to-day, I hope this helps. Chapters 00:00 Intro and background to our off-grid life 00:55 Our tiny 800W off-grid solar set-up 02:51 Limitations of the system 03:54 Capabilities of the system, and adaptations and workarounds 05:16 The role of a generator in a small system 06:07 How did we make it work? 08:43 The worst aspects of a small solar system 10:46 Simplicity, downsizing and freeing yourself of "stuff" 12:25 Confession 13:07 Why upgrade? 14:32 Our new, larger off-grid solar system 19:24 Who is 800W suitable for? 21:40 Things to consider when picking the size of your system 23:47 The best thing about living with off-grid power This channel is a long-term record of my family's move off-grid — from building our home as naturally as possible from the earth and trees around us, to being self-sufficient in power and water. Everything here is based on lived experience rather than theory. If you’re curious about natural building, off-grid life, solar power, or using less energy, whilst improving your quality of life, you’re welcome to follow along.