A few solar companies have begun selling plug-and-play home solar systems that promise to reduce electricity bills by letting you harvest power from the sun and produce your own renewable energy. They also offer the promise of a much cheaper option than a conventional system from a solar installer. But can they really live up to that promise? And are they safe to use?
The answer to both questions is probably yes, but there are some big caveats. As a starting point, it’s important to note that these types of kits do not qualify for the same tax credits and rebates that are available to homeowners who install solar panels through an installer. They are also likely to require a building department or utility approval, which could add cost and complexity.
For instance, most home wiring can only handle a max of 2kW of electricity (which coincides with the capacity of the 12/2 Romex wiring found in most homes). If you have a 1.5 kW or 5 kW plug and play system pumping out electricity at full blast, it could overload that circuit and cause a fire.
This can be overcome by semi-permanently hardwiring the system to a dedicated circuit, but that’s not really plug and play solar if it requires an electrician to do so. And even that solution is not without risk – it’s possible to overcharge a battery, which can be dangerous and lead to fires.
