Solar Products Guides, Advice & Insights

Practical guidance on solar products and equipment, including inverters, batteries, mounting systems, and accessories, with advice on selection, performance, and compatibility.

Best Solar Disk Lights

Our blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for your support! The best solar disk lights on the market right now are the Peasur Mini Solar Ground Lights. This 12-pack of flat disc lights delivers impressive brightness with a 4.9-star rating, fits seamlessly Read more »

Common Flexible Solar Panel Problems and How to Fix Them

Flexible solar panels offer advantages that rigid panels can’t match — they conform to curved surfaces, weigh much less, and install easily on RV roofs, boat decks, and van rooftops without drilling or framing. But they also have well-documented failure modes that are less common in rigid framed panels. Understanding these problems helps you choose Read more »

What Is a Power Optimizer?

A solar power optimizer is a DC-to-DC converter mounted on the back of each solar panel that maximizes that panel’s individual output, independent of how other panels in the system are performing. Power optimizers are most commonly used in SolarEdge systems: each panel gets an optimizer, and the panel-level DC outputs feed into a single Read more »

What Is a String Inverter?

A string inverter is the most common type of solar inverter used in residential and commercial solar systems. It connects a “string” — a series-wired group of solar panels — and converts their combined DC (direct current) electricity into AC (alternating current) electricity for home use or grid export. String inverters are the simplest, most Read more »

How Do Solar Pool Heaters Work?

Solar pool heaters offer a way to extend swim season without spiking energy bills. Solar pool heaters use collectors to capture sunlight, warming water as it’s pumped through, then returning it to the pool — typically extending swim season by 4-6 weeks. How the System Works Your existing pool pump pushes water through a flow Read more »

What Is a Solar Microinverter?

A solar microinverter is a small inverter mounted directly on the back of each solar panel, converting that individual panel’s DC output to AC power on the roof. Unlike a single string inverter that handles the entire array, a microinverter system has one inverter per panel — so a 20-panel system has 20 microinverters. This Read more »

Best Solar Spotlights

Our blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for your support! Solar spotlights turn your outdoor space into a well-lit haven without running another electrical cord. We tested and researched the best solar spotlights available right now, looking at brightness, durability, and ease Read more »

Best Solar Fountains

Our blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for your support! The best solar fountain is the AISITIN 3.5W Solar Fountain Pump — with over 10,000 Amazon ratings it’s the most road-tested solar fountain on the market, and at under $20 it’s the Read more »

Best Solar Fence Chargers

Our blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for your support! If you run livestock on fenced pastures without reliable grid power nearby, a solar fence charger is one of the smartest investments you can make. The Gallagher S30 Solar Electric Fence Charger Read more »

Best Solar Ovens

Our blog is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for your support! If you want to cook outdoors without spending a cent on fuel, the Haines 2.0 SunUp Solar Cooker and Dutch Oven Kit is the best solar oven on the market right now. Read more »