And a 5kW kit? Everyone should have access to this abundant resource, which will help create stronger, cleaner, and healthier communities. And before we even get to mass adoption, can we get to the point where plug in solar panels and solar panel kits are a safe, legitimate option? 5), so you can rest assured these are all legitimate pieces of equipment that have been tested and deemed safe. Every grid tie inverter out there will disconnect when the grid goes down. This is a safety standard – a way to ensure that the wiring can safely handle all the power your panels are putting out. But the question is: are plug in solar panels as easy as they sound? Photo Credits under CC license via Flickr – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 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. All connections are hardwired, meaning they are semi-permanent connections, not simply plugs that could easily fall or be pulled out. Solar power is increasingly gaining popularity as a reliable and clean energy source for the home. Basically, you put the panel in the sun and plug it into an outlet. For years plug-in-solar wasnât practical because only large DC inverters were used to convert DC power produced by solar panels into household AC power. But here’s the issue that your local building department might have. So if you’re able to cut out your installer, you drop your total investment by thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your installation of course. 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 (chart on page 21). We strive to educate homeowners and business owners about the economic and environmental impact of going solar.. Our team consists ⦠Plug and Play Solar Panel Power with 320-Watt Solar Panels and 640-Watt Inverter; Simply Plug into Wall; Expand to 640Watts by adding more Solar Panels $599.00 - $998.00 View Options The power from the plug-in inverter gets added to the power the household breaker supplies, and any overload in daytime, may not trip the breaker, and instead start a fire. For example you could wire up your storage shed, and then plug in a freezer and fridge set really cold. But if you’re talking 4, 8, or even 20 panels (in a 5kW system), installation takes planning, knowledge, and skill. Something so easy and simple, you can just plug it in to any outlet and – boom! All of this is standard stuff for the average solar engineer, but most of us don’t have the training to do it ourselves. However, 80% of a circuit is called the safe load FOR A REASON! On top of that, if you ever move, you can simply unplug your installation and bring it with you. 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? At first read, it would appear that the 1,000 ⦠The average home could never handle it. Plug It In Solar is a solar company, that provides solar panel installations while leading the way to greener & cleaner future with solar energy!We provide our customers with reliable and efficient service while striving to educate homeowners and business owners about the economic and environmental impact of installing solar panels.. Plug It In Solar ⦠As such we have used average pricing from the installers service areas as a proxy for what this company would most likely charge for a solar system. Maybe that's just a thing where you live? In sum, outdated regulations are preventing small solar plug-and-play systems from competing in the electric market. We all get excited, then years later we are still installing panels the traditional way. Sounds pretty appealing! Responding to comments on a publicity article a few years back, Plug&PlaySolar claimed that most home wiring in the US can handle up to 2kW of electricity (which coincides with capacity of 12/2 Romex wiring common in homes), so a 1.5kW system would be fine on a dedicated circuit. This installer does not publish their standard system prices on the net. Making Plug-In Car Shopping Easy We want every plug-in buyer to have an exceptional experience. You do it wrong and you set yourself up for a lot of problems in addition to failing the inspection. Yes it is a thing in California and possibly in other states. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. It's an oversimplification to imagine an appliance drawing power directly from a solar panel, but the reality isn't that much different. If you really wanted to go all out, you could install a dedicated line that is hardwired to your solar installation, but there’s the irony: we’ve just described a conventional residential solar installation. No other loads or outlets are allowed on this dedicated solar circuit!