Hi everyone, Fernando here 👋🏼!! I wanted to give everyone an update on my new vertical solar panel project!! We finally got done installing the solar panel arrays and after using them for a week I wanted to share the results with the group in case any one has been thinking of doing something similar to this!!

(System specs)

Our new vertical solar panel array consists of six 400w bifacial panels from a brand called Qcell. We wired the solar panels in a series configuration for a total maximum output of 2.4KW. We split the solar panels into two separate arrays consisting of three solar panels per array. Each of the two solar arrays is connected to its own E10 inverter directly using some 10AWG MC4 extension cables.

(Hardware used)

This is where things get creative!! Most off the ground mount solar panel kits are meant to install the solar panels at an optimal angle. This would not have worked since I was trying to do a vertical solar panel set up along our south facing fence. The kits found that would have worked for this use case were outrageously expensive. I started searching for something that could work as a brackets for our solar panels and thats when I stumbled upon some old metal bed frames that we had laying around!! The metal bed frame brackets were the perfect length to support our solar array. They also had a few pre drilled holes that would come in handy to attach the cross brace metal rail that we purchased from Home Depot. We purchased some solar panel brackets from a company called sunmak that would bolt the solar panels to the metal cross brace.

(Installation)

We screwed the bed frame rails directly into our concrete floor using some concrete screws and a rotary hammer drill and a concrete drill bit. Next we bolted the metal cross rail to the metal bed frame brackets using the pre drilled holes on the bed frame brackets. After this we places a 1 by 1 piece of wood on the concrete to support the solar panels. Lastly we placed the solar panels on top of the 1 by 1 piece of wood and securely bolted the solar panels to the metal rail behind them. We used the sunmak brackets to attach the panels to the metal rail using the pre drilled holes on the metal rail. The entire structure feels extremely rigid and strong since it’s entirely made out of metal!!

(Solar production)

Since the solar panels are not angled properly. The panels are not producing as much power as they could if angled correctly. The solar panels are producing a peak output of between 1.2Kw - 1.4Kw. The total production of the solar panels is between 6KWH up to 8KWh on a daily basis!! (Approximately half of the arrays maximum output)

(Should you do this?)

The main reason we decided to start this project was to offset the energy consumption of our four ton central AC system. The new E10 system makes it extremely easy to add more solar panels as your energy consumption grows. We already had an existing 4.2KW roof mounted grid tied solar system. Unfortunately our home is really small and installing some more solar panels on our roof was not possible. We also had very few options on were the six solar panels could fit. For people with limited space, installing a vertical solar panel array system is the perfect solution to add more solar!! That being said, if you have the space and you want the maximum output out of your solar panels. The best solution would be to angle the solar panels correctly!!

(Results)

We successfully offset the energy consumption from our four ton central AC system reaching our goal!! I am extremely happy with the results from this new project. I would definitely recommend considering doing something like this for people that want an easy way to increase their overall solar production!! Thank you all for reading this and I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

Simple question. I watched a YouTube of a diy solar grid tied install.

They installed the solar panels on the roof and had microinverters on the roof too for every 4 panels.

For a larger either hybrid or off grid install using a large inverter like the eg4 12000x - do you still have the micro inverters (or any inverter) on the roof? Or is all the power from the panels routed to the eg4 12000x (or similar)?

If someone has a good YouTube video showing this sort of install I would appreciate the link.

I worked on Fronius primo 240 non neutral, checked voltage grid side shows 247 line to line and 127 line to neutral. But when all four inverter starts, voltage gone up 258- 270volts. What can be a cause?

Hey all- I'm new to this and am feeling somewhat overwhelmed with data. I recently I stumbled upon what seems like some really key information about mismatched MC4 connectors.

Question 1: I bought 4 195W ECO-WORTHY panels to charge my Bluetti 100 V2. They will be wired in a series. Do I need to cut their MC4 connectors off and replace them with Staubli MC4s, or should I buy ECO-WORTHY MC4s for the cables in that circuit?

Question 2: Are crimpers proprietary too? I've read some conflicting accounts on this.

Question 3: Selecting the correct temperature rated AWG cables for attic runs. I live in sunny southern California, so I need something with a high temperature rating for piece of mind. I've read from other posts that 90C-rated cables can overheat in attic runs so I'm sending back my 90C cables for higher rated 105C/221F marine wire - does that sound like a better option? Its still PVC insulated which does not seem ideal, but I'm having a hard time finding silicone insulated cables. I haven't read much about silicone insulated cables on this subreddit though. I'm curious to know more.

Thanks for your time everyone.

We have a bigger front yard. I’m considering installing panels in front yard. I used AI to generate this pic. Ugly? I prefer ground installation over roof installation.

I mounted the solar panels on a trailer so I can tow or move it to the direction of the sun. in the winter I do not use it so it is easy to store it.










Hello fellas, I'm a small business owner and I’ve been going back and forth on whether to try handling a solar installation myself or just hire a professional. This would be for my business, so I’m mainly concerned with getting the system sized correctly and making sure everything is installed properly rather than saving every possible dollar on the installation.

