Solar, Answered.
Straight answers to the questions DIY solar buyers actually ask — written by the people who sell this gear every day, with the math up front.
Planning
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Power a House?
The real math: kWh usage ÷ sun hours ÷ panel wattage. Worked examples for 1,500–3,000 sq ft homes using 440W panels, with a complete parts list.
Read guide PlanningSolar Panel Cost Per Watt in 2026: Direct vs Installer Pricing
What solar panels actually cost per watt in 2026 when you buy direct, why installers quote 3–4x that, and how to compare panel prices the right way.
Read guide PlanningHow to Size an Off-Grid Solar System (Battery + Inverter Math)
Size an off-grid system in 4 steps: daily kWh, battery bank with days of autonomy, inverter surge capacity, and array size for your worst month.
Read guide PlanningDo Solar Panels Work in Winter? Cold, Clouds & Snow Explained
Yes — cold actually improves panel voltage. What really drops winter production (shorter days, snow cover), real output percentages, and how to design for it.
Read guide PlanningGrid-Tied vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar: Which System Type Fits?
The three solar system architectures compared: cost, blackout protection, equipment lists, and who each one is actually for. Most homes want grid-tied or hybrid.
Read guideEquipment
Can You Mix Different Solar Panel Brands or Wattages?
Yes — if the architecture allows it. When mixing panels works (microinverters), when it hurts (string inverters), and the rules for adding panels to an existing array.
Read guide EquipmentHow Long Do Solar Panels Last? Degradation, Warranties & Reality
Solar panels last 25–30+ years. What 0.25–0.5%/yr degradation really means for output, how product vs performance warranties differ, and which parts fail first.
Read guide EquipmentCan You Put Solar Panels on a Flat Roof? Mounting Done Right
Flat roofs are great for solar — with ballasted or tilt-leg racking at 5–15°. Options, weight loads, drainage, and the parts list for a flat-roof array.
Read guideWiring & Electrical
Wiring Solar Panels in Series vs Parallel: Which Is Right?
Series adds voltage, parallel adds current. How to choose for string inverters, charge controllers, and shade — with wiring diagrams described in plain English.
Read guide Wiring & ElectricalWhat Size Wire for Solar Panels? PV Wire Sizing Made Simple
10 AWG PV wire covers most residential arrays — here is when it does not. Ampacity, voltage drop over distance, USE-2 vs PV wire, and NEC 690 basics in plain English.
Read guideRegulations
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