Best Home Solar Panel Kits – Reviews and Newbie Guide 2020
Anyone who has invested in the best home solar kit will tell you that it’s one of the best ways to reduce energy bills—by almost half!
Millions of US residents love that these affordable kits help them tap into the 100% free energy. Most of them rely on them as a backup or emergency source of energy.
If you’re considering investing in a home solar kit, it’s important to note that these kits are created differently.
They differ in efficiency and performance. And knowing how to sort them out will help you get the perfect kit for your home.
In the following post, we’ll review the 10 popular home solar kits available on the market today to assist with your search.
Image | Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
Enter your text here... | Renogy Phoenix 210Wh/150W Portable Generator All-in-one Solar Kit |
Is Home Solar Kit Worth It?
If you’re confused about whether investing in a home solar kit is really a wise idea, this is your part.
We’ve come across many other homeowners wondering about the same thing. And based on our research, we can assure you that these kits are 100% worth it!
The best solar kit for the average homeowner is incredibly affordable. A good solar panel for powering smaller loads will cost you around $100, while more demanding applications (say an entire residential building) will require you to spend into a more complex kit of around $5000.
Keep in mind that the average utility bill in the US is $100plus every month. If you do your maths around this figure, then you’ll agree with me that your home solar equipment will pay itself in a matter of a few years.
And yes, with the current technological advancements, it won’t be long before the cost of solar energy units starts decreasing.
Right now, most companies will offer you to 25 years’ warranty for accessories and efficiency rating—further proving the worthiness of this investment.
Other benefits that make solar energy units worth every cent include reducing your reliance on the non-renewable energy sources, location dependence, etc.
10 Best Home Solar Kit Reviews:
1. GVSHINE 30W Foldable Solar Panel Lighting Kit
Let’s kick off our solar panel kit reviews with this 30W foldable solar panel from GVSHINE. This is a highly popular home solar kit have been used in many homes to reliably provide them with electrical energy and light during emergencies such as hurricanes, snowstorms, or even blackout.
Case in point, the solar system was heavily employed around 2017 in Puerto Rico following the events of hurricane Maria.
Inside the box, you’ll get a 30W solar panel, 4 LED bulbs, iPhone and Android chargers—making it a COMPLETE system for meeting your electricity needs during an emergency. The fast universal charge ports conveniently charge all your devices. And the multiple outlets allow you to light several LED bulbs.
Because the solar panel has a high waterproof grade design, it can withstand the harshest outdoor conditions. No more fear of rains, hurricanes, snow, etc., interfering with your solar equipment.
Keep in mind that the solar panel weighs as light as 9.9 lbs. This partly makes it easy to install and partly makes it easy to carry. If you combine the lightweight and foldable design, you’ve got a highly portable solar panel that you can take with you to any place.
Highlighted Features:
2. WindyNation 200 Watt Solar Panel Kit
WindyNation 200 Watt Solar Panel Kit is another complete set that comes with everything you need to start producing FREE power from the sun! The kit finds wide usage in homes as great backup power. It’s also used in RVs, cabins, and boats.
The complete package features 2pcs 100W solar panels, 40ft solar cable, all the needed MC4 connectors, and a user adjustable 30A solar charge controller with digital display. This digital display provides you with crucial system info such as charging amperage, battery temperature and voltage, load draw amperage solar-generated amp-hrs., and more.
Even better, it comes with all the mounting hardware you need to install it, plus a quick guide. These make the installation straightforward for you, even if you’re not a solar systems expert.
Previous users of this solar kit praise it for it reliably. Most of them depend on it to power their camper pumps and lights. They also love that it’s fairly easy to install and has all the key components included.
Highlighted Features:
3. Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit
If you’re just looking to get started into the solar energy world, this Renogy 100W starter kit is a great choice for you. The kit enjoys applications in trailers, RVs, sheds, boast, and cabins—where it gives you a free source of power for 100% grid independence.
First of all, it’s important to note that this is a monocrystalline solar kit…and as you might have heard before, these units are usually more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts.
