I didn't start out as a solar guy. I spent years in information technology — running servers, managing networks, operating my own small network operations center in the Greenspoint area of Houston. I understood systems, redundancy, and what happens when critical infrastructure fails.
When I made the decision to move my ministry and media network out to our homestead about 40 miles north of Houston, I knew I needed reliable power. Not just to save on the electric bill — though I could already see those rates climbing — but because real redundancy matters when your work depends on it.
"I could see the writing on the wall. Electric rates going up, up, up. And I needed to build something that wouldn't let me down."
I started learning the way most of us do — YouTube. Will Prowse, a handful of other trusted voices. Then one day I saw an ad from Signature Solar. They had an EG4 6000XP on sale along with some batteries. I'd heard mixed things about their support department, but I pulled the trigger anyway.
The equipment sat in the corner for about a month. Then we got notice of a tropical storm headed our way. That night, I figured I should probably charge those batteries — just in case. The storm strengthened into a hurricane.
So there I was — in the middle of a hurricane — wiring up the EG4 6000XP and six server rack batteries in my living room.
After the storm passed, trees were down everywhere. We had no grid power for about a week. I ran a small generator to keep some battery charge going. And that was the moment it became real for me — not just a project, but a necessity.
When I finally needed technical support, I reached out to Signature Solar and spoke with a rep named Dakota. Patient, calm, genuinely explanative. That conversation was the beginning of a real partnership — and a growing confidence that this was something I could actually do, and that others could too.
We were burning down some brush on the property when the fire grew out of control. At the exact same moment, our water well stopped working. By the grace of God, the property didn't burn. I held the edges of that fire with a shovel.
Come to find out — the Phase 2 connection from our meter to the breaker box had shorted out at the worst possible moment, cutting power to our water pump right when we needed it most.
"The grid didn't fail at the pole. It failed right at our connection — right when we needed the water pump most. That wildfire could have taken everything. That experience changed everything for me."
One Saturday morning I woke up with an overwhelming desire to drive four hours to Signature Solar's store in Sulphur Springs, Texas. I met their manager Clay — a man with a wealth of knowledge and a genuine heart to help people on their solar journey.
I picked up some solar panels, a battery cage, and a few more items. On a whim, I asked if I could film a walk-through interview of the store. He said yes.
Off-Grid Solar Living was born that day.
Since then — through trade shows, hands-on builds, real failures and real wins — we've come a long way. Two EG4 inverter systems fully installed. A shed-to-house conversion. Thousands of miles of learning the hard way so you don't have to.
A note on transparency
Yes — our main house runs on off-grid inverters but occasionally pulls from the utility grid when we need to charge during extended cloudy periods. Our shed conversion is 100% off-grid. Both are valid. Both are wins. There's no solar purity test here. Every kilowatt you generate yourself is a step in the right direction — and we'll never make you feel otherwise.
This site exists to share what we've learned — honestly, practically, and without gatekeeping. Whether you're a complete beginner or you've been building solar systems for years, you are equally welcome here.
Ready to start your own journey?
Head to our Start Here page. We'll help you figure out where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there — one step at a time.
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