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.
Both home and business were 100% powered by the time tested equipment described in the catalog: 85% by the sun, with wind and a back-up generator covering the balance in snowy winter months. In 2004, Steve and Elizabeth retired, and David Katz and Scott Gentleman took over the company. They moved the business out of the home to a facility just a couple of miles down the road.
Both home and business were 100% powered by the time tested equipment described in the catalog: 85% by the sun, with wind and a back-up generator covering the balance in snowy winter months. In 2004, Steve and Elizabeth retired, and David Katz and Scott Gentleman took over the company. They moved the business out of the home to a facility just a couple of miles down the road.
Services
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.
Catalog request
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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