If you are considering solar panels for your home, you may have thought about buying your own solar equipment in order to lower your costs. A simple google search will reveal dozens of results where a regular homeowner can get their own solar panels delivered. Most will ship right to your door and at most they will cost a few thousand dollars rather than the tens of thousands of dollars you may have been quoted to have a professional solar installer purchase and install solar equipment. What is with these kits? Is the product any good? Is purchasing your own solar panels a good option? In this article we will dive into the world of purchasing your own solar equipment and what to expect if you were to go down this route.
Knowing How Many Solar Panels You Need
Purchasing solar equipment will often be one of the last things a solar installer does before they come to your home. This is because there is a standard process which involves surveying, design, engineering, permitting, and applications. It is only once the final solar design has been approved and engineered, and once the permits are approved that most solar installers would even dream of ordering equipment. This is because things can change in terms of design, approvals, and site constraints.
In order to determine the number of solar panels you might need, first look at your electricity bill. Whether on the physical bill itself or through your online customer portal, the number you are looking for is the “Last 12 Months Use (KWH)” for the home. This is the number you will ideally be offsetting with solar panels.
How much power your panels will produce to offset this usage will depend on any shading on the home, the roof pitches and orientation, as well as the inverters used. To properly identify how many panels you would need for your roof, would require some knowledge in solar design and engineering. Without doing the necessary calculations, you may not be buying enough solar panels to meet your needs or more solar panels than you need altogether.
Are These Online Solar Packages Any Good?
Some of them are decent building blocks of a solar system, but others not so much. There also seems to be a limited selection in solar panel products. Solar installers should be able to get better quality solar panels from distributors for a similar or better price point. You may see a solar panel you consider to be “high wattage,” however the wattage of a solar panel doesn’t mean too much because panel dimensions can vary widely. Some panels are short and wide and others are tall. The increased wattage can just mean bigger panels — not higher efficiency. Solar installers will judge a product’s quality by its efficiency more than its wattage. An efficiency shows just how good that product is at producing solar energy. Further, the “watts per square inch” give a better idea than the overall total wattage.
Additionally, solar installers want to buy solar panels from reputable companies with solid warranties. Most good installers have been in the game long enough to unfortunately have seen some solar panel companies come and go. Solar installers want to be able to trust that the brand is good, and that their warranty promise provides protection not just to the homeowner but to the installer themselves in future headaches and servicing costs.
Buying The Equipment Isn’t The Whole Picture
There is much more equipment involved in a solar installation than just the solar panels. If you were to buy a kit online, you would likely only have a sliver of what is needed to build a functioning solar energy system on your roof. A fully function solar energy system includes:
- Solar panels
- Solar inverters
- Racking and mounting hardware
- Wire guards (also known as Pest guards or critter guards)
- Rapid shutdown components (required by code)
- Wiring and electrical components
- System monitoring
If any of those components are missing or incompatible, the system could be unsafe, and possibly not even be able to be turned on and connected to the local utility grid.
DIY Solar Installations
With your online solar panels purchased, you have two options — do it yourself or find an installer to do the work for you. Completing a DIY solar installation is not recommended unless you are a licensed electrician or you are completely off-grid and powering a small structure. Otherwise be prepared to handle the following aspects of a solar panel installation:
- Code Compliance and Permitting – Municipalities have strict permitting processes that include electrical codes, fire setbacks, and engineering requirements. If you’re a homeowner submitting your own applications, you must provide proper documentation. In some areas, homeowners must actually use a registered installer to even begin the process.
- Utility Interconnection and Net Metering – Getting permission to operate (PTO) from your utility isn’t always guaranteed. Utility companies will require stamped diagrams, interconnection agreements, and proof that the system meets standards.
- System Installation – Solar installation involves working on rooftops, potentially dealing with live wires, and installing electrical equipment exposed to weather 24/7. Mistakes can be dangerous for you and your property. It is not recommended to install your own solar panels without property safety measures and certain comfortability with heights and electrical work.
- Solar Incentives – Some state and utility rebate programs only apply to systems installed by certified professionals. In states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) require system certification through the state’s clean energy program. Be sure you are able to get your SRECs if you DIY, otherwise you are leaving a lot of money on the table.
- System Warranty – Buying solar panels online may void the manufacturer’s warranty if not installed by a certified professional. For example, premium panels like REC Alpha Pure-RX require installation by a Certified Solar Professional to qualify for their full 25-year product and performance warranty. You will also be missing out on the installers warranty, and the ability to have your system serviced if need be within your warranty period.
Even if you’re handy, managing a solar project can be more work than you think. You would be responsible for:
- Researching and ordering compatible components
- Scheduling deliveries
- Filing permits
- Coordinating inspections
- Managing interconnection paperwork
- Handling warranty claims
For many homeowners, the time and effort involved quickly outweighs any perceived cost savings. We would not recommend the average homeowner undertake this work themselves.
Getting a Solar Installer to Install Your Purchased Solar Panels
This might be the trickiest part of buying your own solar equipment — getting an installer to actually agree to install it for you. Despite what you might think, most solar installers aren’t making much money off the product itself. Most times, they are looking for the best deal on a quality product that they can then pass on to their customers.
The problem lies in the hesitation to get involved with factors outside of their control and putting their workmanship warranty on a solar panel system with products they had no say in purchasing. Their installation crews are going to be sharp on one or two products, their design, permitting, and engineering team will be set up similarly. The whole process is built around the installer controlling the quality every step of the way.
Other reasons why solar installers would be hesitant:
- System compatibility – Beyond just the solar panel, a solar installer is going to have an inverter selected which works well with the solar panels they normally install. The inverter will be selected based on the wattage of the panels they are combined with. If you purchase your own solar panels, it can mean that they may also need to change their inverter technology.
- Warranties – As mentioned previously, buying solar panels online may void the manufacturer’s warranty. A solar installer may also be uncomfortable with putting their own workmanship warranty on a system with solar panels they did not purchase themselves.
- Quality control – The solar installer may feel uncomfortable not having sourced the equipment themselves from distributors they trust for their expertise in safely shipping solar equipment with no damage.
Why Work With a Reputable Contractor Like Public Service Solar?
Although you may be able to source a decent solar panel at a decent cost yourself, be prepared for the implications of what that might mean for you. Your options after purchasing this equipment is to either DIY the installation or try and find a solar installer who will do it for you. At Public Service Solar, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida go solar the right way. We handle the job from start to finish and offer:
- Full-service installation — from permitting to final inspection all completed by in-house employees.
- Premium, warrantied equipment like REC panels and Enphase microinverters. When installed by certified professionals, you don’t miss out on warranties.
- Lifetime workmanship warranty and long-term monitoring support. We’re here to help with your system for 25 years.
- Help with incentives — SRECs, Solar Tax Credit, and Net Metering.
With our experience and in-house crews, we make the process smooth, transparent, and hassle-free. Contact Public Service Solar today to get started on your solar installation.