â Adding all these additional costs into the mix, the total installation cost for a microinverter-based system adds up to $3.13 per watt. Why is putting it on your roof illegal without permits? No need for an EPC inspection, MCS ⦠To set the record straight, plug and play solar shouldn’t be some rogue op to stealthily cut your electricity bill. OK.. hopefully I can explain why I think this is a dangerous concept. Of course, the larger you go, the lower the $/watt cost and the more you could save! Plugging more devices into the same circuit runs the risk of overloading the circuit and is a potential fire hazard. A typical residential solar installation is pretty straightforward, but more complicated than the above to be sure. I am in the solar industry and I want to try and explain why this is a really dangerous thing to do. Most of us, however, probably aren’t interested in putting up a giant 5kW plug and play kit. Even if a plug and play system costs 2x as much as traditional equipment (including panels, mounting, inverter, wires, etc), it would still knock about $3k off the installation! solar adoption has inundated many jurisdictions with permit applications and inspection requests. We don’t really need to say it, but this is much, much lower than the cost of the kits above. Even now, with inverters that automatically switch off when the grid goes down, you could install a system that operates safely and that you simply plug into an outlet. Find Out Now. Well, you theoretically don’t need an installer or electrician. Just like with a traditional solar installation, you’ll be adding electricity to the grid so you’ll need to seek approval from the necessary authorities, typically your local building department and utility. Established in Los Angeles, Plug It In Solar is an electrical solar company on a mission to lead the green, clean energy movement by providing reliable and efficient service to the community! Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. SMA Sunny Boy Secure Power Supply (SPS) A lot of people find it ironic that homeowners cannot use their own solar system in the event of a power blackout. The building code would make it illegal if it is installed on the roof without a permit. They find that, for residential installations using microinverters, total equipment costs equaled $1.13 per watt (p. 21 of report). This dedicated circuit and outlet should be installed by qualified and/or licensed personnel only. Prices (as of April 2018) for systems with microinverters (like the Plug&PlaySolar kit above) are listed at: Kits include the solar panels, microinverters, mounting hardware, wires, safety disconnects (depending on size), production monitoring system, and a 240v plug. Now that we’ve run through how you can buy plug and play solar, what it costs and how much you can save, we’ll discuss why they are so different from traditional panels. But here in Virginia, the right to go solar is coming under attack, as some utilities feel threatened by solarâs emergence as a viable, competitive choice for their customers⦠These grid-tied plug and play solar kits are a great option for avoiding the cost of a full solar installation! TESLA, TESLA MOTORS, TESLA ROADSTER, MODEL S, MODEL X, and the “TESLA,” “T” and “TESLA and T in Crest” designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tesla Motors, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Tesla Motors Club LLC (TMC) is an independent enthusiast organization and is not affiliated with Tesla Motors, Inc. or its subsidiaries. The inspector can’t be there all the time to make sure you’re following the guidelines. Copyright © 2006-2020 Tesla Motors Club LLC. And I consider any time that a circuit is overloaded a dangerous situation. Let’s consider what that means for a 5kW installation (a fairly average size for a residential system): By buying the Plugged Solar Kit and installing it yourself, you could potentially save $7,660, or about 50% of what you’d otherwise spend. it's funny that they claim 120 volts is safer somehow. And these are the kinds of things that your building department will inspect before approving your installation. Legion Solar 4 - Permission Free Energy and Storage they make the statement that it is OK because they measure & throttle generation to eliminate any power going back on the grid. Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. System size. If that ever happened with a 1.5 kW solar system pumping out electricity on full blast, things could get smoky real fast. Ensupra Solar LLC (Huston, Texas) has developed and markets do-it-yourself (DIY) PluggedSolar system kits, which can be installed in one day. All rights reserved. Let’s take a deeper look and see. In sunny Arizona, one of the best places in the US to install solar, a 265 watt panel facing south will produce about 460 kWh each year. If an appliance plugs into an outlet, I'm not sure it requires permits for the electrical. According to the same report, the average residential solar installation costs $2.80 per watt (same chart above). No need for an EPC inspection, MCS Certification or The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). At Plug it in Solar we make it a simple and hassle free experience for you. Instead, you’re probably interested in a panel or two. This is due to a safety regulation put in place ⦠Use your Grid-Tie Solar ⦠– you’ve added green energy to your home without ever even hiring a solar installer. So where’s the problem with plug and play solar? Plug in solar is the easiest way to generate electricity from the sun, and lower or potentially eliminate your electricity bill. Plug and play solar is certainly doable. 