DIY home power, backup, and energy upgrades - with real parts lists. Solar, battery backup, generators, EV charging and the tools to install them – written by people who actually wire things up.
Latest guides build Will Your Battery Backup Start the Well Pump? Two Numbers Decide A 1 HP well pump needs 240 V and about a 12,000 W surge, not a soft starter. How to read the nameplate and check any inverter.
comparison Power Station or DIY Battery Bank? The Crossover Is the Second Battery A sealed power station is cheaper than building at one battery. Past the second, the rack wins. Here is where the line sits and how to find yours.
guide Volts and Amps Decide How Many Solar Panels Fit, Not Watts The voltage window and the current limit per input decide how many panels you can connect. Seven units, same panels, answers from none to 33.
comparison Does Your AC Need a Soft Starter? How to Tell, and What It Saves A compressor's startup surge decides the size of your generator or battery. How to read your nameplate, why mini splits rarely need a soft starter, and what one really saves.
guide Generator Sizing for Solar and Batteries: Watts Are Not the Answer A 5,500 W generator can still be 120 V only. Settle the 240 V question first, then size from your charge path rather than from the size of your house.
Get the printable sizing worksheet + deal alerts A one-page worksheet for sizing a battery and solar system by hand (the free calculators need no signup), plus an email when a battery, inverter or panel pallet we track genuinely drops in price. Nothing else, unsubscribe any time.