Getting started

We're an off-grid power specialist at 15 View Road, Henderson, Auckland - inverters, deep-cycle batteries (AGM and lead-carbon), solar panels, MPPT controllers, DC-DC chargers, mains chargers, DC converters, cabling/lugs/fuses, battery boxes and ground mounts, for off-grid homes, vehicles and boats.

Both, and we'd rather design the whole system. The single biggest mistake people make is speccing one component against the one thing it's plugged into. The energy system will perform better if designed as a whole. One example is you need balance generation against consumption; the battery is only a temporary buffer between the two.

That's the "I have this, what should I get?" trap. There are many places where a system can fail, so we check the design from each of those viewpoints - generation, storage, conversion, cabling and the loads - so it can actually work and it is possible to meet your expectations.

A good starting point is: whether your loads are AC or DC (if DC Voltage what is the voltage 12/24/48V), a list of appliances with watts, how many hours a day and days a year you use them, your charging source (solar/alternator/turbine/mains), and any space or weight restrictions.

Watts is power (how hard the load pulls at a point in time); amp-hours is the unit for a quantity of energy; it is used do measure a battery's stored capacity. Confusing the two - or amps with amp-hours - is the single most common mistake we see on chat.

Know your loads first then add up the most watt-hours you would use in a day (watts × hours), divide by battery voltage for amp-hours. There are multiple variables in play here such as battery chemistry, the time of day you are charging, the time of day you are running your loads, how often you are running the system and to what level of certainty are you needing the power. A Waveinverter consultant will talk through this complex part with you.

Higher voltage means lower current for the same power, so thinner, cheaper cable can be used and power electronics like chargers and inverters can use smaller less expensive components. Though lower voltage equipment is more common and the electrical safety is less demanding. Generally, if designed in advanced smaller systems will be of lower voltage and larger system will be of higher voltage.

Not usually on a pure dollar basis if the grid is already installed or is at your gate; off-grid wins where a new grid connection is expensive. We help you assess and right size your solution so you're not paying for capacity you never use.

Both. Our website Live chat and email are quickest for parts lists and quotes; ring (09) 447 1234 for a proper sizing conversation or if you like just talking to a human being.

Yes - the business is backed by degree-qualified engineers and a service centre, and we supply energy systems and componentry for government, corporate, and private use.

Yes, 15 View Road, Henderson, Auckland, during business hours, and you can collect online orders here - choose "Pickup from store (Henderson)" at checkout.

Nine times out of ten "no add to cart" means the item is out of stock; the pickup option only appears once you've entered a street address in the billing details. Message us and we'll sort it.

Start with your loads, not the solar panels or other shiny box. Tell us what you want to run and for how long, and we work backwards to generation and storage from there.