There is no doubt that tiny house owners are increasing in number as years go by. Along with it is the surge in demand for alternative power sources to keep their humble abode up and running especially when they are on the road or in a place where grid-powered electricity is not available. Solar panels have become the popular choice when it comes to sustainable and reliable power source for many tiny house owners.
What is a Tiny House?
A tiny house is a full-fledged dwelling unit only that it is on a small scale. Typical tiny houses range between 100-400 square feet in size although there isn’t a set standard sizing at the moment. This small scale dwelling unit is considered an independent structure and comes in different types - some built on the ground, some parked on land, others are converted shipping containers, just to name a few.
Types of Tiny House
Tiny houses come in different shapes and sizes depending on the kind of lifestyle the homeowner would like to achieve. They are continuously evolving but let’s take a quick look at some of them.
- Shipping Container Home
- Recreational Vehicle (RV) / Park Model
- Tiny House on Wheels
- Tiny House on Foundation
- Skoolies
An increasing number of old school buses are now being converted to RV-style campers and they are called Skoolies. This type of tiny house is usually more affordable than an RV but more heavy duty and sturdy since well, its original purpose is to transport children to and from the school.
Tiny Houses in America
RVs have been in the United States as early as the 1920s but the tiny house movement, where other types of tiny houses have started to emerge in the community, began sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s.
The rising cost of living, downsizing, going off the grid, going green, for adventure and exploration - no matter what the reason is, it is undeniable that more and more Americans are leaving the traditional type of living and are shifting to the tiny house lifestyle.
Sustainable and Reliable Off-Grid Power Source for Tiny Houses
Tiny houses are generally low maintenance but that does not mean that they are not faced with challenges. One of the most vital things that a tiny house owner needs to consider is where to get the power from. Good news is that sustainable and reliable off-grid power sources are available in the market such as solar panels, wind turbines, micro hydro and geothermal pumps just to name a few.
Solar Panels are Tiny Houses’ Bestfriend
Speaking of tiny houses using alternative power sources for their homes, the use of solar panels is the most common and most preferred option of many. Aside from having a wide variety to choose from, solar energy is the most abundant and easiest to harness type of clean and renewable source of power there is on the planet, making it a great alternative power source.
Choosing the Right Solar Power System for Your Tiny House
Due to the growing demand of solar power systems, the market is now brimming with a lot of different options that can overwhelm a first time buyer. Below are very important points that should be considered when deciding which solar power system to get.
- Identify your Energy Requirements
- Consider Location of Panels
- Goal Setting
In order for you to maximize your chosen solar power system, you need to decide how you want to use the system. Majority of the tiny house owners' main goal is to be able to live off-grid and independent from any utility connection.
Nature’s Generator Solar Powered Systems
A reliable and trusted brand is imperative when choosing a solar powered system. Not only will this guarantee you a high quality product but it will also give you the peace of mind that they got your back should you need help in the future, may it be for maintenance, tech support or maintenance.
Currently, Nature’s Generator is one of the top and preferred suppliers of solar powered systems in the country. They offer a good selection of solar powered generators that are upgradeable and expandable. Below are the three default systems they offer to their customers and as mentioned earlier, all of them can be upgraded and expanded according to one’s requirements.
Nature’s Generator Gold Systems
The perfect companion for RV weekend campers or tiny house owners that have low energy requirements or just needing a boost in their main power source.
- 1800W - maximum output power
- Three 120V household AC outlets and 2 USB ports
- Monocrystalline solar panel
- Charging Method: AC outlet / solar panel / wind turbine (sold separately)
- Built-in 600V / 175 Amp expansion port for power pods
- Comes with a heavy duty cart for ease of transport
- One 100watt solar panel
- 50 foot long cable
Nature’s Generator Elite Gold Systems
This variant is great for tiny house owners who need twice as much power capacity than that of the Gold variety. Nature’s Generator Elite provides a whopping 3600W worth of power while maintaining its portability.
- 3600W - maximum output power
- Three 120V household AC outlets and 2 USB ports
- Monocrystalline solar panel
- Charging Method: AC outlet / solar panel / wind turbine (sold separately)
- Built-in 600V / 350 Amp expansion port for power pods
- Comes with a heavy duty cart for ease of transport
- Two 100watt solar panels
- 50 foot long cable
Nature’s Generator Powerhouse Gold System
This beast is the right choice for those who are looking for the best all-in-one home power solutions for their tiny house. Jampacked with a 7200W maximum power capacity, this means that it can power up almost any appliance, simultaneously even, in a tiny house.
- 7200W - maximum output power
- Three household AC outlets (2 120V and 1 240V), four USB ports and one 12V DC port
- Monocrystalline solar panel
- Charging Method: AC outlet / solar panel / wind turbine
- 350A Expansion Port
- Expandable and upgradeable - can add more solar panels, wind turbines, power pods, transfer switch, security cameras and more
- Two 410W solar panels
For more details and to get a free quote, feel free to contact us here.
Final Thoughts
Tiny houses are here to stay as more and more people shift to a simpler and downsized kind of lifestyle. Although there are several different reasons why people opt for this type of dwelling, the majority, if not all, of tiny house owners face the same dilemma - how to keep their homes powered up at all times. Thanks to solar panels, the tiny house community’s favorite alternative power source, the problem of where to harness power for their homes is solved. One just needs to make sure that they are getting right kind of solar power system for their energy requirements.
* We want to give credit where credit is due. Professional writer, Ann Mathew, contributed research and content to this blog titled: Solar Panels for Tiny Houses Thank you, Ann, for your contributions!
