The most common Ontario off grid appliances mistake is selecting appliances before sizing the solar system, and a property owner on Kortright Road in Guelph, Wellington County discovered this when she installed a high-end induction cooktop on her Tier 2 off-grid system in fall 2022 because it was marketed as energy-efficient and her Victron SmartShunt confirmed a 1,800W draw the moment she started boiling water for Sunday meal preparation, and four hours of intermittent cooking drained the 200Ah LFP bank to the BMS protection threshold because the total energy demanded by the induction cooktop over the session exceeded the bank’s 1,920Wh usable capacity.
The induction cooktop was rated as 30% more efficient than a standard electric range for grid-connected homes, and that rating is accurate for grid use. On a battery-based off-grid system, efficiency ratings do not change the total watts drawn, 1,800W from the battery bank is 1,800W regardless of how efficiently the cooktop converts it to heat. The Tier 2 system was correctly specified for the property’s other off grid appliances; the cooktop was the single specification error.
I reviewed her SmartShunt history after the cooking session. The 1,800W draw during active heating phases, spread over four hours of intermittent meal preparation, totalled approximately 3,150Wh drawn from a bank with 1,920Wh usable capacity. The bank reached the Battle Born LFP BMS protection threshold partway through the cooking session. The SmartShunt history showed exactly when the BMS cut the load, confirming the induction cooktop as the cause, not a system fault.
The fix required one change to the off grid appliances list: switch from induction cooktop to propane range. The propane range igniter draws approximately 5W for the spark, the burners themselves consume zero electricity. The SmartShunt confirmed zero additional battery draw during the first Sunday meal prep with the propane range installed. The Tier 2 system had been correctly sized for the correct off grid appliances from the start; the induction cooktop was simply not on the correct list. See our Ontario solar sizing guide before finalizing any off grid appliances selection.
The off grid appliances that work on Ontario Tier 2: LED, chest freezer, propane range, SoftStart well pump
| Off grid appliance | Draw | Daily consumption | Tier 2 verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED lighting (full room) | 25 to 30W | 600 to 720Wh | ✓ Correct specification |
| Chest freezer | 45W average | 1,080Wh | ✓ Correct, not upright fridge |
| Propane range | 5W igniter only | Negligible | ✓ Zero cooking draw |
| Propane on-demand water heater | 1 to 3W igniter | Negligible | ✓ Zero heating draw |
| DC well pump with SoftStart | 300 to 600W running | As needed | ✓ With SoftStart Well only |
| Induction cooktop | 1,800W | Drains bank in ~1hr continuous | ✗ Kills Tier 2 |
| Electric dryer | 5,000W | BMS trip in 23 minutes | ✗ Kills Tier 2 |
| Electric tankless water heater | 6,000W | BMS trip in 19 minutes | ✗ Kills Tier 2 |
The five off grid appliances that work correctly on an Ontario Tier 2 system are LED lighting (25 to 30W total), a chest freezer (45W average), a propane range (5W igniter only), a propane on-demand water heater (1 to 3W igniter only), and a DC well pump with SoftStart Well. The chest freezer is the correct refrigeration choice for Tier 2, it averages 45W compared to upright fridges at 80 to 150W due to door-opening thermal loss.
The propane range uses zero electricity during cooking, making it the correct off grid appliances cooking specification. The SoftStart Well reduces the well pump inrush current from approximately 10 times running current to approximately 2 times, keeping the startup surge within the inverter’s capability.
A property owner in Fergus, Centre Wellington specified the correct off grid appliances from day one in a new Tier 2 build in fall 2023: propane range, 45W chest freezer, LED lighting throughout, propane on-demand water heater, and DC well pump with SoftStart Well. The base load is approximately 140W average continuous. The Victron SmartShunt confirms the battery bank at or above 80% SoC every clear-day morning through two full Ontario winters. No appliance-related BMS trips have occurred. “We never think about the power. We just live here.” See our off grid costs guide for the complete Tier 2 load calculation.
The off grid appliances that kill Tier 2: induction cooktop, electric dryer, baseboard heat, tankless water heater
The five off grid appliances that kill a Tier 2 battery bank share one characteristic: resistive heating loads that demand more continuous watts than any Tier 2 inverter can sustain or any 200Ah bank can supply for meaningful durations. An induction cooktop draws 1,800W, draining a 200Ah LFP bank (1,920Wh usable) in approximately 1 hour of continuous use. Even with intermittent cooking, 4 hours of meal preparation can demand 3,000 to 3,500Wh, far exceeding the Tier 2 bank’s usable capacity. An electric dryer draws 5,000W, reaching the BMS protection threshold in approximately 23 minutes. An electric tankless water heater draws 6,000W, covered in detail in our solar water heater ontario guide.
