Guides — United States
Every guide answers its question in the first two sentences, dates every price, and names every source. 434 published, grouped into the questions buyers actually ask.
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Start with your question
What should I buy, and how do I not get cheated?
29 guides
FixesWhy is my inverter beeping?
5 guides
SystemsHow do I size it, and what changed with net billing?
86 guides
ElectricShould I go electric, and what will it really cost per km?
21 guides
MoneySchemes, instalments, loans — what can I actually get?
288 guides
ReportsWhat do the numbers say?
5 guides
All guides — page 3 of 19
Systems
How do I size it, and what changed with net billing?
How Many Solar Panels for a 2,500 Sq Ft House? Sizing & System Guide
Calculate solar panel count for a 2,500 sq ft home, evaluate EIA electricity consumption data, and size array kW, panel count, and roof space.
How Many Solar Panels for a 3,000 Sq Ft House? Sizing & System Guide
Calculate solar panel count for a 3,000 sq ft home, evaluate EIA electricity consumption data, and size array kW, panel count, and roof space.
How Many Watts Does a Chest Freezer Use? Solar Guide
Calculate chest freezer wattage, compare chest vs upright efficiency, evaluate manual defrost energy savings, and size off-grid solar and battery storage.
How Many Watts Does a Dehumidifier Use? Solar Guide
Calculate dehumidifier wattage, compare portable vs ducted units, manage basement humidity levels, and size off-grid solar panels and battery storage.
How Many Watts Does a Dishwasher Use? Solar Guide
Calculate dishwasher wattage across wash and heating cycles, evaluate water and energy efficiency, and size home solar and battery storage systems properly.
How Many Watts Does a Dryer Use? Solar Sizing Guide
Calculate clothes dryer wattage, compare standard electric vs heat pump efficiency, evaluate solar inverter capacity, and size battery storage correctly.
How Many Watts Does a Pool Pump Use? Solar Sizing Guide
Calculate pool pump wattage, compare single-speed vs variable-speed affinity laws, cut filtration runtime, and size a dedicated solar system properly.
How Many Watts Does a Sump Pump Use? Solar Sizing Guide
Calculate sump pump wattage, evaluate running vs starting surge power, examine battery backup systems, and size emergency solar power for storm resilience.
How Many Watts Does a TV Use? Solar Sizing Guide
Calculate TV wattage by screen size, evaluate UHD 4K and refresh rate draw, minimize sleep mode vampire loads, and size solar panels and battery backup.
How Many Watts Does a Washing Machine Use? Solar Guide
Calculate washing machine wattage, compare front-load vs top-load efficiency, optimize cold wash cycles, and size off-grid solar and battery storage.
How Many Watts Does a Water Heater Use? Sizing Guide
Calculate electric water heater wattage, compare hybrid heat pump vs resistance efficiency, evaluate installation space, and size solar and battery storage.
How Many Watts Does a Window AC Use? Sizing Guide
Calculate window AC power requirements from 5,000 to 34,000 BTU, understand variable-speed inverter savings, and size solar panels and batteries accurately.
How Many Watts Does an Electric Oven Use? Sizing Guide
Calculate electric oven and range wattage, compare induction vs radiant efficiency, check circuit requirements, and size solar inverters and battery backup.
How Many Watts Does an EV Charger Use? Sizing Guide
Calculate EV charger wattage across Level 1 and Level 2, evaluate standby power draw, compare charging rates, and size a dedicated home solar system.
How Many Watts Does an RV AC Use? Solar Sizing Guide
Calculate RV air conditioner wattage, evaluate running vs starting surge amps, examine soft starters, and size off-grid solar inverters and battery banks.
How Much Energy Does a Solar Panel Produce Per Day?
A modern 400 W panel yields roughly 1.3-1.6 kWh a day averaged over the year. The derivation from peak sun hours, the losses, and how to get your number.
IronRidge BOSS Structural Splice Guide: Tool-Free Bonding and Span Rules
IronRidge BOSS splice guide: tool-free bonded structural splice for XR rails, UL 2703 equipment bonding, 1" expansion gap, and no cantilever restrictions.
IronRidge CAMO Hidden End Clamp Guide: Invisible Fastening and Coastal Rules
IronRidge CAMO guide: invisible tool-free end clamp for 99% of panels, 90-degree cam lock, flush rail aesthetics, and coastal saltwater exclusion rules.
IronRidge FlashFoot2 Roof Mount Guide: Flashing, Sealing, and Concentric Loading
IronRidge FlashFoot2 guide: 3-tier water seal raised 1 inch, concentric lag loading, 7/16" socket, TAS-100 wind-driven rain testing, and 2:12 to 12:12 slopes.
IronRidge UL 3741 Rapid Shutdown Guide: Photovoltaic Hazard Control Without MLPE
IronRidge UL 3741 guide: Photovoltaic Hazard Control without MLPE up to 600V, NEC 690.12(B)(2), Tesla MCI-1 and Solis inverters, and UL 1565 wire routing.
IronRidge XR Rails Buying Guide: XR10, XR100, and XR1000 Structural Comparison
IronRidge XR rails guide: compare XR10, XR100, and XR1000 spans up to 12 feet, 6000-series aluminum alloy, ASCE 7-16 wind ratings, and UL 2703 bonding.
kW vs kWh in Solar: The Difference That Decodes Every Quote
kW is speed, kWh is distance: one rates the machine, the other fills your bill. Master both units and every quote, battery spec and utility tariff reads itself.
Off-Grid Solar Systems: The Complete Starter Guide
Off-grid means the battery IS the grid: panels oversized for December, storage sized for cloudy streaks, loads that fit the budget. Architecture and trade-offs.
RV Solar Power: The Guide to Sun-Powered Boondocking
RV solar is a small off-grid system on wheels: 12/24-volt house banks, roof or portable panels, a load budget in camp days. Sizing tiers and the pre-wire trap.