Every solar system needs similar components to start with. A grid-tied solar system consists of the following components: 1. Solar Panels 2. DC-AC grid-tied solar inverter 3. Solar cables 4. Mounts For this system to function well, you need a connection to the grid. An Off-Grid solar system is slightly more complicated and needs the following additional components: 1. Charge Controller 2. Battery Bank 3. A Connected Load Instead of a. Depending upon your needs, there may be other components that you require. These include: 1. A backup Generator or a Backup Source of power 2. A Transfer Switch 3. AC Load Center 4. A DC Load Center The following Picture shows the typical Off-grid solar system somponents: Off-grid solar system components Here are the functions of each.