If you wish to reap the benefits of a solar energy but would like to forgo having a solar panel company install a solar panel system for you, then there’s great news. Solar panel kits are the DIY solution for your solar energy needs. The kits come with:
- An inverter
- Solar panels
- Wiring
- Batteries
- A Charge controller
Everything you need to get your house up and running on solar power. Some kits can even be used as portable devices, so if you’re an outdoor enthusiast you’ll never have to worry about running out of power. Got a boat or an RV? There are solar panel kits for those too.
The only downside is that the solar panels that come with these kits might not be as powerful as the ones you’d get through a solar company. You may also need to hire an electrician to get your system connected to your electrical panel. Besides the electrical connections, everything can be assembled by hand with the aid of step by step instructions. And you won’t need to drill into your roof rafters to secure your panels. But now that you know solar panel kits exist the obvious question is: which ones rank amongst the best?
Some options include:
Goal Zero Sherpa 100 Solar Recharging Kit with Nomad 20 Solar Panel
If you’re looking to power just a few appliances that aren’t power hungry then this kit will be able to meet your energy needs. It’s a 20-watt system with a price tag of $537.27. The kit is also portable, so you can take it with you on camping trips. It’s easy to use, which is always a plus. But it’s a headache trying to expand or upgrade.
- Includes Goal Zero Sherpa 100 power pack, Nomad 20 watt solar panel, and Sherpa Inverter
- 100 watt bolt-on inverter included
- 2 USB outputs
- 12 Volt output included. Please note that this will not run a DC converter
- Laptop port and tips included
Grape Solar 100-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit
If you need to power minor appliances, but you need more power than what the Goal Zero Sherpa provides, then I’d recommend the Grape Solar Kit. As the name implies it’s a 100-watt solar kit but it has a price tag of $340.99. So you’ll get more bangs for your buck compared to the previous option. And if you do decide to expand the system, you won’t experience any difficulty. The downside is you have to buy the mounting brackets for the solar panels.
- Ideal for DC applications
- Grape Solar GS-STAR-100W polycrystalline panel features a two diode junction box for enhanced performance
- 35 Amp Xantrex charge controller allows you to add up to 3 three more panels with additional cables.
- Kit comes with all cables and connectors for quick and easy set-up
- Battery not included, a minimum of one 12 Volt deep cycle battery is necessary to use this kit
Grape Solar 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit
I’d recommend this solar kit if you need to provide energy to more power hungry appliances like a fridge or if you regularly use more than one small appliance simultaneously. It’s currently being sold for $1,600. The kit is easy to use and easy to expand. On the other hand, it doesn’t include a battery or mounting brackets.
- Ideal for running small pumps and lights or charging your portable electronic devices
- Grape Solar GS-STAR-100W polycrystalline panel features a two diode junction box for enhanced performance
- 35 Amp Xantrex charge controller
- 2,000-watt pure sine Xantrex inverter with two outlets and a USB port allows you to plug in small devices
- Battery not included, a minimum of one 12 Volt deep cycle battery is necessary to use this kit
WindyNation 400-Watt Solar Panel Kit
Much like the Grape Solar 400 the WindyNation 400 is perfect for houses with power hungry appliances. It has a price tag of $1,689.99 but comes with its own mounting brackets. If expansion becomes necessary then the process will not be subject to difficulty. But the kit has two flaws. First, you need to install an inline fuse, which is not supplied with the kit, but it is easy to obtain and is inexpensive. Second, the inverter does not work well with some electronics.
- Please Note: The WindyNation 400W Solar Kit is shipped in one large box. You must completely remove the solar panels from the package to locate the accessories (charge controller, cable, connectors and mounting brackets).
- Complete kit includes: (4pcs) 100 Watt Polycrystalline WindyNation Solar Panels, Premium 30-Amp (user adjustable) LCD Display Solar Charge Controller with Battery Temperature Sensor, 40 feet of UL Listed 12 AWG Solar Cable, all necessary MC4 Connectors, all necessary mounting hardware and Installation Manual.
- PWM Solar Charge Controller has user adjustable settings! LCD Screen shows system amperage, voltage, amp-hours, temperature and DC load draw. See Image in photo gallery for all LCD Screen readouts.
- Kit will provide on average 1600 Watt Hours (Wh) or 135 Amp hours of charge per day (depends on sunlight availability)
- 5 year solar panel warranty. 25 year power output warranty. 1 year warranty on all other included components.
Eco-Worthy 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Power System
This kit is cheap compared to other kits of similar wattage. It’s sold for the low price of $784.99 but doesn’t come with its own battery. But what the kit gains in affordability it loses in performance. The solar panels that come with this kit are cheap, so don’t expect fantastic performance. Care has to be taken when assembling this kit because the wires have a reputation of being labeled backward. And if you’re expecting easy to follow clear instructions, don’t get your hopes up because you just might have them shattered.
- Ideal daily output: 2KWh (depending on the availability of sunlight).
- Basic components for off-grid solar panel system, caravan, RV, boat, Green house solar panel system.
- Easy installation with pre-drilled hole. Each solar panel comes with 90cm 12awg cable with MC4 Male/Female quick connectors.
- Waterproof IP-65 Rated Junction Box: Advanced water and dust proof level (complete protection against environmental particles and low pressure water jets).
- Corrosion-resistant aluminum frame for extended outdoor use, allowing the panels to last for decades as well as withstand high winds (2400Pa) and snow loads (5400Pa), Lightweight anodized aluminum frame and reinforced Safety and anti-Reflection coated glass 3.2mm thick (tempered + patterned).
