s4solar.co.nz

23/12/2025

A very expensive towel rail…

19/11/2025

The mighty James from ElectraServe in Ashburton! Nice blue boxes on the wall!

12/01/2023

For off-grid systems the data show that the flatter the solar panels are the MORE they produce in overcast weather (which is when off grid systems struggle the most)… maybe it’s more exposure to the clouds (which diffuse the light evenly across the sky) or maybe it’s just magic…

In the “old-days” we would tilt the panels up to meet the Winter sun but that was when panels cost $5-20 / watt. . . Now days it’s better to throw as much PV on the roof that will fit … and who cares about the angle?

What do you think?

The photo is a tracking system that goes pretty much horizontal in overcast weather… go figure!

07/03/2020

Lithium and Lead - lithium batteries are still expensive and the high powered ones are few and far between. Here is a replacement of Hoppecke (Germany’s finest) Lead Acid and Freedom Won (built tough in South Africa)...

Lithium Technology has come a long way in the last 5 years or so. This high quality Lead Acid battery bank from Hoppecke is being replaced with Lithium Iron ...

05/11/2019

This array is around 40 years old and still delivering power, and at around $10-15k original buy price it is probably close to paying itself off by now!!

05/11/2019

NZ = paradise!

I’m always thankful when I have to “work” in places like this!

21/04/2019

Serious Off Grid Power :)

13/03/2019

Change is refreshing!

The energy industry is changing and so is the name of this page...

To help: We specialise in Off Grid Solar Power Systems in New Zealand. So, come up with the most awesome name and if we use it for this page then you will win a solar panel (270 watts minimum - NZ only)

Let’s hear some creative off grid names!

23/02/2019

Great to see Nissan also working on this essential piece of out energy future puzzle. Everyone is asking about V2H - my answer is “be patient, it’s very close”. I currently in touch with 4 NZ companies and individuals working on various aspects of this.

Very exciting being part of this perfect storm as PV, Storage, Energy Management, EVs and the Transactive Smart Grid all converge at the same time.

Nissan has created a vision to make electric vehicles even more useful to customers by introducing new convenient ways to utilize their batteries' ability to store and share energy.

17/01/2019

Would YOU be interested in attending a free Off-Grid Solar Information evening? We are thinking about starting them up again... NZ only ... just comment “YES” with your region or the closest main city you’d be willing to attend. 👍