Just like the previously discussed kits, this one also comes with all the key components needed to start harvesting solar energy. These include a 100W 12V solar panel, 30A charger controller, 20ft MC4 Adaptor Kit, and an 8ft tray cable. Not to forget the Z-brackets which make the installation part easier and faster.
Keep in mind that the kit has a negative grounding controller for maximum safety and broader off-grid application. This is especially true when using the solar kit on vehicles with the battery negative on the chassis.
Highlighted Features:
4. WindyNation 400 Watt (4pcs 100W) Solar Panel Kit
Also from WindyNation, we have this 400W panel kit which is designed for RVs, boats, homes, remote power use, and backup power. What sets this bundle from its competition is that it comes with everything you need to start enjoying free solar energy—including the inverter and batteries!
Inside the box (or is it boxes), you’ll discover 4pcs 100W polycrystalline solar panels, 4pcs 100Ah deep cycle batteries, solar charger controller, battery interconnect cables, solar cables, and all the necessary MC4 connectors for hassle-free wiring.
Since the kit also comes with all the necessary mounting hardware, setting up this solar kit in your home or camper will be pretty easy and fast.
Overall, if you’re looking for a bundle that comes with EVERYTHING you need to start producing solar energy, this kit is the perfect choice. By supplying you with all the key components, this kit will help you save money and time, no doubt!
Highlighted Features:
5. Renogy Phoenix 210Wh/150W Portable Generator All-in-one Solar Kit
Another from Renogy makes it to our list of the best solar panel kits. This is the BEST kit for those who want something they can carry with them whenever they go. The all-in-one solar kit comes with a smart suitcase design, with a compact and lightweight design…and a sturdy handle for easy carry.
The incredibly portable back-up solar energy system brings together 2 high-efficiency Renogy 10W monocrystalline solar panels. This enables it to supply you with as much as 210Wh of energy—a dependable amount for lighting and powering your devices. The kit has multiple ports lined on its side—including USB cable, AC, DC, CIG ports for the ultimate user convenience.
And yes, you can expand this kit’s energy output by adding up to 100W external solar panel. How to do this? It comes armed with a PV terminal that makes the expansion hassle-free and fast. Remember the kit comes with replaceable 16Ah Li-ion battery to give you the capability of limitless power.
Again, this solar kit is the perfect travelers' companion for mobile as well as off-grid applications. It has everything you need to generate power in one place, so you’ll never to be stranded with lack of power when out for a weekend trip or during an emergency.
Highlighted Features:
6. GVSHINE [6W Panel Foldable] Solar Mobile Light System
For all your lighting needs, this is the ideal solar kit for you. Featuring an incredibly affordable cost, this system will generate enough power to light up your space, whether you’re camping, farming, fishing, or working in any place with no electricity supply.
The full kit includes a 5V 6W polycrystalline solar panel with a foldable design for easy transportation, up to 4 cell phone chargers, and up to 2 LED lights. As you can easily see, this kit has everything you need to start illuminating your area. The 2 LED bulbs will save you the additional costs of buying bulbs.
The controller box carries a rechargeable lithium battery which stores the energy harvested from the sun. the indicator light on this box helps you determine the amount of light stored in the battery—with green translating to almost full capacity and red meaning very small power left.
Whether you want a complimentary lighting for emergency or indoor, this mobile solar light system will work for you. It not only illuminates but also charges cell phone and other digital devices. It’s a great light source for areas with no electricity supply.
Highlighted Features:
7. ECO-WORTHY 25W 12V IP65 Solar Panel Kit
This solar panel from Eco-Worthy is an excellent choice for powering DC appliances such as the fan, LED light, chicken coop linear actuator, to name but a few.
The package comes with crucial components needed for solar energy production. You’ll get one 25W solar panel, 3A 12V/24V solar charger controller, 1m solar panel cable, and 2m extension cable with battery clips.
The solar system boasts of a long-lasting construction characterized by IP65 waterproofing and anti-corrosion aluminum frame. This means that this solar energy kit can withstand outdoor weather conditions for decades to come.
Don’t forget that this is one of the few solar kits with the lowest standby current you can get on the market today (as low as 0.15ma). the 12V/24V controller works tirelessly to protect your battery from getting damaged.
