Why Are Plug In Solar Panels Alluring
Whats the alluring part? Well, you theoretically dont need an installer or electrician. Solar equipment like panels, inverters, and wire only account for about 40% of the total cost of a roof-top system according to a 2017 NREL study of solar costs . If you can avoid hiring an installer, you can cut out 60% of the traditional cost of solar!
According to the same report, the average residential solar installation costs $2.80 per watt . With an average installation size of 5,700 watts, thats a total cost of $15,960, of which the equipment makes up about $6,400 . Even if a plug and play system costs 2x as much as traditional equipment , it would still knock about $3k off the installation!
So if youre able to cut out your installer, you drop your total investment by thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your installation of course. That seems like a pretty good incentive! On top of that, if you ever move, you can simply unplug your installation and bring it with you. The Smartflower, which has seen a boom in interest over the last year or so, advertises as just this: an easily portable, plug-in solar kit.
Sounds pretty appealing! But the question is: are plug in solar panels as easy as they sound? Lets take a deeper look and see.
Solar Panels With An Outlet
Generating electricity using solar is becoming increasingly popular, prompting people to explore alternative ways to use solar. Connecting a solar panel with an outlet is a topic that frequently comes up with several theme variations.
There are methods to connect an outlet to a solar panel, and in limited scenarios, this can work. Still, we are dealing with electricity that can damage circuitry, and appliances, cause fires and result in dangerous electric shocks.
When we explore the topic of solar panels and outlets, we will be considering the following ideas
- Can you use a solar panel with an outlet?
- How can you connect an outlet to a solar panel?
- Can you plug a solar panel into an outlet?
- What is plug-and-play solar?
Understanding how these systems work is critical to using solar safely!
TOP PLUG + PLAY SOLAR KITS
Does Anyone Make Plug In Solar Kits
Actually, yes. You can go online and buy a plug and play solar kit from a few different companies, like the aptly-named Plug& PlaySolar. They sell small, single panel kits designed for both roof- and ground-mounting. For about $750, you can buy a 265 watt panel, microinverter, production monitor, roof mounting hardware, and 25 of wiring that plugs directly into a 120v outlet. At $750, thats a total cost of $2.83 per watt.
The ground-mount comes with a pre-made structure with 4 legs that can be bolted down and angled towards the sun. You can also buy add on units for a discounted price to increase the size of your solar installation. While the entire kit isnt UL listed, each individual component is , so you can rest assured these are all legitimate pieces of equipment that have been tested and deemed safe.
Another plug and play solar company, Plugged Solar, sells a larger array of kits, ranging from a single 250 watt panel to large 5,000 watt systems. Prices vary depending on size and inverter type. Prices for systems with microinverters are listed at:
- $799 for a one-panel, 250 watt system
- $2,495 for a 1,000 watt system
- $3,495 for a 1,500 watt system
- $7,990 for a 5,000 watt system
Kits include the solar panels, microinverters, mounting hardware, wires, safety disconnects , production monitoring system, and a 240v plug. To put that more plainly, youre getting solar panels with a microinverter attached, and the hardware to put the panels on your roof .
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May Not Qualify For Solar Tax Credit
There is a federal solar tax credit available for residential and commercial solar energy systems. However, portable solar systems qualify for the solar tax credit only occasionally. So, if you have an RV that is a primary or secondary residence and purchase a portable solar system for it, theres a good chance you can apply the tax credit.
Even though there are many portable solar power options available, they might not be the ideal approach for everyone, and they serve a different purpose than a home solar panel system. A rooftop solar system or community solar subscription is a better option if you want to lower your home electric bill significantly. If you want emergency power or solar electricity on the go, a portable system is ideal.
Before purchasing a system, consider your energy needs and the pros and cons of each option. Figure out what electric loads you will have and make sure the solar battery can power them for the desired length of time. If you will use the portable solar system for camping or hiking trips, make sure it is light enough to be convenient.
Feature image: MarekPhotoDesign.com stock.adobe.com
How Does Plug In Solar Work
The beauty of plug and play solar is in its simplicity. Basically, you put the panel in the sun and plug it into an outlet. Done.
A typical residential solar installation is pretty straightforward, but more complicated than the above to be sure. Instead of going directly into your wall outlet, electricity moves from the panels through a series of safety disconnects and your inverter to your electrical panel, typically via a dedicated breaker.
These disconnects and the breaker allow workers to isolate certain parts of the system for maintenance and repair, and help protect the system from overheating and fire. The inverter is designed to shut down if the electrical grid goes down, known as anti-islanding. That is pretty important, as it ensures that there is no rogue electricity unknowingly being added to the grid while line workers are completing repairs on electric distribution lines.
All this brings us to a major issue with plug and play solar. Without the same safety features as a traditional rooftop installation, are you going to set your house on fire or electrocute someone if you use them?
