ExploringWhat This Site Is
ExploringOffgrid is a small, independently run site of buying guides for homes and rigs that make their own power, pump their own water and burn their own heat: solar and batteries, wells and filtration, composting toilets, wood and propane heat, and off-grid communication.
We are upfront about what the guides are. They are research summaries, not lab reviews. We do not run a test facility and we do not claim to have installed or used every product we recommend. Picks come from manufacturer specifications and manuals, safety listings, the live product listing, and patterns in what owners report after months of use. Where a recommendation rests on that kind of evidence, which is most of them, that is what it is.
Who Writes the Guides
Guides are published under the house byline Wade Ellison, a pen name rather than a public personality. Every guide is written, checked against its sources and updated under that name.
A note on safety
Off-grid systems involve electricity, fuel, gas and water. Our content is educational, not a substitute for a licensed electrician, plumber or local code. Always follow manufacturer instructions and local regulations when installing power, propane, wood-burning or water systems.
How a Guide Is Put Together
1. Define the job. A 200-watt panel for a van is a different decision than a 5kW cabin system, so each guide starts from a concrete off-grid use case.
2. Check the specs. Capacity, output, materials and certifications are taken from manufacturer documentation and the listing, and we say when a figure is the brand's own claim.
3. Screen for problems. We leave out products with no reachable warranty support or with repeated, specific failure reports from owners.
4. Confirm availability. Every pick is checked as live and buyable before publishing, and dead listings are replaced when we find them.
How We Use AI Tools
We use AI-assisted tools for research, drafting and organizing data. Every pick, spec and claim is checked against primary sources before publication.
Fewer, Better Guides
In October 2026 we merged overlapping guides (for example, separate pages for AGM, marine and deep cycle batteries now live in one deep cycle battery guide) and stopped promoting guides that drifted away from off-grid living. We would rather keep a smaller set of guides accurate and current than publish more of them.
How We Make Money
The site is funded through the Amazon Associates program: if you buy through one of our links, we earn a commission and you pay the same price. Picks are chosen before links are added, and no brand can pay for placement.
Corrections
Found an error, a discontinued product or a broken link? Let us know through our contact page with the article URL and the issue.