Solar Generation
~$700–1,0002 × 400W gives ~800W peak — well matched to the 40A MPPT. Buy panels locally to avoid freight damage.
Solar Panels 400W Mono PERC DIY mount
× 2 — Risen, Jinko or Canadian Solar. Buy locally to avoid freight damage on glass panels.
$280–350
each
Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/40
Handles 2 × 400W. Bluetooth built-in, VictronConnect app. 12V/24V auto-detect.
$250–290
each
MC4 Y-branch Connectors (pair)
Parallel your 2 panels before the MPPT. Buy quality — cheap MC4s corrode in Queensland weather.
$15–25
pair
Solar PV Cable 6mm² red + black (per 5m)
UV-rated, double-insulated. Roof to MPPT run. Size up, not down — heat kills cable.
$20–30
per 5m
Battery Storage
~$1,000–1,6002 × 100Ah = 200Ah / ~2.4kWh usable at 80% DoD. LiFePO4 only — AGM is dead weight for a cabin build.
LiFePO4 100Ah 12V Battery with BMS
× 2 — Epoch, Ampere Time, or Battle Born. Ensure BMS is rated for parallel. 4000+ cycles, 10-year lifespan.
$500–800
each
ANL Fuse Holder + 100A Fuse
Main overcurrent protection inline on positive cable between battery and bus. Blue Sea or Victron.
$35–50
set
Battery Interconnect Cable 50mm² (300mm)
Flexible tinned copper with lugs. Connects two batteries in parallel. Pre-made is fine.
$25–40
each
Battery Cable 50mm² red + black (per metre)
Battery to inverter and bus bar. Keep these runs as short as physically possible.
$12–18
per m
Inverter / Charger
~$550–700MultiPlus is inverter + battery charger combined. If you ever add a generator or grid tie, it passthrough charges too.
Victron MultiPlus-II 12/800/35 recommended
800VA continuous, 1600VA surge. Handles power tool startup. Pure sine wave. Inverter + charger in one unit.
$550–700
each
DC Distribution
~$150–220Fuse every circuit at source — this is your safety layer on the DC side. No RCDs needed here, fuses only.
Blue Sea 5026 ST Blade Fuse Block (12-circuit)
12-way fused distribution with common bus. Cover included. Industry standard for off-grid installs.
$70–90
each
Negative Bus Bar (6–10 terminal)
Common negative return for all 12V circuits. Mount near fuse block. Keeps everything tidy and testable.
$20–35
each
Blade Fuse Assortment ATC/ATO 5–30A
Buy a 100-piece mixed kit. You'll use 7.5A, 10A, 15A, 20A across different circuits.
$15–20
kit
Lug / Ring Terminal Kit (4–50mm²)
Copper tinned, various sizes. Get a ratchet crimper — hammer crimps fail in vibration and heat.
$25–40
kit
Battery Monitor
~$160–200Victron BMV-712 Smart essential
State of charge, amps in/out, time remaining, full history. Bluetooth to app. Flying blind without it.
$160–200
each
240V AC Sub-board
~$150–250Materials only — sparky installs off the inverter AC output. Labour ~$500–800 on top. Don't skip the RCD.
4-Way Consumer Unit Clipsal or Hager licensed
Small DIN rail enclosure. Your sparky will spec the exact model. Mount near the inverter.
$60–90
each
30mA RCD Clipsal or Hager licensed
Protects all 240V circuits off the inverter. Non-negotiable — trips if you touch something live.
$55–80
each
10A MCB Circuit Breaker × 2 licensed
One per GPO circuit. Clipsal or Hager to match the board. Sparky confirms exact rating.
$20–30
each
Clipsal Double GPO 10A × 2 licensed
240V power points off the inverter. One near the bench, one near the door. Iconic or Saturn range.
$20–35
each
12V Lighting
~$150–280All lighting native 12V DC — zero inverter draw. 2700K only, not 4000K. Cabin lighting should feel warm, not clinical.
12V LED Downlights 5W warm white × 4
2700K. Surface mount easier in timber framing. 4 lights = 20W total draw — barely registers.
$15–25
each
12V PWM Dimmer Switch × 2
Wall-mount or in-line. One for main lights, one for bench/task area. Get 8A rated minimum.
