❄️ AGM's real advantage over lithium isn't price anymore — it's cold weather. Standard lithium batteries can't safely
charge below freezing without a built-in heater, while AGM has no such restriction. If you're doing winter off-grid
or cold-weather use, that's the reason to pick AGM, not just budget.
Wiring & installation parts
the parts people forget — sized to your system
These are starting points based on your numbers, not a substitute for checking your local electrical code or
consulting an electrician — actual wire gauge also depends on run length, ambient temperature, and how the
manufacturer rates their equipment.
Solar vs. generator
what it costs to make the same power
Running a generator to cover the same energy use costs real money — both to buy and to keep fueling.
Pick how you'd actually use one, and adjust the numbers to match your own gear and local fuel price:
A long break-even here isn't a strike against solar — it just means you don't use a generator often enough for
cost alone to justify the switch. For occasional use, the case for solar is less about the math above
and more about not hauling, storing, or running a loud generator for a couple of trips a year.
This compares the generator's purchase price (if buying new) plus ongoing fuel against the matched system's
one-time price — it doesn't include engine maintenance, noise, or the solar system's eventual battery
replacement. Generators still win on portability and not needing sun; solar/battery wins on ongoing cost and
quiet, hands-off operation. Worth weighing both.