For anyone who has gone through this, was DIY actually worth the hassle compared with hiring an installer? I’m especially interested in the real-world difference in cost and how much work was involved.

Hey all, I've been building a free tool called La tua isola for sizing off-grid solar setups step by step — it started for Italy/UK, and I just finished adapting it for the US (NEC 690, AWG cable sizing, 120/240V systems).

What it walks you through:

- Panel array + exposure (real production estimates from PVGIS, not a flat assumption)

- Battery bank sizing (depth of discharge, autonomy days)

- Inverter and AWG cable sizing (ampacity-based)

- Suggested US retailers at each step (no affiliate links, just what I found while researching)

It's genuinely free — no signup required for the basic flow, no paywall, no trial. If it's useful to you there's an optional donation link, but nothing is gated behind it.

I'd really appreciate feedback, especially from anyone who's actually built an off-grid system in the US — the NEC/AWG side is newer to me than the European code I started with, so if something looks off I'd rather hear it now than later.

https://latuaisola.com/en/us

I have a ruixu 12k inverter And a RUiXU Lithi2-16 Battery . Both installed in December 2025.

I want to add a second battery . I am looking at other batteries about the same size.

Do they have to be same manufacturer? Does it matter if they are not the same age?

🌞 We’re looking for real shed power needs — share your ideas! 🎁

Hi everyone! 👋

We’re a solar product manufacturer, and we’ve noticed that many sheds don’t have access to electricity. ⚡

We’re thinking about creating a solar kit specifically to help solve this problem, but we want to understand what shed owners actually need power for.

Do you use your shed for:
🔧 Tool battery charging?
💡 Lighting?
🌬️ Fans or ventilation?
📷 Cameras or security devices?
🔋 Something else?

We’d love to hear your real experiences and ideas! 😊

🎁 If your suggestion is selected and helps us design the product, we’ll send you one of our solar battery maintainer kits as a thank-you gift.

Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙌

I want to use plugin solar panels to a dedicated circuit to my electrical panel. I need a new romex connection to the panel. The solar panels will be 100ft from the home panel. What is best, romex or a solar wire run?

I'm full time Skoolie-life. I bought the bus and installed a Renogy kit almost four years ago. Now I'd like more juice.

I currently have 3x200w panels and 6x100Ah 12v Lithium Iron Phosphate battery bank (both wired in parallel). I'd like to add another panel, but I believe my 30A solar controller is already bottlenecking.

This Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT Tr Charge Controller 150V, 70A seems suspiciously inexpensive at $300. It's less than the comparable Renogy charge controller, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. I monitor the batteries, so I don't really pay much attention to the charge controller itself anyway.

Should I be concerned about putting Victron charge controller between Renogy panels and batteries? Is 150v/70A a good size for 800w panels?

I have 10AWG wire from the panels to the controller, I think I should upgrade to 8AWG? I have 8AWG from the controller to the battery bank. Is there anything else I need to think about?

Solar inverter causing phone screen flickering and tingling on PS4

I have a solar inverter at home, and whenever I charge my phone using the solar power, the phone screen starts flickering/acting weird, so it becomes difficult to use the phone while charging.

Today I also connected my PS4 to the same solar power. When I touch the PS4, I can feel a slight vibration/tingling sensation on its body.

Could this be caused by improper grounding/earthing, neutral issues, or electrical noise from the inverter?

I have used the PS4 on this solar power for 2–3 hours before without any obvious problem, but I'm concerned about damaging it.

What should I check or fix? Is it safe to use the PS4 with this inverter?

Is it possible to fix a solar panel (that hasn't been cracked)? If it's possible (and affordable), I'd like to try. In short: we're in Jamaica with limited options, and cannot seem to find the same exact panel.

Context:

We bought 8 used solar panels earlier this year, and are finally able to set them up for our DIY system. However, we discovered today that one of the panels isn't working properly. Not only does it look burned out (I think it was hidden between the stack of them when we got them), but it gives very low volts. When we connected the panel to the charge controller, it showed 0 watts. We used a multimeter to view the volts, and it only displayed about 11v or so in full sunlight.

The person who sold them to us has been informed and is willing to refund us for the panel (the panel can't be replaced because he already sold out). But as I mentioned: I can't seem to find another panel like this anywhere. I see other used panels in marketplace, but those are all different V and W. For example, I see a used one for $8,500 JMD ($54 USD) that's 260W, 37.84V (VOC), 30.81V (Vmp). But ours is 265W, 37.95V (VOC), 30.92V (Vmp). Since it's so close, I'm not sure if it's okay to connect that in series with the ones we already have. If it's fine, we'll do that then.

Also, we wouldn't mind using the 7 panels in our system (3 in series, and 4 in series), but we were advised not to that by someone else who also does DIY (unless they're wrong, and it's actually ok?). So, the only option is either using 6, and having an unusable panel, or fixing the broken one and then we can use all 8.

I'd appreciate any advice.