Highlighted Features:
8. WindyNation 200 Watt (2pcs 100 Watt) Solar Panel Kit
It’s WindNation once more! This is one of the best solar panel kits that allows you to go completely off-grid, or at least come to your reserve in case of emergencies or blackouts. Like its cousins from WindyNation, this kit is also designed with cabins, RVs, homes, and boast in mind.
When set up, this kit is capable of supplying your home with a whopping 800 Watt-hours worth of solar charge or 67Amp charge hours a day, depending on the sunlight availability. The solar panel comes in 2 pieces, each rated 100 Watts.
Apart from the solar panels, the manufacturer has also included a 1500W power inverter, 30A charger controller (with digital display), solar cables, MC4 connectors, and installation brackets. All these facilitate problem-free setup for your kit.
If you want a backup power source or off-grid power without breaking the bank, this solar kit is hard to beat. It has all the key components you need at a fair cost. And it has a high dependability score as rated by previous users.
Highlighted Features:
9. ECO-WORTHY 12 Volt 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel Kit
Our second last spot goes to this 12V 100W home solar kit from Eco-Worthy. Like all the other kits we’ve featured above, this one comes with all the basic components for off-grid solar energy applications. It’s ideal for use in RVs, trailers, cabins, sheds, boats, and homes.
The complete kit comprises of one 100W monocrystalline solar panel, 20A solar charge controller, and solar cable with MC4 connectors. The solar panel is monocrystalline in nature, which means it has high conversion efficiency. Depending on sunlight availability, this panel can supply you a whopping 500Wh every day.
The user-friendly 20A charge controller has a digital display where you can read crucial system status and data. It also helps shield system damage which might arise from overcharging, reverse, or open circuit.
With the pre-drilled holes at the back of the solar panel, installing (mounting and securing) this panel is the easiest part.
On top of all this, Eco-worthy has invested heavily in the construction of the panel to ensure it can withstand outdoors for an extended period of time. This is evident from the anti-corrosion aluminum frame and waterproof IP65-rated junction box.
Highlighted Features:
10. ECO-WORTHY 800 Watts Solar Panel Kit
Of all the best solar panel kits for home we’ve reviewed in this list, this kit is a MONSTER—it has the highest power output, which makes it one of the most sought after solar panel kits on the market today.
The Exclusive solar system kit features a total of 8 high-efficiency silicone solar cells which work as a team to ensure they produce enough power to light up power most appliances around your home or workplace.
The Eco-Worthy package also comes with a 300W solar power inverter which has a surge capacity of up to 6000Watts. Again, this proves our point that this kit can supply enough power for the average American household. What’s more, the kit comes with a 60A charger controller, 15ft cable, heavy-duty aluminum combiner box, and all the needed mounting brackets.
See, everything you need is included in the box!
Overall, this solar panel kit is popular with the commercial RV retrofitting. It’s widely used to provide power for household, sheds, light poles, gates, and more.
What To Look For Before Getting One?
If you’re planning to buy a home solar kit for the first time, you might get confused about what to look for and what to ignore.
In this part, we take a closer look at the key factors to look for when shopping for a new home solar kit.
1. Maximum power output
You should start by determining the total power output of the solar kit you want to purchase to determine if it’s going to meet your needs.
The standard solar panels are usually rated 100Watt. This means a kit with more solar panels translates to higher power output (in multiple of 100W).
The total Wattage of the solar system you want to purchase will help you determine if you can use it for small or large loads.
Remember: the greater the combined wattage, the more power (and the greater the load) the solar panel kit can handle.
2. Number of volts
Apart from wattage, you’ll also need to determine the number of volts produced by the solar kit.
This is crucial in that it helps you determine the type of battery you need. Most of the home solar panels produce up to 12V. Though you can find larger capacity models that produce up to 48V.
Generally, a 12V solar panel is sufficient to power basic devices and appliances around your home.
3. Ease of installation
You’ll also want to look for a solar panel kit that’s fairly easy to set up at your home.
The best home solar kit should come with the mounting hardware (brackets and bolts) to help you hassle-freely mount the solar panel(s) on your roof or any other flat surfaces.
