Hey everyone! I'm planning to install a solar and battery system at home and want to do it myself, so I'm seeking some advice. I heard that it's possible to get a permit for this DIY project in my county, which is great. However, I've come across some challenges. For instance, FranklinWH won't let homeowners install their systems on their own and prefer to push their vendor services, which can be quite pricey. I'm looking for brands or systems that would allow for DIY installations. I've got some options in mind like enPhase, Canadian Solar's EP Cube, and Pointguard, but I'm curious about others as well. My priority is to have a system that can power my house during outages, handle high loads like a pottery kiln and air conditioning, and ideally support a generator as a backup when the grid's down. Any experiences or recommendations would be super helpful. Thanks!
3 Answers
Just a heads up, heating elements like pottery kilns can be super power-hungry. It might be worth reconsidering how much you want to run off solar. Also, how comfortable are you with the installation? If you’re not that confident with inverters and modules, you might want to think about an interlock system that could be easier to manage by a pro.
You might want to check out Will Prowse's site, Mobile Solar Power. It has a ton of resources on building various solar power setups, from small to whole-house systems. Plus, his YouTube channel is very informative and helpful for DIYers.
Look into hybrid inverters that accommodate generators, like those from Victron. They’re generally seen as reliable. I also recommend the EG4 but just know they might have issues with generator compatibility. You’ll want to do your homework on sizing both the solar panels and batteries according to your specific needs, especially with how much energy you plan to use during outages.
Absolutely, you need to calculate your expected loads carefully, especially if you have high-energy appliances. A thorough assessment of your daily power needs will guide your setup choices better!