Off-Grid Tiny Home Living

Tiny Home Solar Systems: Sizing and Mounting Basics

How to size and mount solar panels for a tiny house, including roof and ground options.

Estimate your panel count

Divide your daily watt-hours by the local peak sun hours and add a margin for system losses. That gives the array size you need in watts.

Local data from sources like NREL tools helps you use realistic sun-hour numbers.

Roof or ground mount

Roof mounts save space but can shade or add weight to a trailer. Ground mounts can be aimed precisely and moved, which suits tiny homes on wheels that park in different spots.

Wiring series vs parallel

Series and parallel configurations affect voltage and current, and your charge controller has limits for each. Check the controller manual before you wire.

Maintenance

Clean panels periodically and inspect connectors. Output losses are often caused by shade and loose terminals rather than failing panels.

Gear and reading worth a look

Keep reading

• Off-Grid Tiny Home Power: A Beginner's Roadmap
• Tiny Home Batteries and Inverters Explained
• Composting Toilets for Tiny Homes: What to Know
• Tiny Home Water Systems: Supply, Storage and Filtration
• Heating and Cooling a Tiny Home Efficiently

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