## No grid. No problem.
Our camp in Vermont is fully off-grid - no power lines, no generator droning away in the background. Everything runs on the sun: lights, outlets, phone charging, even the Starlink Mini that keeps us connected (on a timer, so it sips power instead of gulping it). Guests book it on Airbnb and get the full off-grid experience without giving up the essentials.
People ask all the time what it takes to do this. The honest answer: less than you'd think, as long as you size it right and buy gear that actually lasts through a Vermont winter. Most of the kit below is Renogy - one ecosystem, everything talks to everything else - with one deliberate exception on the batteries (explained below). It's all available on Amazon.
Book our off-grid camp on Airbnb →
## The complete kit
### 1. Solar panels: Renogy 200W 12V Monocrystalline (x2)
Two 200W monocrystalline panels gives you 400W of collection - enough to recharge the battery bank on a decent Vermont day and keep up with lights, devices, and the Starlink. Monocrystalline matters up here: better low-light performance for those gray November afternoons. Around $146 each - might have changed a bit, check the live page.
*Budget shortcut: the Renogy 200W Solar Starter Kit bundles one 200W panel with the 40A Rover MPPT controller, Z brackets, and cables in a single box.*
### 2. Charge controller: Renogy Rover 40A MPPT with Bluetooth
This is the brain of the system. The Rover 40A is an MPPT controller (not PWM - MPPT squeezes roughly 20-30% more power from your panels, which matters in short winter days). It handles 12V or 24V banks automatically, takes up to 100V from the panels, and the Bluetooth module lets you watch everything from your phone. Around $176 - might have changed a bit, check the live page.
### 3. Batteries: VEVOR 12V 200Ah AGM Deep Cycle (x2)
Two of these gives you 400Ah of AGM storage. Here's the thing about lithium in Vermont: LiFePO4 batteries can't safely charge below freezing, and our camp cabin isn't heated when we're not there. AGM (absorbed glass mat) lead-acid doesn't care - it charges fine in the cold, needs zero maintenance, and won't punish you for a winter of neglect. Run them to about 50% depth of discharge and they'll last for years. They're heavy (about 117 lbs each), so plan your battery box accordingly.
*Price might have changed a bit - check the live page.*
### 4. Inverter: Renogy P2 2000W 12V Pure Sine Wave
Turns battery power into clean 120V AC for anything you'd plug into a wall. 2,000W continuous (4,000W surge) covers lights, laptops, a small fridge, power tools for short bursts. Pure sine wave - not modified - so it won't fry sensitive electronics or make your Starlink unhappy. Usually around $270-330 - might have changed a bit, check the live page.
### 5. Battery monitor: Renogy 500A Battery Monitor with Shunt
A shunt-based monitor tells you exactly what's going in and out of your batteries - state of charge, current draw, time remaining. Guessing is how you kill batteries; this is how you don't. The 500A shunt handles the full system with room to spare. Often on sale around $37 (list ~$80) - might have changed a bit, check the live page.
### 6. Mounting: Renogy Z Brackets (2 sets)
Simple aluminum Z brackets bolt the panels to your roof or a ground mount. Renogy recommends two sets per 200W panel (one set is rated for panels up to 150W), so grab two sets for a two-panel array. All hardware included. Usually around $10-15 per set - might have changed a bit, check the live page.
## What this runs
Sized like this, the system comfortably handles LED lighting, phone and laptop charging, a Starlink Mini on a timer, a small 12V fridge, and occasional power tool use. It's the same class of setup keeping our camp running right now - quiet, maintenance-free, and no monthly electric bill.
## More favorites coming
I'll keep adding to this page over time - the little things that make off-grid camp life work. Everything I recommend is something I'd buy again.
### 12V marine dome lights
These RVZONE stainless steel dome lights run straight off the 12V system - white for normal use, red for nighttime (red doesn't kill your night vision). I put them in the camp and they sip power.
RVZONE 12V Marine Dome Light, 7" stainless steel, white/red →
*Around $47 - check the live page, price might have changed a bit.*
### WiFi battery monitor
This one's the remote eyes on the system. It shows voltage, current, watts and state of charge on a color LCD, and the WiFi lets me check the batteries from my phone - handy when the camp's sitting empty and I want to make sure the panels are keeping up.
WiFi Battery Monitor 10-100V with remote app →
*Around $49 - check the live page, price might have changed a bit.*
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*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Yeah, I might make a few cents if you buy through these links - but everything I'm saying about these products is true. Prices change, so check the live Amazon page for today's price.*