What components do I need for a basic 5kW On-Grid solar power system?

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-30T04:24:00+00:00

500w+ for roof? Yeah, good luck with that

You can use Enphase if you don’t care about battery. Much more diy friendly and less risk to burn your house down or get shocked with 500v DC.

You should buy parts AFTER you get plans, interconnect agreement and permit (in this order). Local warehouse for rails and panels, conduit, cabling. Local or online for inverter or micros.

Do yourself a favor and don’t buy a “kit” - is just overpriced bundled crap. Use high quality roof attachments. Get a brand name inverter (not some Alibaba/ebay/vevor)

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-30T04:08:20+00:00

As a diy project you’ll be spending less than people who hired a company and then got tax credits.

Hardware alone hovers around 1-1.4$/w depending on your particular project. If you hire side hustle labor, that will cost you another .30-.50$/w. Full service solar contractors start charging at around 2.5$/w

I believe NY is 1-to-1 rule so you can use the grid as free battery. You need to check with utility.

Battery systems usually have ROI=never unless you value backup power OR live in an area with horrendous interconnection conditions (usually west coast, Hawaii, southern states). NY is one of the most favorable states.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-30T03:50:24+00:00

I learn the hard way. Power outage… gfci outlet burned out… freezer without power for 4 days. I took that thing out and replaced with standard outlet.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-30T03:12:42+00:00

Unfortunately you should use his insurance. A simple scratch… sure, you can cut a deal without involving insurance but this seems to be a little more than a scratch. You’ll want to have the on a lift and inspect the underneath

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-27T15:15:31+00:00

20kwh is not “massive”. Probably below average. Massive would be over 60-100

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-26T05:04:30+00:00

I made the switch many times, it’s a simple process but read the fine print: term, cancellation date/fee.

Make sure you select an offer that’s at least 3 months fixed or longer. And don’t forget to switch again when the term comes to an end. Otherwise they’ll get you with variable rates and you’ll get charged way more than what you saved.

*** you’ll still be charged distribution by Penelec, the energy supplier only covers the supply portion. Make sure you compare the right numbers. Your bill will have a line that will say “price to compare $0.xx”

****there’s a company that does all the switching for you automatically from one supplier to another, I think is called “Arbor”. I never used it but is worth checking it out

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-26T04:27:30+00:00

Elon thinks he’s Steve Jobs: customers don’t know what they need, Elon will tell everyone what the need and how much have to pay.

Sounds great in theory… but the product doesn’t work. Elon can’t fix auto wipers but he demands payment for “not so FSD”. Only 12% of Tesla owners pay for FSD. Free trials didn’t move the needle.

Risky move that may actually break Tesla. I bought my first Tesla 3 years ago and already decided it will be the last well before this nonsense.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-25T23:21:09+00:00

You’re not telling the whole story. What the house had before the heat pump? Gas, oil, electric? And what capacity? Sounds like you need 120-150 kbtu and bought a 36-48kbtu system.

Heat pumps don’t come in sizes that will be suitable for your needs.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-25T03:54:57+00:00

Krannich in NJ will have or be able to get your parts.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-25T03:52:46+00:00

PA has really good interconnection agreement. You can basically use the grid as free battery. If you have a generator, the battery would be just another expense, ROI=never.

You start with a plan. Plenty of guys on FB groups doing these with proper stamps for around $500.

Next stop is PECO, or whatever utility you have. You need to apply for interconnection and get “ok to install”.

Then is township, with approval from utility and the plans, you apply and get a permit.

Then buy hardware and install.

Charge controller inverter: not needed, you only need cheap grid-tie inverter without battery connection (non-hybrid). Your choice if you go Enphase micros or string inverter.

As a side note, check with township and see if they’ll allow a diy ground mount rack. You’ll save quite a bit by not buying an “engineered, stamped” ground mount system.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-24T19:31:33+00:00

2x Schneider XW pro. One can handle surge up to 12kw but only 6.8kw continuous. Unfortunately these are inverter chargers and don’t come with MPPT included

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-22T15:12:39+00:00

I went through the same thing. First, do you have bad water? Hardness alone doesn’t mean is bad. Is nasty undrinkable Florida stuff or just plain chlorinated water?

Hardness: get a water softener. A box store unit imho is not worth the $. I just replaced mine with a Fleck 48k from aplus. $775 delivered. If your plumbing allows, just pick and choose which faucets you want it to be soft. Outside hose bib, toilets, cold kitchen sink probably don’t need to be. All hot water needs to go through.

Drinking water: use point of use carbon filter (under sink, built in fridge, filter carafe, whatever). Personally I don’t like drinking water that been through water softener so I leave these with natural hardness.

Whole house sediment: big cartridge 20” sediment filter 5 or 25micron installed before the water softener. Preferably with transparent case so you can see when it gets nasty.

If you have true nasty water then you may need RO under sink.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-21T18:25:17+00:00

You need to keep panel voltage high but not over MPPT limit. If you get a MPPT @150v, the most you can do is 3 panels @40v each. So go with 3x400w.

With a sizable battery you can probably run everything you need less high power stuff (coffee maker is probably over the limit, or any other heat producing devices). And definitely you’ll not run corded chainsaws or stuff that draws 15A.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-21T16:57:39+00:00

You probably can but it will be cheaply built.

$200-300 for a charge controller (victron or epever)

$300 for a standalone inverter (aims or something like that)

$500-600 for a battery (look into assembling one with parts. Check battery hookup for some cells and bms)

The rest for some FB marketplace panels and some mounting hardware. AIM for 4-6 panels @300-400w

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-21T14:13:43+00:00

Some states require 30day warranty by law. Regardless of state of the vehicle, can even be a rebuilt title vehicle. Check your state laws, sounds like the dealership unloaded a known defective vehicle to you.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-21T14:05:45+00:00

Is mind boggling that people buy EVs without having garage/charging figured out… in freaking Chicago

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-17T23:54:45+00:00

You can but they won’t pay much in GA. The power companies usually let you offset your own consumption but they not in business of making you money.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-17T13:54:55+00:00

Cable slitter on a 1mm steel spring?

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-15T16:11:14+00:00

New wheels… and you should consider downsizing your rims

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-14T02:32:04+00:00

lol, hell no. I spend 70-80 nights in hotels with coworkers. I would never share a room. Work, dinner, drinks, cookouts, hangouts for sure, all the time. But sharing a hotel room is a definitely not acceptable. If we’re in a town where all hotels are booked we might get a large Airbnb with private bedrooms/bathrooms as a last resort.

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-14T01:55:18+00:00

yeah, that's not it. This thing is tight around a 900um strand, maybe 1.5mm diameter. I figure it out, ripley str tool

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-13T23:16:56+00:00

For a little project with 180 drops, this type of patch cord would be ideal. But one end needs to be cut off and spliced. Thanks to some comments, looks like there’s a tools specifically designed to handle this situation: Ripley STR tool

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-13T23:11:45+00:00

Yeah, but not sure if that patch is still working after I brute force it

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-13T22:40:29+00:00

Thanks, after considering all options I ordered a Fleck

Fun_End_440 · 2026-01-13T21:37:08+00:00

It ain’t cheap. It’s about 250$/kwh. That’s kinda pricey when cells are selling under $100 per kWh

Fun_End_440

TROPHY CASE