Units that come with pre-drilled holes make the installation job even easier.
For the sake of starters, an easy-to-follow instruction Manual on how to connect the various kit components will come handy.
4. Warranty
Just like any other electronic product, it’s highly recommended that you look for solar panels that come with manufacturer warranty.
The best warranty policy should guarantee against the system failure due to manufacturer defects or environmental conditions.
An extended warranty is also a good thing. Most manufacturers will offer you up to 10-year warranty, which is quite long.
Keep in mind, though, that the best manufacturers have warranty periods extending up to 25 years!
Pro TIP: What’s included in the package?
As you might have noted in our reviews section above, most kits come with basic items which include solar panel(s), cables/connectors, and mounting hardware.
Some manufacturers go ahead and include a charge controller, inverters, batteries, and other specialized hardware in their bundles.
We believe that the more items a solar kit comes with, the better. This is because it’ll save you the money and time you might spend looking for the additional components.
Plus, a package with all the components saves you from the frustrations of getting parts that aren’t compatible with each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s included in a complete home solar kit?
At the very least, a complete home solar kit should come with a solar panel(s), charge controller, and solar cable to help you connect the panel(s) to the controller.
However, some kits also come with additional items such as power inverter, mounting hardware, fuses, batteries, connectors, and cables.
We suggest that you look for kits that come with more items as it helps you save costs on additional components of a solar panel kit.
2. How much does a home solar kit cost?
A solar panel kit which reliably powers small loads can cost you as low as $100. If you want to power a bigger load or go completely off-grid, then you’ll need to dig deeper into your pockets and spend between $1000 and $5000.
3. What’s the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels?
The KEY difference between these two types of solar panels is the material used to construct them.
The monocrystalline panels are made from monocrystalline (i.e., single continuous crystalline structure) solar cells while the polycrystalline units are made from polycrystalline solar cells.
Don’t get it twisted though; both types of solar are made from crystalline silicone.
Keep in mind that the type of material used to manufacture the two types of panels greatly affects their efficiency. The monocrystalline models are more efficient due to the highest-grade silicone used to manufacture them.
4. Can I install a home solar kit on my own?
The small solar kits for home we have reviewed in this guide are quite easy to install and you can do the setup on your own.
You just need to follow the manufacturer instructions and arm yourself with a few tools. You can also count on the tutorials on the internet to help you install your solar kit.
However, keep in mind that the installation process can get complicated when dealing with bigger solar panels, from 1000W and above. If you don’t have much experience in solar panels, you might be confused with the installation and wiring of the components.
In such cases, you’d want to hire a professional to do the job for you.
5. What extra items/accessories do I need?
If you get a solar panel kit with everything you need to start producing electricity, then you’re lucky! You won’t need to spend on additional items.
The KEY components for successfully creating a 100% functional solar energy system include the solar panels, solar charge controller, battery, wiring & connectors, and the mounting hardware.
Which of these components is missing in your package?
The answer to this question is the extra item(s) you need to buy.
Most bundles lack a battery, which is a vital part of the system, so you’ll need to buy one separately.
Quick tip: we highly recommend you to invest in a deep cycle battery as it’s designed to withstand continuous heavy use (which is what harvesting solar energy is all about).
6. How many solar kits does an average home need?
The number of solar panels you need will heavily depend on the wattage of each panel, amount of sunlight you receive in your region every day, and your daily power consumption (Ampere-hours).
Use this formula to help you determine the right number of solar panels to get for your home…
No. of solar panels= daily electric load /individual panel Watt * hours of sunlight.
To get your daily electrical load: multiply the total wattage of your home appliance with the number of hours they’ll be running.
Final Verdict
Solar energy is one of the most popular types of free, renewable sources of energy across the US today.
The obvious benefits that come with using solar energy include a reduction in your monthly energy bills. The solar energy also acts as a great backup during blackout or emergencies.
When looking for the best home solar kit, you should have crucial info at hand like your power requirements. This will help you easily choose a solar panel kit whose power output matches your needs.
Our list of the top solar power kits for homes above features 10 kits that will meet the need of different homeowners.
Our Other Buying Guide:
