Guides
Practical solar guides sorted by topic. Each topic has its first guide, with more on the way.
System Design & Sizing
Work out how much power you use, then size panels, batteries and inverters to suit.
- How to Calculate Your Home or Workshop Power Needs
The first step for any solar system: list what you run, how long for, and turn it into the daily energy your system has to supply.
- 12V, 24V or 48V? Picking Your System Voltage
Why system voltage matters, how it changes the current and cable size, and which voltage suits a shed, workshop or home.
Panels & Charge Controllers
Panel types, mounting and orientation, and choosing between PWM and MPPT controllers.
- PWM vs MPPT Charge Controllers
What a charge controller does, how PWM and MPPT controllers differ, and which one suits your panels and battery.
Batteries & Inverters
Home battery storage, lithium vs AGM, and picking the right inverter for the job.
- Pure Sine vs Modified Sine Inverters
How the two types of inverter differ, which appliances and tools need pure sine, and what to check before you buy.
Wiring & Protection
Fuses, breakers, isolators and cable sizing, and the parts of a system only a licensed electrician can do.
- Fuses, Breakers and Isolators for 12V to 48V Solar
What each protective part does, where it goes in a DC solar system, and the mistakes that cause fires.
Workshop & Shed Power
Powering tools, lights and chargers in a workshop or shed, on-grid or off.
- Running Power Tools Off Solar: Inverter Size and Surge
How much inverter and battery you need to run workshop tools, why motors need a surge allowance, and what runs easily.
Costs, Payback & Monitoring
What a system costs, how long it takes to pay back, and how to monitor what it's doing.
- Working Out Solar Payback With Your Own Numbers
A simple way to estimate how long a solar system takes to pay for itself, using your own bills and quotes.