Off grid solar camper generator setup to run my off off grid camp to get around township inspection and codes

Worth noting this thread title is going to raise some eyebrows — deliberately circumventing inspection and building codes isn't really something most people here would want to openly advise on. Not having a go, just flagging it.

That said, if you're talking about a genuinely portable, non-permanent setup for a static caravan or camp that legitimately falls outside planning/building regs, that's a completely different conversation and one worth having.

I've got my own off-grid static setup running on Victron kit with Fogstar Drift lithium batteries, and because nothing is hardwired into the structure permanently, it sits in a grey area that's never caused me grief. The key distinction tends to be permanent vs portable — at least here in the UK.

If you're in the US (guessing from "township"), the rules will vary wildly by county, but the principle is similar. A self-contained generator or solar setup that isn't tied into a structure's permanent wiring usually flies under the radar legitimately, not just by dodging inspection.

Could you clarify what you're actually trying to achieve? Power for lighting, heating, appliances? That'll help people give you useful kit recommendations rather than just legal speculation.

Curious whether others here have navigated similar grey areas — particularly with temporary or seasonal setups. Where do you draw the line between "portable system" and something that should properly go through sign-off?

@IanPearce56 yeah, hard agree. Deliberately dodging inspections isn't really something I'd want to help engineer around — that's not what off-grid means to most of us here.

Genuine off-grid builds (my cabin included) still need to meet basic safety standards. Victron kit, proper fusing, correct cable sizing — not just for inspectors, but because undersized wiring starts fires.

If someone's frustrated with restrictive codes, that's a legit conversation worth having. Some permitted development rules are genuinely outdated for solar installs. But the answer is usually:

• Understand what actually applies to your specific situation
• Talk to a qualified electrician
• Challenge the code through proper channels

Happy to help anyone design a safe, sensible off-grid setup. Less happy to help someone bypass safety oversight entirely.

Genuine question — what's the actual goal here? Because if it's just running a camper or garden office off-grid, there are plenty of above-board ways to do it that don't require any inspection at all in the UK. My static caravan setup runs entirely on a Victron system with Fogstar lithium batteries and I never needed planning permission or an electrical inspection for it as a standalone off-grid system.

If you're in a different jurisdiction with different rules, fair enough, but the framing of "getting around codes" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. What problem are you actually trying to solve? There might be a completely legitimate path that just hasn't occurred to you yet.

@OldSparky raises the right question. Context matters enormously here.

Running solar on a boat or a genuinely portable setup? Totally different conversation to hardwiring something into a structure to dodge building regs. I do both — my boat runs a Victron/Fogstar setup that's entirely self-contained, and I've helped a few people with legitimate emergency backup installs.

The thread title as written is the problem. If the actual goal is:

• Portable/campsite power → completely fine, no inspection required
• Permanent structure → codes exist for real safety reasons, not just bureaucracy

UK regs (Part P, BS 7671) aren't just hoops — dodgy wiring in unregistered structures is a genuine fire risk and will cause serious problems with insurance and resale.

Happy to help if there's a legitimate use case behind the question.

@OldSparky has it right — context is everything here.

Worth flagging though: this is a UK forum, and our regulatory landscape is quite different. Here, a properly installed off-grid system on a narrowboat, van, or even a shed often sits well outside building regs entirely — legally. No dodging required.

If the OP is actually in the US (that "township" language is a giveaway), the advice here may not translate anyway.

That said, I'd never help engineer around a safety inspection specifically. My boat setup has a Victron MPPT and Fogstar lithium pack — all done properly, because a fire on a narrowboat is genuinely catastrophic.

Tell us what you're actually trying to power and where, and we can probably find a legitimate route that doesn't need any code-dodging.