Power your setup with the sun — and buy the right gear the first time.
Research-backed buying guides for DIY, off-grid, and portable solar. We dig through owner reports, forum threads, and teardowns — so you don't have to. No sponsored picks, no marketing fluff.
We cover panels, power stations, charge controllers, and batteries you install and use yourself. We do not cover rooftop installer quotes or commercial solar projects.
Browse by category
Solar Panels
Rigid, flexible, and portable panels — what actually matters off the roof.
Portable Power Stations
Battery boxes that replace the generator — sized by what you plug in.
Charge Controllers
The small box between panel and battery that decides how much power you keep.
Batteries & Storage
The power you keep for after dark — chemistry, capacity, and honest cycle life.
Latest guides
Guides are on the way. Our first batch of DIY and off-grid solar buying guides is being researched now — check back soon.
How we research
We help you buy the right solar gear the first time — real setup costs and owner-report research, not manufacturer hype.
We don't take a manufacturer's word for anything. For every guide we read hundreds of owner reports, comb through forum threads, watch teardown and review videos, and compare specs against real-world complaints — then translate marketing claims into what they mean for your setup: how much power you actually get, and what the full kit costs once the panel, controller, wiring, and battery are all counted.
Vendors can't pay for placement. When you buy through a link on our site we may earn a commission — that's how the research gets funded, and it never changes our recommendations. Read our full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is this site really independent?
Yes. We don't sell gear, and brands can't pay for placement. Our recommendations come from aggregated owner experience and published measurements — not from whoever pays the highest commission.
How do you make money?
Through affiliate commissions: when you click a link and buy, the retailer pays us a percentage at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure page for details.
What's the first thing a beginner should work out?
How much power you actually need. Add up the watts and hours of what you plan to run, then size the panel and battery to that number — a panel bought before the maths is done is usually the wrong size. Our guides walk through the calculation before any product is recommended.
Do you cover rooftop solar installations?
No. This site covers DIY, off-grid, and portable solar gear you buy and set up yourself — panels, power stations, charge controllers, and batteries. Rooftop installer quotes and commercial projects are a different market and we don't cover them.