Casarock Place Animal Therapy is a small rural practice in Barmah, Victoria that provides animal-assisted therapy and unique experiences with horses and water buffalo. As the centre expanded to host clinics, workshops, and community events, reliable power became essential. Grid connection was impractical, so the team engaged Commodore Australia to design and deliver a robust off-grid system that would be simple to operate, cost-effective to run, and scalable for future growth.
System at a glance
Inverter-charger: Victron MultiPlus II 8 kVA
Solar charge controller: Victron SmartSolar 450/100 MPPT
Solar array: 7.04 kW using 16 x 440 W Canadian Solar panels
Battery storage: 15 kWh usable via 3 x 5 kWh Pylontech batteries
Cabinet: Commodore Power Hub Essential, IP55, space for up to 4 batteries total
The Client
Owner Sandy Pennington describes Casarock Place as a holistic space where people “do a lot of animal assisted therapy” and can even book a “buffalo experience.” As demand grew, so did the need for dependable power to run lighting, refrigeration, office equipment, therapy facilities, pumps and tools, plus occasional event equipment for clinics and paint-and-sip sessions.
The Challenge
No practical grid access: Connection costs and lead times made the grid unrealistic.
Variable daily loads: Quiet weekdays contrasted with busier clinic days and evening workshops.
Future growth: The system needed headroom for added loads and events.
Ease of use: Minimal fuss for non-technical users – clear status visibility and straightforward operation.
Whole-of-life cost: Reduce diesel dependency while keeping capital and operating costs sensible.
Design Objectives
Reliability first: Maintain stable power during variable usage and across seasons.
Scalable storage: Start at 15 kWh with room to expand as the clinic grows.
Efficient solar harvest: Maximise generation from a modest roof area with a high-quality MPPT.
Seamless backup: Automatic generator integration for weather or event peaks.
Clean and serviceable: A pre-wired, tested cabinet with tidy cable management and clear labelling.
The Solution
Inverter-Charger: Victron MultiPlus II 8 kVA
The MultiPlus II provides a sturdy backbone for mixed loads, handling start-up surges from pumps and tools while delivering clean power for sensitive electronics found in therapy and office spaces. Its inverter-charger architecture also manages battery charging from solar and generator with smart logic to protect battery health.
Solar Harvest: 7.04 kW Array + SmartSolar 450/100
Sixteen 440 W Canadian Solar modules feed a Victron SmartSolar 450/100 MPPT. The 100 A controller is an excellent match for the array size, ensuring efficient energy capture throughout the day and enabling flexible stringing for shade management and voltage headroom.
Battery Bank: 15 kWh Pylontech, Expandable
Three modular 5 kWh Pylontech batteries provide 15 kWh usable storage today, configured inside an IP55-rated Power Hub Essential cabinet that allows for one additional module, taking the site up to 20 kWh without re-engineering. Lithium iron phosphate chemistry supports long cycle life and stable performance.
Backup: Westinghouse 8500E AS
For extended overcast periods or event-driven peaks, the Westinghouse 8500E AS integrates via auto-start. It tops up the battery when solar is limited, then hands back to solar and storage, minimising diesel runtime and cost.
Power Hub Essential: Pre-Wired, Tested, IP55
Commodore’s Power Hub Essential cabinet arrived pre-wired, pre-programmed and tested, simplifying installation and reducing on-site time. The weather-resistant enclosure keeps critical electronics clean and cool, with a neat layout that makes future servicing and expansion straightforward.
Delivery & Installation
From Sandy’s first call, the process was designed to be simple. Commodore guided load assessment and future-proofing choices, booked a delivery window, and coordinated qualified electricians for a smooth install. As Sandy put it, the “seamless” timing and setup meant minimal disruption and quick go-live.
What stood out to the client
“Nothing was too much trouble.”
“We got a date and it was there by that date.”
“They even got the electricians set up for us as well.”
“The seamlessness, customer service, and ongoing service.”
Early Outcomes
Since commissioning, the system has supported daily operations and new on-site activities with confidence:
Business continuity: Reliable power for therapy sessions, refrigeration, pumps, and admin.
Program expansion: The site now hosts equine body therapy clinics and evening paint-and-sip events, supported by solar-charged storage and seamless generator backup when needed.
Lower running costs: Solar and batteries do the heavy lifting on typical days, while the generator covers rare extended overcast or peak-demand periods.
Quieter, cleaner site: Significantly less generator noise and emissions during normal operation, benefiting both animals and guests.
Why This Architecture Works For Casarock Place
Right-sized inverter headroom: 8 kVA provides comfortable surge capacity for rural loads without overspending.
Balanced array-to-storage ratio: 7.04 kW of PV pairs well with 15 kWh storage for daytime charging and evening use.
Modular growth path: Add a fourth 5 kWh battery when evening events or seasonal demand increase.
Integrated resilience: Auto-start backup keeps the clinic running during long cloudy spells, then hands back to solar to keep fuel costs down.
Operational simplicity: Clear Victron monitoring and a tidy Power Hub layout make day-to-day checks easy for non-technical users.
Lessons For Similar Rural Clinics And Retreats
Plan for peak days, not just averages. Event loads and evening workshops drive storage needs.
Protect the user experience. Quiet, clean solar-first operation matters in therapeutic environments.
Choose modular components. Start with the essentials and scale storage as programs grow.
Make service easy. Pre-wired, labelled cabinets save time and keep future maintenance simple.
Keep backup smart, not central. Use the generator as a safety net, not the main act.
Client Reflection
Sandy sums it up simply: the off-grid system is “environmentally friendly and cost effective,” and most importantly, “a really good product” that has “expanded us in phenomenal ways.”
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