5.1kW. I thought they were really on to something until I read the comments: This article was written very poorly. At between $1.60 to $3.20 per watt for the equipment, are these kits a good deal? Some solar companies that manufacture plug n play solar tends to lead me to believe that plug n play if done properly is legal otherwise they would not be selling them. Visit Plug In Americaâs PlugStar program to: Find the car that best meets your needs; Learn about tax credits, rebates and other incentives; Prepare your home for EV charging; Get connected with a qualified EV dealer near ⦠I do not know what you will get if you order this item, but I do know that you will not get a 500 watt grid-tie solar system that plugs into an ⦠What’s the alluring part? However, just like a traditional solar installation, plug and play solar requires an isolated electrical circuit to provide a similar level of safety. I've never heard of that before. Amazon.com: 1.5KW PluggedSolar with 1500Watt Crystalline Solar Panels and Micro Grid Tie Inverter, Plug into Wall, 120V or 240V AC Outlet, Utility Approved Micro Grid Tie Inverter (UL-1741). You can also buy ‘add on’ units for a discounted price to increase the size of your solar installation. While the entire kit isn’t UL listed, each individual component is (pg. Like we mentioned above though, with these DIY plug and play kits, you’re avoiding all the other costs that come with hiring a solar installer: labor, sales and marketing, their own profit, and overhead. It’s certainly doable for a DIYer, but you’ll need to really study up to ensure the safety of your family and your home, as well as your neighbors. As of this writing, the national average electricity price of $0.125 per watt means that you save $55 per year. Every 5 years or so, some new company comes along promising to change the way solar is installed. So even though the actual equipment costs are much higher than when purchased through an installer, the kits above can actually save you quite a bit of money when you do it yourself! Do you agree or disagree with our analysis of plug and play solar? RSD is required regardless of whether it is AC or DC on your roof. 4.3 out of 5 stars 619. 5): “The outdoor outlet used to plug in the Plug and Play Solar kit(s) MUST be a dedicated outlet on its own dedicated 15A or 20A circuit. Legion Solar 4 - Permission Free Energy and Storage, (You must log in or sign up to post here. RVâs equipped with Solar on the Side are outfitted with an SAE solar port This port allows you to quickly and easily plug in a portable solar panel. Done. Is something like this legal in the US? That part has nothing to do with AC versus DC. 30 ⦠they also provide some guideline for circuit to plug into. To put that more plainly, you’re getting solar panels with a microinverter attached, and the hardware to put the panels on your roof (or a ground mount for the 250 watt system). Devices would have to plug into the unit to avoid any codes issue. The ground-mount comes with a pre-made structure with 4 legs that can be bolted down and angled towards the sun. And as we see it, it’s two-fold: First, solar installations require a dedicated line going to your electrical panel. I am not going to try to track down the federal statute on the federal tax credit. Both very noble aspirations, if you ask us. Get it as soon as Mon, Feb 15. The size and depth of the lag screws depend on the weight of the system, the size of the roof rafters, and the type of wood the rafters are made from. putting it on a patio cover may not violate building code. Making any kind of holes on the roof to secure the panels with all that stuff requires waterproofing. TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. $47.99 $ 47. Not all states have adopted the latest NEC. If you install a traditional solar system, you may have to upgrade your panel due to regulatory reasons. They're are, but there are no systems out there that are legal to just "plug in." âPlug And Playâ Grid Tie Solar Inverters. It’s in the code. Solar Trickle Charger 20W 12V Solar Panel Car Battery Charger Portable Solar Battery Maintainer + Cigarette Lighter Plug Alligator Clip O-ring Terminal for Car Boat Motorcycle. They sell small, single panel kits designed for both roof- and ground-mounting. This is costly and time consuming. The one thing that solar does well is handle reduced load: if you don't have something drawing an excess of solar power, it doesn't hurt ⦠The issue likely won’t be with the utility – who really only cares that the electricity you’re sending to the grid is safe and compatible with their grid, but your building department, as they’re more concerned with the safety and integrity of your home. The latest National Electrical Code requires Rapid Shut Down. Do you value your experience at TMC? Part of this approval process is to make sure everything is up to code, as set forth