Electric baseboard heat ranges from 750W to 2,000W per unit, running continuously through the Ontario heating season and demanding more daily energy than the entire 400W array can produce in January. Standard AC without a soft-start device is the fifth problem off grid appliance: a central air conditioner compressor draws approximately 45A at startup (approximately 5,400W surge), which trips a 3,000W PSW inverter before cooling begins. The EasyStart AC compressor soft-start reduces this startup surge from approximately 45A to approximately 10A, bringing AC startup within the inverter’s capability. The EasyStart is designed specifically for AC compressor motors, it does not reduce startup surge on any resistive heating load, electric dryer, or electric water heater.
The vampire draw problem: how standby loads steal 240 to 1,200Wh per day
The vampire draw problem is the most overlooked off grid appliances issue. A smart TV on standby draws approximately 10W. A satellite receiver draws approximately 15W continuously. A microwave clock draws approximately 3W. Three or four such devices in standby total 25 to 50W continuously, approximately 600 to 1,200Wh per day of hidden draw from a system that produces 510Wh on a clear Ontario January day.
The vampire draw from standby appliances can consume more energy per day than the furnace blower.
The only way to identify vampire draws is the Victron SmartShunt. The SmartShunt overnight discharge reading, checked on the Victron Connect app before any morning loads are turned on, shows exactly how many Wh were consumed while the household slept. A correctly specified off grid appliances list with no vampire draws should show approximately 5 to 10Wh overnight drain from the BMS and protection circuits only. Any overnight drain above approximately 50Wh indicates a standby load consuming battery reserve without delivering any useful service. See our off grid setup guide for the SmartShunt commissioning sequence.
Pro Tip: On commissioning day, turn on one off grid appliance at a time and record the SmartShunt reading in the Victron Connect app. LED lighting at 30W should show 2 to 3A at 12V. The chest freezer cycling on should show a brief 8 to 10A draw reducing to 3 to 4A during the run cycle. The furnace blower starting should show a 30 to 40A surge reducing to 15 to 20A during operation. Any reading above 80A (approximately 960W) during normal household operation indicates an off grid appliance outside the Tier 2 load specification. The Kortright Road Guelph induction cooktop reading: 150A at 12V during boiling (approximately 1,800W). Every other off grid appliance on the system read below 50A. The SmartShunt identified the single problematic load in one reading.
The SmartShunt diagnostic: identifying every draw in real time
The SmartShunt diagnostic approach for off grid appliances identifies exactly which loads are consuming battery capacity and when. LED lighting at 30W shows 2 to 3A at 12V. The chest freezer cycling on shows a brief 8 to 10A draw reducing to 3 to 4A during the run cycle. The furnace blower shows a brief 30 to 40A surge reducing to 15 to 20A during operation. Any reading above 80A (approximately 960W) during normal household operation indicates an off grid appliance outside the Tier 2 load specification.
The Fergus Centre Wellington system shows a peak reading of approximately 50A at 12V during furnace blower startup, the highest single load on the correctly specified off grid appliances list. That 50A reading is the practical upper boundary of safe Tier 2 operation. Anything above it requires either a tier upgrade or a propane switch for that load. The Victron MPPT 100/30 and SmartShunt together provide a complete picture of every watt entering and leaving the Battle Born heated LFP bank in real time. See our solar panel cost guide for the complete Tier 2 system cost.
NEC and CEC: Ontario permit requirements for permanently wired appliance circuits
NEC 690 and CEC Section 64 govern permanently wired appliance circuits on Ontario off-grid solar systems. Any hardwired 120V or 240V circuit from the inverter to an appliance outlet constitutes a permanent electrical installation requiring an ESA permit at $300 to $400 before installation begins. This includes hardwired range circuits, dryer circuits, and any dedicated appliance circuit. The ESA permit covers the inverter output wiring, the sub-panel, and all branch circuits. Contact the NFPA at nfpa.org for current NEC 690 requirements for residential off-grid inverter installations.
