Is DIY Off-Grid Advisor free to use?

Yes. The Scout plan is completely free — no credit card required. You can create builds, run the load calculator, use all the standalone tools, and join the community at no cost.

What off-grid systems does it support?

DIY Off-Grid Advisor supports vans, caravans, RVs, 4WDs, boats, cabins, sheds, and remote properties. It handles 12V, 24V, and 48V systems.

How does the Component Wizard work?

You enter your loads (appliances and usage hours), your location (for real sun hours), and your system type. The wizard then recommends the right battery bank, solar panels, MPPT controller, inverter, and DC-DC charger — all sized for your exact setup. It also generates a wiring diagram and PDF report.

Do I need electrical experience to use it?

No. The platform includes a full beginner-friendly knowledge base — Electrical 101, How-To guides, Troubleshooting, and a Glossary — so you can learn as you build. The tools are designed to guide you step by step.

DIY Off-Grid Advisor

Community Hub

The living heart of off-grid building

The social heart of off-grid building. Debates, upgrade reveals, lessons learned, live events, verified builds, and leaderboards — all in one place.

Click here to share something — this is the main action for the Community hub.

10912%

Posts

Questions, debates, lessons & wins from builders worldwide

1.2k+8%

Members

Active builders sharing builds, answering questions, connecting

015%

Builds

Verified system builds with health scores and component lists

023%

This Week

Community answers given this week — 94% get a reply within 4h

Events

Builder Events

AMAs, live builds, meetups, and workshops — learn from builders in real time

AMAIn 2 days47/100 attending

MPPT Sizing Deep Dive — Ask Marcus Anything

Marcus T. (Victron certified, 312 answers) will spend an hour answering your MPPT sizing questions. Bring your panel specs, he'll do the math live.

Marcus T.Verified Installer

Sat, 2 May · 19:00 AEST60 min47 attending

MPPTSolarSizingVictron

Reminder set

Live BuildUpcoming

Live Build: Sarah Wires Her 24V Sprinter Inverter

Watch SolarSarah install a 3000W Victron MultiPlus in real time. She'll explain every connection, every fuse, every decision. Ask questions in chat.

SolarSarah_WATop Contributor

Sun, 26 Apr · 14:00 AWST90 min128 attending

InverterWiringVan24VLive

Reminder set

MeetupUpcoming23/40 attending

Melbourne Vanlifers — Monthly Catchup

Casual meetup at The Crafty Squire. Bring photos of your build, swap stories, find an installer recommendation. All builds welcome — vans, utes, trailers.

VanLifeMikeCommunity Expert

Sun, 10 May · 18:30 AEST2 hours23 attending

MeetupVanMelbourneSocial

Reminder set

WorkshopPast Event89/100 attending

Cable Sizing Workshop — From Theory to Practice

Priya M. walks through cable sizing for every major component in a typical van build. Bring your own specs and she'll check them. Worksheets provided.

Priya M.Top Contributor

Mon, 20 Apr · 10:00 AEST90 min89 attending

WiringWorkshopSafetyCable

AMAPast Event