Issue #3
Hey friend,
Let’s talk power—solar power, to be exact.
One of the top questions we hear from folks planning to go tiny and off-grid is:
How much solar do I actually need?
And it’s a good one. Because whether you’re powering a laptop and fridge or planning to run tools, lights, and a water pump, your setup has to match your lifestyle. Too little power and you’ll be frustrated. Too much, and you’ll overspend.
This week, we’ll walk you through how to figure out what you need—and how to make solar work for you.
But first, here’s your…

🛠️ Tip of the Week
Track your power use before you build your system.
You can buy a Kill-A-Watt meter ($20–30) and plug in each device to see exactly how much power it draws. It's a great tool for planning and avoiding surprises.

If you’re done thinking about going tiny and your ready to step into a more peaceful way of life, we’re ready to invite you to come live in the Rio Grande Estates Tiny Home Community here in The Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Bring your off-grid ready tiny home on wheels or come live in one of our cozy container homes. Send us an email and tell us a little bit about where you are on your tiny living journey and we’ll work with you to make tiny home living a reality for you. Here’s our email address: [email protected].

🔋 Figuring Out Your Solar Needs
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a degree in electrical engineering. You just need a clear picture of your daily energy use and a few basic numbers.
Let’s break it down.
✅ Step 1: Know What You’re Powering
Make a list of what you plan to use every day. Here’s a sample of common items:
Appliance | Watts (avg) | Hours/Day | Watt-Hours/Day |
LED lights (6 bulbs) | 60 | 4 | 240 |
Laptop | 50 | 5 | 250 |
Mini Fridge | 70 | 24 | 840 |
Phone charger | 10 | 2 | 20 |
Water pump | 60 | 1 | 60 |
👉 Total: ~1,410 watt-hours/day
That’s 1.41 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.
✅ Step 2: Choose the Right Solar Setup
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
100 watts of solar panels will generate about 400–600 watt-hours/day, depending on your location and sun exposure.
So if you need 1.4 kWh per day, aim for:
3–4 solar panels at 100 watts each (or one large 400W panel)
A battery bank with at least 2 kWh of storage
An inverter rated for your total wattage (e.g., 1000–1500W)
☀️ Bonus: A Few More Quick Valuable Things To Consider
Oversize your battery bank if you plan to go multiple cloudy days without backup power.
Tilt and clean your panels regularly to get the most from them.
Use energy-efficient appliances—they stretch your solar budget a lot farther.
Your solar setup doesn’t need to be fancy—it just needs to work for you. Whether you're aiming for full-time off-grid or weekend escapes, building the right system starts with knowing your real needs and working from there.
And remember: solar isn’t just about panels. It’s about freedom. It’s about unplugging from systems that don’t serve you, and reconnecting to a life that does.
Now, go be a shining example for others to follow,
Your Friendz at Trendz

The Ultimate Guide to Living a
Sustainable, Off Grid, Tiny Home Lifestyle
If you’re serious about living a sustainable, off grid, tiny home lifestyle, but you’re not sure where to start or even if you know a lot and you want to be sure what you know is accurate, we’ve got you covered.
This full color, deeply researched completely comprehensive guide leaves no stone unturned. It will not only increase your knowledge about what it takes to go tiny, it will catapult your confidence too.
We should be charging $100 for this 8 ½ x 11 inch, 30+ page, step-by-step guide to go from city-dweller to off grid expert. However, because you are a part of this community that is serious about sustainable, off grid tiny home living it’s yours for only $10.
Click HERE to download it instantly.

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