This hut is at a very remote location high up on an escarpment.

The hut is used by mountain bikers and hikers enjoying a multi-day ride or walk on the South Island’s west coast.   Two solar panels mounted on the pitched roof supply power to a pair of Narada 6V 6REXC-300 batteries.

The hut can sleep 18 and has shared cooking facilities.  Power is used for an emergency phone, outdoor cameras, weather station, 4G router and network equipment.

Many other remote back country tramping and hunting huts have an even simpler setup. Where only basic power facilities are required and everything can run directly off 12V (lights, USB charge points, radio and even a water pump if required) there is no requirement for an inverter and couple of 6REXC-300 batteries provide easily enough power with 400 to 600 watts of panels.

Such huts are often used heavily for short periods (e.g. weekends) or at peak times (summer holidays) so having a battery bank that can handle deep discharge when required without damage is paramount.  A period of lower or no occupation gives a chance for the batteries to get fully charged again.  Narada lead-carbon batteries are ideal for this.  The Narada 5 year warranty covers the batteries for an average discharge of 65% which is a far deeper discharge level than other types of lead-acid technology batteries are warranted for.

Some keen hunters have even carried in a pair of these batteries to their huts – an admirable feat when you consider the 6REXC-300 batteries weigh 61kg each!

Typical setup for a remote hut

400 to 600 watts of solar panels (2 panels in series)
MPPT 30 or 40 amp solar controller
2 x REXC-300 batteries in series (3.6kWh capacity)
USB charging points (12V to 5V in-built units)
LED lights (10W)
USB powered 4G router for local Wifi via 4G
12V fridge or cool box for use only while occupied

Approximate Costings

2 x 200 watt solar panels $450
2 x 6REXC-300 batteries $1560
30amp MPPT charge controller $200
2 x 12V dual USB power sockets $40
LED lights 12V $60
USB powered 4G Wifi router  $90
Cables, breakers etc $120

Total costs (excl. fridge)   $2520

Download technical documentation of the Narada 6REXC-300 battery here: 6REXC-300