Renogy 2.5kW Essential Plus Kit

The Renogy 2.5kW Essential Plus Kit is a packaged off-grid power system for cabins and tiny homes. It combines a 2,560W solar array (eight 320W N-type monocrystalline panels), a 20.48kWh lithium iron phosphate battery bank, and a 48V 3500W pure sine wave solar inverter charger with the combiner box, circuit breakers, and cabling needed to connect them. OffGrid Horizon is a family-owned authorized Renogy dealer serving the US market.

Who This Kit Is For

This kit suits full-time or seasonal off-grid cabins, tiny homes, and homesteads that need to run daily essentials — refrigeration, lighting, water pumping, electronics, and small appliances — without a grid connection. It is designed as a coordinated system, so it fits builders who want matched components and included electrical protection rather than piecing parts together. It is not sized for central air conditioning, electric ranges, or electric heating; loads must stay within the inverter charger's 3,500W continuous rating.

Key Features

• 2,560W solar array: eight 320W N-type monocrystalline panels with 22.2% module efficiency, per Renogy.
• 20.48kWh LiFePO4 storage: eight 12V 200Ah Core Mini lithium batteries rated for 5,000 cycles (80% DOD, 80% EOL), per Renogy.
• 48V 3500W pure sine wave solar inverter charger: greater than 95% peak efficiency, up to 4,400W PV input (150V max), and up to 40A AC charging from shore power or a generator, per Renogy.
• Electrical protection included: 5-string solar combiner box, DC miniature circuit breakers, DC circuit breaker box, and a 160A 2P molded case circuit breaker.
• Pre-sized cabling: PV adaptor kits, battery interconnects, and inverter cables are supplied so the main power connections are covered.
• App monitoring: BT-2 Bluetooth module included for system monitoring from a phone.

Why Renogy

Renogy has focused on off-grid solar equipment since 2010, and its kits use components engineered to work together — panels, storage, power conversion, and protection hardware — each backed by its own Renogy limited warranty. As an authorized dealer, OffGrid Horizon sells genuine Renogy equipment covered by those warranties.

What's In the Box

Component list per Renogy's current kit listing:

• 320W N-Type Monocrystalline Solar Panel x8
• 12V 200Ah Core Mini Lithium Battery x8
• 48V 3500W Pure Sine Wave Solar Inverter Charger x1
• 5-String Solar Combiner Box x1
• 16A 1P DC Miniature Circuit Breaker x4
• 50A 1P DC Miniature Circuit Breaker x1
• DC Circuit Breaker Box x1
• 160A 2P Molded Case Circuit Breaker x1
• BT-2 Bluetooth Module x1
• 40ft 10AWG solar panel adaptor kits (4 pairs)
• 8ft 8AWG stranded copper PV wire x2
• 12in 1AWG copper battery interconnect cables x8
• 8ft 1AWG copper battery-to-inverter cables (2 pairs)

Panel mounting hardware is not listed among the kit components; roof or ground mounting must be sourced separately.

Specifications

What Will It Run?

Stated assumptions: estimates below assume 4.5 peak sun hours per day (a mid-range US annual figure — actual values run roughly 3.5 to 5.5 depending on region and season) and 25% combined system losses from wiring, conversion, temperature, and panel orientation. Appliance wattages are typical estimates; check your equipment nameplates.

• Estimated daily solar harvest: 2,560W x 4.5 h x 0.75 ≈ 8.6kWh per day under those assumptions.
• Usable storage: roughly 16.4kWh at the 80% depth of discharge used in Renogy's cycle rating — about two days of autonomy at the harvest estimate above.
• Example daily load set (~4kWh): a full-size refrigerator (~1.5kWh/day), LED lighting (~0.3kWh), laptop, router, and phone charging (~0.5kWh), a microwave used 15 minutes (~0.25kWh), TV for a few hours (~0.4kWh), plus a water pump running intermittently — comfortably within the estimated harvest.
• Limits: combined running loads must stay under the 3,500W continuous inverter rating. Central HVAC, electric ranges, and electric water heaters are outside this system's scope.

Warranty & Support

Per Renogy: the 320W panels carry a 10-year material and workmanship warranty, and the Core Mini lithium batteries carry a 5-year prorated material and workmanship warranty. Remaining components are covered by Renogy's limited warranty for their respective categories — contact us for current terms on the inverter charger and accessories. As a family-owned authorized dealer, OffGrid Horizon can help with sizing questions before you order and warranty coordination after: call (302) 496-3554.

Shipping

This is a heavy multi-box system that ships LTL freight on a pallet within the US. The carrier will contact you to schedule delivery; a liftgate is typically used for residential stops. Please inspect all cartons before signing the delivery receipt — note any visible damage or missing pieces on the receipt and contact us right away so we can resolve it with the carrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the kit include panel mounting hardware?
No. Renogy's component list for this kit covers panels, batteries, the inverter charger, combiner box, breakers, and cabling. Roof or ground mounting hardware is purchased separately.

Can I add more solar later?
The inverter charger accepts up to 4,400W of PV input at up to 150V, per Renogy, so there is headroom beyond the included 2,560W array. Any expansion must stay within those input limits.

Will it run an air conditioner?
A small window unit or an efficient mini-split within the 3,500W continuous rating may be possible, but sustained cooling consumes several kWh per day and needs its own load calculation. Central air conditioning is not supported.

How do the batteries handle cold weather?
Per Renogy, the Core Mini batteries charge from 32°F to 131°F and discharge from -4°F to 149°F. Below freezing, the BMS protects the cells by limiting charging, so an insulated or conditioned battery location is recommended in cold climates.

Do I need an electrician?
Renogy supplies wiring diagrams and pre-sized cables, and experienced DIYers install these kits. We still recommend a licensed electrician review AC-side wiring, and local permitting requirements vary — check with your jurisdiction.

Can it tie to the grid or sell power back?
No. This is an off-grid system. The inverter charger can accept AC input from a generator or shore power for battery charging, but it does not export power to the utility.

Can it charge from a generator?
Yes — per Renogy, the inverter charger supports AC charging at up to 40A, so a generator can recharge the bank during extended cloudy stretches.

Not sure whether the 2.5kW Essential Plus fits your cabin? Call our family at (302) 496-3554 or browse the full Renogy collection — we're happy to talk through your loads before you buy.