in the International Building Code and the National Electric Code. This dedicated circuit and outlet should be installed by qualified and/or licensed personnel only. Solar made easy. That’s pretty tempting, huh? However, you’d need a dedicated circuit with no other appliances using that wiring – and this is something that simply cannot be guaranteed – you can’t have an inspector come around every afternoon just to check you haven’t moved your TV! These wires are sized to handle the max amount of electricity your system can produce. If you can avoid hiring an installer, you can cut out 60% of the traditional cost of solar! Does it have a UL rating? We’d love to hear your views! The beauty of plug and play solar is in its simplicity. a level of overcurrent tolerance is engineered into electrical design - EXACTLY for things like this. Plug-In Solar is a Do It Yourself (DIY) solar power system, which allows you to generate FREE electricity to power your appliances (Self Consumption). Initially, you may find solar cells expensive, so you may use them in conjunction with your existing, grid-power electricity to ⦠Another question to ask yourself: what do you know about the wiring in your house? Amazon.com: solar panel plug in. When the sun shines, they run and hopefully keep cold until the next day with sun. These panels are outlet friendly panels that are ready to produce power minutes after delivery when plugged into a dedicated outlet! Issue #2 revolves around safely securing your solar panels. Your plug-in solar panels should always be on a dedicated circuit, with no other devices plugged in. Your RV is pre-wired for a portable portable solar kit! This means you can charge your RVâs ⦠As technology gets better, safety measures improve, and installations get more streamlined, perhaps more people will opt in. Currently a few grid-tie, plug-and-play solar systems are available in the U.S. market. Actually, yes. Breakthough in Solar. Solar panels now a plug-in appliance, suggests that you can buy from Amazon.com a 1,000 watt solar panel system that plugs into your wall outlet for only $1,099. 99. 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. In a sentence, the IBC is designed to keep your house from falling down on you or a neighbor, and the NEC is designed to keep your house from going up in flames. Otherwise you’ll have unprotected holes through your roof, guaranteeing water damage down the line. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. To find out, let’s look back at that NREL report. 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. Average cost per watt. Solar Liberator claims to be offering a 500 watt grid-tie solar system that you plug-in into an outlet. You could alleviate this issue by semi-permanently hardwiring your solar installation into your dedicated circuit, but then it’s not really plug and play solar, is it? Yes, you have it connected on its own circuit during the inspection, but what about when you want to set up your holiday lights or have a party in your yard and the only available outlet is the one your panels are plugged into? Let us provide you with a quote first. Run your fans, lights, and pumps with your batteries. 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. Photo Credits under CC license via Flickr –, Does Your House Qualify for Solar? EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY. The inverter is designed to shut down if the electrical grid goes down, known as ‘anti-islanding’. Conventional solar installations are bolted to your roof with a series of aluminum rails, feet, flashing, sealant, and lag screws. In some cases that may extend to the civil permitting authority in your area. What about the 1.5kW, or even the 5kW, system we mentioned above? DC wire lengths had to be short due to huge ⦠If the DOE is seeking this type of Solar energy installations, this tells me that Plug in play is legal though some restrictions must be observed. That typical system of the same power bills over 3 instances. It is not breakthrough technology. With Legion Solar, you do NOT have to upgrade your electrical panel.Legion Solar takes advantage of the existing wiring that you already have in your home. You should know, though, that a single solar panel isn’t going to make much of a dent in your bills. However, this doesn’t alleviate the issue that the system still isn’t hardwired, and in fact exacerbates the problem if you ever added more gadgets to the circuit. No other loads or outlets are allowed on this dedicated solar circuit!”. We have several energy independence solutions available, and we will help you choose the right one for your needs! If someone is injured, restitution comes from your pocket, if someone dies in a fire or is electrocuted because the disconnected the legal source of power, it's ⦠When you hire a company to put a conventional solar system on your roof, dedicated wires are installed to connect the panels to your inverter – completely separate from your home’s existing wiring.
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