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Size And Solar Panels
According to Mazumder, the number and size of solar cells on solar power banks impact how much power they can generate.
When there are more solar cells on a charger or larger cells they can generate more power. Gordon noted that some solar battery banks only have one panel, limiting the amount of power they can generate. But more and larger solar cells may mean that the physical size of the solar power bank increases you may need to decide if you want to prioritize size or power while shopping.
Best Single Panel: Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Panel
Weight: 0.79pounds | Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x 0.8 inches | Output ports: USB Port: 5V, up to 830mA | Accessories: Kickstand, small battery pack
The compact size of most single-panel power banks limits the solar charging capability of the panel, but the Goal Zero Nomad 5 is both portable and powerful. The Nomad 5 offers a 5-watt, rugged solar panel thats lightweight and water-resistant .
The simple design includes a kickstand on the back to angle it into the sun, or carabiners can connect to the top and attach to a backpack for charging on the go. The Nomad 5 kit comes with Goal Zeros Flip, a small battery pack with a USB port so you can charge devices after the sun goes down. When the sun is out, the Nomads panel can charge the Flip in just three hoursmaking it one of the fastest single-panel chargers.
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Do Some Outdoor Testing
Aside from using my solar panelâs datasheet as reference, I thought it would be wise to do some testing to see if the values of the datasheet were accurate. It turns out that the solar panelâs max voltage was 3v higher than the one specified in the datasheet. Acquiring the max voltage is very important, it dictates how the number of battery-cells your solar panel can charge. You will also need the max voltage later for constructing the voltage divider of the charge controller circuit later on.
Power Output And Efficiency
Every device is designed with a different size battery, which can help guide your shopping. According to our previous reporting, when it comes to power banks, charging capacity is often measured in milliamp-hours or watt-hours all solar power banks we recommend listed capacity in mAh, but only some included capacity in watts.
- Watt-hours is one way to measure charging capacity and will give you the best estimate of how much or how many times the charger can charge your device.
- Milliamp-hours can be useful when comparing the capacities of different battery packs. For example, a 5,000mAh battery pack will provide fewer charges than a 12,000mAh model.
Generally, devices that are physically larger in size with higher energy demands have larger batteries, and thus require higher capacity chargers to expedite charging, Mazumder said. And if listed, experts told us to compare a solar power banks wattage to your devices charger when shopping.
If it says works best with a charger thats rated at 27W and higher, then go look for the 27W-and-higher charger, said Brad Saunders, chairman of the nonprofit USB-IF, in our guide to portable chargers. However, Mazumder said lower capacity chargers may still power larger devices, just at a slower rate than higher capacity options.
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How To Wire Solar Panel To 120
Wiring PV Panel to UPS-Inverter, 12V Battery and 120-230V AC Load
In this very basic solar panel wiring installation tutorial, we will show how to connect a solar panel to the AC load through UPS/Inverter, charge controller. You will also know how to connect the PV panel to the battery and direct DC load as well.
We have used a single unit system i.e. an 120W, 12V solar panel, 100Ah, 12V battery and 120/230V Automatic UPS for auto ON/OFF operation of the system. You will need all the four basic components of a solar panel installation system e.g. PV panel, solar charge controller , battery and an inverter.
The PV panel wiring can be used for both AC & DC loads. AC load can be powered by UPS/Inverter where it uses the storage energy in the battery as backup power. It can also be used without the battery if you dont need the backup power later at night or shading. This way, the solar panels will direct power up the AC load via Online UPS. In addition, the DC load can be directly connected to the charge controller .
The following solar panel wiring diagram shows that an 120W, 12V solar panel is directly connected to the 12V charge controller. Battery and inverter are connected to the battery terminals of the charge controller. DC load is also connected to the DC output terminal of the charge controller. The 120V or 230V AC load is connected to the UPS output terminals.
Basic Components Of A Small Solar Power System
Before we look at the different options for small solar power systems, lets get an idea of the basic components of any solar installation.
Small solar power systems can either be a permanent addition to a cabin, RV, or other structure or designed to be transportable so you can take it with you. In either situation, there are some basic building blocks that youll need that are common to all off-grid solar systems.
Solar panels
Obviously, youll need a solar panel. For this article, were focusing on 100-watt panels, as they are extremely common for small solar setups. These panels are typically around 4 x 2 and produce you guessed it 100 watts of electricity in perfect weather. 50 watt and 150 watt panels are fairly common as well.
Before choosing a solar panel, you need to think about how much electricity youll need to keep your batteries charged up. A 100-watt panel will charge your batteries slower than a 200-watt panel.
If your system will be permanently affixed to a roof or other place, also dont forget the mounting hardware! Your panels can be installed flat against the roof or with adjustable hardware so you can position the panels directly in line with available sunlight, thereby providing more electricity.
100-watt solar panels are widely available online and can be had for $100 to $150 pretty easily.
