How I Got Started: Why I Refuse to Be Powerless
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew tore through and took everything familiar with it. I was young, but I remember it clearly: the heat, the silence where the hum of the refrigerator used to be, and the long wait. Help didn't come for weeks. No power, no air conditioning, no lights, no way to keep food cold or even hear the news unless someone had a battery radio. You just made do and waited.
Andrew wasn't my only hurricane, either. I lived through several more, and each one taught me the same lesson Andrew did: always have a backup plan.
That lesson stuck with me for life.
I wouldn't call myself a prepper. I'm not stockpiling for the end of the world. But I like being prepared. There's a real peace of mind in knowing that whatever happens, a storm, a grid failure, or a summer outage, I'll still have some power. And honestly? I hate feeling powerless in an emergency. That word means two things to me, and I've decided I don't want either one.
Where the Curiosity Comes In
I've always been the person who wants to know how things work. I spent years as a maintenance technician, troubleshooting systems, fixing what was broken, and figuring out what made equipment tick. Mechanical problems don't scare me. They make me curious.
Later I went back to school and earned my bachelor's degree in IT Management, graduating summa cum laude. Between the hands-on mechanical side and the technical side, solar felt like the natural next step. It's where wiring, systems thinking, and practical problem-solving all meet.
So I started building.
My first serious project was a 100Ah LiFePO4 power station built into a Husky tool box. It's rugged, portable, and ready when I need it. Then I built a smaller 30Ah unit in an ammo box. It's compact and expandable, and it has a barrel port that can run a Starlink Mini. It's the kind of thing you can grab and go, whether you're facing an outage, camping, or living the RV and van life.
Every build taught me something new, and every mistake taught me something even more valuable. That's the part I love most.
Why Big Girl Solar Exists
Solar can feel intimidating, especially if you're new to it, or if you're a woman in a space that doesn't always feel welcoming. I want to change that. Big Girl Solar is for beginners, for women who want to do it themselves, and for RV and van owners who want reliable power wherever they park.
Here's what I offer:
Printable wiring diagrams for my 30Ah and 100Ah builds, so you can follow along step by step.
Finished power stations, ready to go, if you'd rather skip the build.
Solar consultations, if you want help planning a system that fits your needs.
I learned the hard way what it's like to wait in the dark for help that isn't coming. You don't have to. Let's build your backup plan together.
— Annie, Big Girl Solar
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Sustainable power for camping, connection, and life’s surprises.
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