CEC Section 64 governs electrical installations in Ontario. Any permanently wired off grid appliances circuit, including the inverter output sub-panel, branch circuit wiring, and outlet installation, requires ESA inspection as part of the permit process. Propane appliance installations, including propane ranges and propane on-demand water heaters, require a TSSA G2 licensed technician, they are not part of the ESA permit but are separately required under the Ontario Technical Standards and Safety Act. Contact the Electrical Safety Authority Ontario at esasafe.com before beginning any permanent off grid appliances wiring in Ontario.
The off grid appliances Ontario verdict: size the system to the appliance list, not the other way around
- Ontario property owner who added an induction cooktop, electric dryer, or electric baseboard heater to an existing Tier 2 system and is experiencing BMS trips: check the SmartShunt reading during use of each appliance. Any reading above 80A at 12V is outside the Tier 2 specification. The fix is switching the problematic off grid appliances to propane equivalents, propane range, propane on-demand water heater, wood or propane heat. The Kortright Road Guelph result: one propane range swap eliminated every BMS trip from cooking loads. The SmartShunt confirms the fix on the first use, zero additional draw during cooking.
- Ontario property owner specifying a new Tier 2 off grid appliances list: specify propane for all heat loads before purchasing any solar equipment. Chest freezer (45W) for refrigeration. LED lighting throughout. DC well pump with SoftStart Well. Battle Born heated LFP for cold weather reliability. Victron MPPT 100/30 for cold Voc harvesting. SmartShunt to confirm commissioning. The Fergus result: 140W average base load, 80% SoC every clear morning, zero BMS trips in two winters.
- Ontario property owner with a window AC or central AC on a Tier 2 off-grid system: the AC compressor startup surge is the issue, not the running current. The EasyStart AC compressor soft-start reduces the startup surge from approximately 45A to approximately 10A at 120V, bringing AC startup within the 3,000W PSW inverter’s capability. The EasyStart is for AC compressor motors only, it does not reduce startup surge on any resistive heating load. The running current during AC operation (approximately 15 to 25A at 12V) must also be within the Tier 2 budget for the duration of cooling cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What appliances work best off grid in Ontario?
A: The five correct off grid appliances for an Ontario Tier 2 system are LED lighting (25 to 30W total), chest freezer (45W average, not upright fridge), propane range (5W igniter only, zero cooking draw), propane on-demand water heater (1 to 3W igniter only), and DC well pump with SoftStart Well (300 to 600W running with reduced inrush). These five off grid appliances produce a base load of approximately 140 to 150W average continuous, which a 400W array at Ontario January 1.5 PSH (510Wh per clear day) can support with the 200Ah LFP reserve covering gray-streak days.
The SmartShunt confirms correct operation on commissioning day, the Fergus Centre Wellington result was 80% SoC every clear-day morning through two full Ontario winters.
Q: Can I use an induction cooktop off grid in Ontario?
A: Not on a Tier 2 system. An induction cooktop draws 1,800W, it drains a 200Ah LFP bank (1,920Wh usable) in approximately 1 hour of continuous use, and four hours of intermittent meal preparation can demand 3,000 to 3,500Wh, exceeding the bank’s full usable capacity. The Kortright Road Guelph result confirmed this exactly: four hours of Sunday meal prep drained the bank to the BMS protection threshold, with the SmartShunt confirming 150A at 12V during active heating phases. The correct off grid appliances cooking specification for any Ontario Tier 2 system is a propane range, 5W for the igniter during lighting, zero watts during cooking, and zero impact on the battery bank.
Q: What is a vampire draw and how do I find it on my off-grid system?
A: Vampire draws are standby loads that consume 5 to 15W continuously, regardless of whether the appliance is in active use. A smart TV on standby draws approximately 10W. A satellite receiver draws approximately 15W continuously. Three or four such off grid appliances in standby total 25 to 50W, consuming 600 to 1,200Wh per day from a system that produces 510Wh on a clear Ontario January day.
The SmartShunt identifies vampire draws through the overnight discharge reading in the Victron Connect app, check it before turning on any morning loads. A correctly specified off grid appliances system with no vampire draws shows approximately 5 to 10Wh overnight drain from BMS circuits only. Any overnight drain above 50Wh indicates a standby load that should be unplugged when not in use.
This build is engineered within the 48V DC Safety Ceiling. Diagnostic logic is based on 20+ years of technical service experience. All structural and electrical installations must be verified by a Licensed Professional and comply with your Local AHJ. See our legal and safety disclosure for full scope.
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