Battery
Charge controller
Charge controllers can be as cheap or expensive as you want, but typically range from $20 to a couple hundred dollars.
Inverter
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Portable Solar Panel Kits
These setups contain one or more portable solar panels, a battery bank, and a charge controller that regulates how the batteries charge. In addition, many portable solar panels include a kickstand or frame to prop up the PV panel at an ideal angle. Typically, the solar panels have high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells to generate more electricity in a limited space when compared to polycrystalline solar panels.
Solar Panel Charger For The Portable Outlet Cpap Battery
· Can produce a continuous yield, even on cloudy days· Easy to carry, lightweight & foldable with storage pouch
NEW from the makers of the Portable Outlet Battery!
This product is not eligible for further discounts.
18V-60W Solar Panel Charger
*Please note this item will only work with the Portable Outlet Battery.
The junction box has additional USB-A and USB-C ports. So while recharging the Portable Outlet UPS, you can simultaneously power two phones, tablets or other small electronic devices.
Features
- Made with durable, efficient Sunpower Gen III Solar Cells
- Can produce a continuous yield, even on cloudy days
- Easy to carry, lightweight & foldable with storage pouch
- Includes Type-A & Type-C USB Output Ports
- Includes 6 Foot Charging Cable
- Includes 4 Carabiner, D-Clips
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Can You Use A Solar Panel With An Outlet
It is possible to connect an outlet to a solar panel, and electricity will flow through the outlet, but the power will fluctuate, be unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous.
If you wire an outlet directly to a solar panel, place the solar panel in the sun and put a multimeter across the outlet, you will find a voltage and current being generated.
Many people consider whether they can use a configuration like this to power devices.
The answer to this is a definite no! The current and voltage generated by the solar panel will fluctuate with changing conditions throughout the day, which affects the panels effectiveness.
A cloud hiding the sun or a shadow passing over the solar panels surface will cause fluctuations in the solar panels output. This makes the output from the panel unreliable and unpredictable.
Not only can the power generated by the panel drop, but it can also spike, creating surges of power that can damage sensitive devices and appliances.
Can You Plug A Solar Panel Into An Outlet
There is another scenario where a solar panel is used with an outlet, plugging a solar panel into an outlet in your home.
This is possible if it is done correctly, with the right equipment to complement the solar panel. A solar panel alone cannot be plugged directly into an outlet.
The reasons that people consider this option usually for two reasons.
The first reason is to provide power to an electrical circuit in your home when the grid is out. The second reason is a grid-tied solution to feed power back into the grid to reduce your consumption or compensate for power generation.
This is sometimes called a plug-and-play solar system.
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Kits That You Complete Yourself
Pretty much all of the 100-watt solar kits available on Amazon or other online retailers come with the solar panel, charge controller, mounting brackets, and wiring from the panel to the charge controller. After you purchase the kit, youll have to the supply the inverter, battery, fuses, and all additional wiring separately.
These kits are a good compromise between the Goal Zero and hodgepodging your own system together. There are many companies out there making small 100 watt kits, including Renogy, Grape Solar, WindyNation, and Eco-Worthy.
Kits like these typically range from $150 to $300. How much does this set-up cost in total, after adding in the inverter, batteries, and additional wiring? Lets find out!
Heres a quick example of costs to build a solar system with one of these half-kits:
Renogys 100-watt Starter Kit, comes with the solar panel, charge controller, mounting hardware, and some wiring.
Plus extra for additional wiring and fuses.
Adding all this up, our total expense is around $700, just 30% of the cost of the Goal Zero above, which has enjoys prettty much the same specs .
Lets say youve bought all the parts and now you have to put it together. Youre not exactly sure what to do! How do you store and transport your new solar system?
Well, youve got a few options:
Small Solar Power Systems Can Charge Your Gadgets While Traveling
Are you drawn to the convenience of solar panels? Does the idea of taking a solar panel with you when you go camping, tailgating, or traveling to charge up all your gadgetry whenever you want appeal to you? If youve thought about buying a small solar power system but dont know exactly where to start, weve got you covered!
This article isnt about solar designed to power a house or cabin. Were also not talking about tiny solar panels that can only charge your phone when the sun is out. You know the ones those little solar panels you can clip to your backpack.
No, were talking about a solar system right in between those two. Systems that are small and portable, but have a battery and can charge your phone, run your lights, and charge your laptop indefinitely. Maybe you want to connect it to your RV or have an easy setup for your power supply while youre out tailgating.
Whatever youre going to do with your solar system, youve got a myriad of options available. You can buy premade kits that are convenient but expensive. There are semi-kits that youll need to add on to. Lastly, theres full-on DIY for the handy ones out there. We look at them all below. Take your pick!
, take a look at our article What are the Best Solar Panel Kits? For info on house-sized off-grid systems, read over The Basics of Off-Grid Solar.)
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