Solar power provides an excellent path to becoming energy-independent. With a grid-tied solar power system, you can supply electricity to your home through the local utility infrastructure. In some cases, you can even generate extra energy and sell it back to the utility through net metering. If your solar array doesn’t generate sufficient power to meet your household electricity needs, on-grid electricity is there as a backup.
But what about if you want to live or travel off-grid or have a reliable home backup power solution in the event of a power outage?
You’ll need to opt for an off-grid power solution with solar panels, batteries, and numerous other components. Luckily, the quality of products like the EcoFlow power kits has drastically improved in recent years while the prices have dropped. Clean, renewable off-grid solar power has never been more accessible.
Depending on your experience level, you can install a solar kit yourself or work with professional installers. In either case, the process and considerations are the same.
These are the steps you can expect to take for your home solar installation.
Before you purchase the components to build a solar power system, you need to determine how much electricity you expect to use. To do this, collect your electric bills from the past several months, and look for your average usage per month and year. Plan to purchase a system that will deliver more power than you already consume, so you can ensure you build in the capacity you need.
Once you know what energy consumption requirements you need to meet, you can shop around for the system that can deliver it. The specifics will vary depending on where you live, your home layout, and numerous other factors.
A PV watts calculator can provide a good starting point for your calculations. You should also consult with your manufacturer or a professional installer to weigh factors like the angle of your roof and the tree cover before making a final purchase. All of this helps fine-tune your assessment.
If you’re going for an off-grid power solution, your energy consumption needs will give you the clearest indication of what capacity solar panels and balance of system you need. Also, pay attention to the installation. For example, you may not want to limit your solar generator setup to your home but want to move the power source from home to RV.
Solar panels come in various builds that impact how they are installed, such as portable, flexible, and rigid. Likewise, your balance of system can come in numerous options, from home-integration models to portable power stations.
Rigid solar panels for rooftop installation are relatively lightweight and designed to last at least 25 to 30 years. Still, you should ensure that your roof structure is sound enough to hold them before installation.
While a sturdy roof should have no issues holding up your solar panels, an already-damaged roof can lead to problems. You should look for any sagging in the roof or beams, any soft spots or leaks, and any issues with the structural integrity of the walls. If in doubt, contact a professional to inspect your roof and its support structure.
If there are issues, you’ll need to address them before installing your solar panels. Any roof damage will be more difficult and expensive to remedy after installing the panels.
Once you know what you need, you can work with a manufacturer or retailer to identify the right components to deliver the electricity you expect to use. For off-grid solar power systems, the equipment you’ll need includes the following:
You can purchase these separately, so long as you ensure all the components are compatible. Alternatively, you can buy an all-in-one solar generator or a modular system like the EcoFlow Power Kit, which contains all the components needed — manufactured to deliver the power you need and compatible across the system.
If you’re going the DIY route, ensure you have everything you need to connect the panels to your battery inverter and the remaining balance of system.
The battery or batteries in solar power systems store the electricity your solar panels generate. Depending on the energy delivery you need, you may need to stack multiple batteries to benefit from their combined capacities.
A backup battery or Smart Generator (dual fuel) can also be helpful for you to set up an additional charging source for the solar power system. You should also charge the battery or batteries at the outset, so your system can begin delivering electricity from the start. Many power stations come with multiple charging options, such as plugging into a standard household outlet.
Once you’ve set everything up, the panels will start absorbing the sun’s energy and converting it into electricity to keep your system operating.
If you’re going for a fixed installation, you’ll most likely install your solar panels on the rooftop. Begin by determining the optimal rooftop locations and angles to capture the most sunlight throughout the day.
The sun doesn’t constantly shine on your panels during the day. It’s helpful to know when the peak sunlight hours are for your location and position the panels to take the fullest advantage.
Once you determine the best positions, create a diagram of your layout. You’ll need to take some measurements of your roof and ensure that you have sufficient space to install the panels correctly. For example, if you’re using 16 x 400W rigid solar panels, create a frame that can accommodate this many panels on your rooftop. When you have it laid out, install mounting brackets and affix the panels.
Connect the panels using cables, whether wiring in parallel or series. Optimal placement is critical for getting the most from your investment.
With the panels set up, it’s time to connect the battery and your inverter to the solar array.
Your battery connection likely runs through an MPPT or other solar charge controller. This component regulates the voltage, i.e., the current moving between the panels and the battery.
Check your connections and placements; this will help ensure your system functions correctly. Once everything is secure, you should be ready to move to the final step.