$20–35
each
12V LED Strip 2700K warm white (5m roll)
Under bench, shelf accent, or porch soffit. IP20 inside, IP65 under eaves. Low draw, high ambience.
$30–50
roll
12V LED Strip PWM Dimmer Controller
Separate dimmer for the strip lights. In-line rotary or wall panel. Keep independent of downlight circuit.
$15–25
each
12V Outlets & USB
~$100–180USB-C outlets run direct off the 12V bus — phones, tablets, laptops. No inverter draw for daily charging.
Flush Mount USB-C + USB-A Dual Outlet × 3 key item
NARVA, Projecta or Merit Pro. USB-C PD minimum 18W. Near bed, bench, and entry. Panel-cut flush install.
$30–45
each
12V Accessory Socket Anderson/cig style × 1
For portable 12V gear — air compressor, portable fridge, etc. Flush or surface mount.
$15–25
each
Anderson SB50 Connector + Housing (external)
Outside the cabin for direct battery top-up from a solar trailer or second vehicle. Very useful off-grid.
$15–25
each
Wiring & Cable
~$150–250Buy more than you think you need. Voltage drop is your enemy at 12V — size up, never down.
4mm² Twin-Core Sheathed Cable (per 10m)
Fridge, Starlink adapter, fan — any circuit drawing over 10A or running more than 3m. Buy 20–30m minimum.
$30–45
per 10m
2.5mm² Twin-Core Sheathed Cable (per 10m)
Lighting circuits, USB outlets. Buy 20m minimum. Don't go thinner — voltage drop at 12V is real.
$20–30
per 10m
Heat Shrink Assortment Kit
All joins get heat shrink. No exposed terminals. Get multisize 3:1 ratio kit — covers everything from 2.5mm to 50mm.
$15–25
kit
Cable Conduit + Clips
Split loom under floor. PVC oval conduit for exposed wall runs. Cable clips for stapling twin-core to framing.
$30–50
lot
Ratchet Crimping Tool 4–50mm²
If you don't have one. Hammer crimps fail. A ratchet crimper is $40 you use for the rest of your life.
$35–55
each
Water System
~$600–900Tank → 12V pump → cabin. Joolca for hot water on demand. Licensed gas fitter for the LPG connection only.
Shurflo 2088 12V Pressure Pump
Self-priming, pressure-switch controlled. 11.3L/min. Workhorse of off-grid water. Strainer included.
$120–160
each
Accumulator Tank 0.75L
Stops pump rapid cycling, smooths pressure. Small, cheap, makes the pump last years longer.
$35–55
each
Joolca Hottap 2.0 Portable Hot Water gas fitter
LPG, 12V fan ignition, 3.5L/min. Hang outside near the shower. No wall plumbing, no hot water system in the walls.
$380–420
each
20mm PN12.5 Poly Pipe (per 10m)
Tank to cabin. UV stable. Bury 300mm under any vehicle path, surface clip elsewhere.
$20–30
per 10m
15mm PEX Pipe + Push Fittings (internal)
Internal supply from pump to sink and shower cold feed. Easier than copper in a timber cabin build.
$50–80
lot
Connectivity
~$750–900Starlink Gen 3 + Cowfish Cosmo = full connectivity direct from your 12V bank. No inverter in this loop at all.
Starlink Standard Kit (Gen 3) key item
~$599 hardware, ~$139/mo Regional plan. Works everywhere in SE Qld. Clear sky view — no trees on the horizon.
~$599
hardware
Cowfish Technologies Cosmo — 12V Starlink Gen 3 Adapter key item
Powers Starlink Gen 3 directly from your 12V battery — no inverter required. Lower draw than a 240V inverter setup. Purpose-built Australian product.
~$120–180
each
Consumables & Tools
~$60–100Cable Ties Assorted (pack of 100)
You will never have enough. Black UV-rated for external, white inside. Get both packs.
$10–15
pack
Self-Amalgamating Tape × 2 rolls
Weatherproof any outdoor cable joint. MC4 connectors, pump inlet, external runs. Sticks to itself, no mess.
$10–15
each
Dielectric Grease (small tube)
On every DC terminal before you torque it. Stops corrosion for years — especially anything near weather.
$8–12
tube
DC Clamp Meter (KAIWEETS or Uni-T)
Measures DC amps without breaking the circuit. Invaluable for commissioning and fault-finding. Under $50.
$35–55
each