Generators for Off-Grid & Remote Properties
Most off-grid properties are designed around solar and batteries. Most of the time, that works well. The problem comes when the weather turns, the days get short, the batteries have been drawn down, and people still want to live normally.
Our generator systems are
- Sized around real site loads and battery charging requirements
- Properly integrated with Victron inverter/chargers
- Available in diesel, gasoline or propane, depending on actual operating duty
- Configured for manual, remote, or automatic starting
- Set up to charge batteries efficiently without overloading the generator
- Designed for solar, battery, generator, wind and micro-hydro systems to work together
If you'd like to schedule a consultation to discuss your off-grid solar system please fill out our online estimate request form and we'll get right back to you.
Generator Sizing Matters
Bigger is not always better!
An oversized diesel generator that spends its life lightly loaded wastes fuel, builds carbon, and can create reliability problems. A generator that is too small cannot carry normal loads and charge the battery bank properly. Victron inverter/chargers make generator sizing more practical. They supply the house loads while directing unused generator capacity into battery charging. Input-current limits protect the generator, while PowerAssist lets the battery help with short heavy loads instead of forcing the generator to be oversized for every possible peak demand. For diesel, we generally want the generator doing meaningful work when it runs—often roughly 70–80% of practical capacity during charging, including site loads. Propane generators are normally treated more conservatively, commonly around 50–60%, depending on the engine and package.
Diesel, Propane, or Gasoline: Which Is Right?
- Diesel is usually the best choice when a generator will see regular runtime, charge a substantial battery bank, or support a full-time remote property. Diesel fuel has high energy density, diesel engines are thermally efficient, and a properly built 1,800 RPM liquid-cooled unit can run for many thousands of hours when maintained. Diesel also makes sense where fuel is already being delivered for site equipment. The trade-off is higher upfront cost, more weight, and the need to keep stored fuel clean and dry.
- Propane is a good fit for occasional standby use, especially at seasonal cabins. It stores indefinitely and avoids the fuel-degradation problems of gasoline or diesel. The limitation is that most smaller propane generators are 3,600 RPM air-cooled units: affordable and useful for intermittent service, but not ideal for long regular charging runs. Propane also carries less energy per litre than diesel, so longer runtime requires more stored fuel. Delivery can be more involved at a remote site.
- Gasoline makes sense at the small end of the market. A quality inverter generator—particularly a Honda—with an extended-run fuel tank is quiet, portable, easy to transport, and straightforward to service. It is a great option for a small cabin, temporary backup, or a system that only needs occasional assistance. Gasoline is less suitable for long-term bulk storage and serious daily generator duty, but for smaller loads it is often the simplest and most practical solution.
Generator Integration & Control
A proper generator system is more than a generator and a transfer switch. It needs charging settings, start controls, electrical protection, fuel planning, and commissioning so that the generator, inverter, battery bank, and renewable charging sources all work together. Integration bullets
- Manual, remote, or automatic generator start
- Generator start based on battery state of charge, voltage, load, or alarms
- Charging limits matched to the generator’s actual capability
- Electrical distribution and transfer equipment suited to the property
- Solar, battery, generator, wind and micro-hydro integration
- Remote monitoring through Victron VRM where internet is available
Do You Have Questions About Generator Systems?
Do you have questions about diesel backup generators that weren't answered here? Please give us a call (250) 228-0863 or fill out our online estimate request form and we'll get right back to you.