The solar panels and the battery generate direct current (DC) electricity. For solar energy to power your home, you need to run the system-generated electricity through the inverter and convert it into alternating current (AC).
Depending on your chosen setup, you may have to connect the solar battery and inverter to your circuit breaker panel and fuse box to run into the home. Each connection in the breaker box will connect to different sections of your home, allowing you to send power from the solar power system into your entire house. Double-check the connections in the solar power system and your fuse box and circuit breakers before you get everything running.
Unless you’re experienced at working with electricity, it’s highly recommended that you work with a professional installer for solar power systems that integrate into your home wiring. Standalone solutions like solar generators are simply plug-and-play.
On that note, it makes sense to circle back to a fundamental question: Who should perform your solar installation?
If you’re comfortable with basic electrical wiring and have a knack for DIY projects, you may want to take it on yourself. Solar power kits like EcoFlow’s come with all the parts and instructions an experienced handyperson needs to set up the solar power system yourself.
That said, installing solar panels and the balance of system requires both understanding and precision work. A misplaced or damaged panel can cost you significantly in terms of the power you can generate for your home.
Fixed installations typically require working on top of and drilling holes into your roof. If you’re uncomfortable with making structural changes to your home (or with heights), consider portable solar panels that don’t require a permanent installation. Flexible solar panels are another option you can affix with adhesive; the only downside is that they have less capacity and a shorter lifespan than rigid rooftop panels.
For most people, having professionals complete the installation makes more sense. Their expertise in installing a solar power system typically comes insured and bonded in case something goes wrong.
Connecting your solar panels to your home can seem like a reasonably straightforward process. EcoFlow can provide you with all the components you need to build a Smart Home Ecosystem, along with installation instructions. Still, getting professional installation help is often a good idea if you’re unsure or lack experience.
EcoFlow partners with reputable third-party installation experts to ensure you get the reliable help you need. Contact EcoFlow today and let us help you meet your home solar power needs.
Spend enough time living in a sunny state and you’ll hear people boasting about how they cut their electricity bills by investing in solar panels for their home. You may even be tempted to join them. After all, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) finds that the average homeowner pays around $111 per month for electricity. In sunny southern states like Arizona and Florida, this number goes up to $128 per month. That’s $1,500 a year!
Of course, before you run out and invest in a solar panel system, you probably want to know how much you stand to save. Solar panels require an investment after all, and their return is determined by how much they’ll shrink your monthly bills. Can you power your whole house with solar panels, or will you need to pull some power from the grid?
The short answer: Yes, you can use solar energy to power your entire house. In fact, some people have used expansive solar panel systems to go off the grid completely, turning their homes into self-sustaining ecosystems (at least as far as energy is concerned). Most of the time, however, homeowners will keep using their local energy provider as a backup for cloudy days or long periods of foul weather.
In some states, electric companies will still charge you a low fixed charge to remain connected to the grid. In other states, installers can set up your solar panels so that any excess energy they generate gets funneled back into the grid. In exchange, energy companies provide you with credits you can use to draw free energy back from the grid overnight or on cloudy days.
The number of solar panels you’ll need to completely power your home depends on several factors: where you live, how much energy you use, how efficient your panels are, and how much power your panels were designed to produce. That’s why a quick internet search will provide a plethora of answers to this question, ranging from as few as 15 panels to as many as 45.
Instead of listening to the internet pundits and their array of unhelpful answers, we’d recommend reaching out to a trustworthy local solar provider. At FOR Energy, we’ll send a team of solar experts to your house to evaluate how much sunlight you receive and how much energy you consume. Using that information, our Energy Pros will design a custom solar panel system that meets your needs. We’ll also explain how many solar panels you need and why, allowing you to rest easy knowing you’re making the best decision for your home.
The cost of your solar panels will depend on your manufacturer, system size, and where you live. So, once again, we’d recommend reaching out to a trustworthy local solar installer to discuss your needs and the corresponding system costs.
When you do, it would be worth discussing the various discounts and tax credits available that can help cover the cost of your system. For example, the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides you with a tax credit that will help cover up to 26% of system costs after you install your system. Many states offer property tax and sales tax exemptions on solar panel systems, and some states like California, Colorado, and Texas will offer rebates to qualifying homeowners. Finally, states like Arizona and South Carolina will offer state tax credits that help cover part of your system costs. Opportunities like this can make investing in solar panels surprisingly affordable.
Want to learn more about the benefits you’ll enjoy after investing in a solar panel system for your home? Contact FOR Energy today and schedule a free solar consultation!