Think Solar Power Is Complicated? This Beginner’s Guide Proves It’s Not

Can I confess something to you? “Sure,” you say, “We are pals, you can tell me anything.” 

When I first got started, I was really scared of solar power. You grin, and say, “That wasn’t very bright of you.”

I will ignore your sad pun attempt. In reality, I thought solar panels, solar generators, and the like were big complicated things. My experience with them was seeing them on houses or spread out in dizzying arrays in a solar generator farm.

Solar power seemed inaccessible, locked behind technical knowledge and skill. Like the people who understood it had halos glowing about their heads while I was mucking around in the dirt.

But let me tell you something else. That is not true anymore. Solar power is readily available for beginners and noobs alike and it is so easy that a child, as long as they can read, could set it up. 

Today we are going to talk through some of the biggest “barriers” people experience when think about solar. By the time we finish, you should be convinced that even you, born with a complete lack of technical skill, can enjoy the benefits of solar panels and solar generators. 

You Don’t Need a Roof, A Screwdriver, Or a Technician for Solar Power

If you go the route of portable solar panels and a power station (the combination collectively known as a solar generator), you don’t need any tools. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration because you will need a scissors or knife to open the box it comes in but that is about the extent of tool proficiency needed.

Of course, you can get elaborate set ups that require tools but for panels like the Anker SOLIX PS400, it's just unpack, unfold, angle towards the sun, and you got power. 

And they don’t have to be on your roof. Find a sunny spot, any spot whether it's your balcony, your backyard, your local park (but don’t leave it there alone), or on top of your van while its parked, and that is good enough. 

And you don’t need a ton of skill. Once you open your panels, set them up in the sun, its as simple as plugging in the right cord to the right place on your power station and hey presto, you are charging with solar. 

You Can’t Fry Anything (Really)

Believe in yourself! 

Most modern solar generators have built in protections, things like charge controllers and the like. A good, high end model like the Anker SOLIX C1000x won’t let you burn it up with too much solar input, the MPPT controller inside the power station will throttle the charge coming for safe charging. 

On top of that, the reality is that for companies like Anker, Ecoflow, Jackery, and the rest, the more beginner friendly they make solar panels and power stations, the more units they will sell. It has gone from a niche field to solar power for everyone. The products are purposely designed to be easy to use, even for first timers, because it moves more units.

Of course, do your research and get educated on how it all works. That will help you feel confident in your decisions and give you the best experience. 

If you can charge your phone, you can use solar. 

Debunking Common Myths About Solar Generators

Let’s shine some light (pun so intended) on some of the most common myths and dispel them.

Myth 1: Solar Takes Forever to Charge

Truth: What people should say is that Solar takes longer than using AC or a Generator to recharge. Solar is not slow anymore. For example, with a good set up and a sunny day, you can take a beast of a power station like the Anker SOLIX F3800 home back up generator and recharge the thing in 2-2.5 hours. 

Just to repeat to drive the point home, you can take a total home power generator solution, you know, something that can power your freezer, fridge, and more, and fill it back up in as little as 2.5 hours with solar.

Yes, that is in perfect conditions so take it with a grain of salt. However, that is impressive and by no means should be called slow.

Myth 2: You Need Perfectly Clear Skies to use Solar

While it is true that you get your best results on perfectly clear days with ample hours of sunlight, you still can use solar in less than idea settings. The following breaks down expected solar output under different cloud conditions based on sources such as U.S. Department of Energy, NREL, and solar manufacturers.

One solution to this issue is to add more panels to capture more light. For example, the solar input on an Anker SOLIX C1000x is 600w. If you add in more panels to double that, your charge controller will protect your power station by metering the charge down to just 600w even if your panels are producing more. On a cloudy day, when one panel wouldn't give you your full input, two panels will get you up to or closer to the 600w max.

It is important to note that if you live in an environment that is typically cloudy and rainy during the times you most expect to need solar capabilities, you may want to consider a different route. 

However, as long as your day gives you a few hours of sun, you can use solar. Just keep your expectations realistic. 

Myth 3: It’s super expensive.

Not true. A basic, reliable home backup power station such as the Ecoflow DELTA Pro and 4 Ecoflow 400W Portable Solar Panels (to give you the max 1600W input), you are looking at, depending on sales, around $7,000. This is a home backup level system.

You can get a great system that will keep the essentials like freezers and fridges for just over a touch over $1,000. (Anker SOLIX C1000X and a Anker SOLIX PS400 Solar Panel).

Myth 4: You have to do wiring.

We touched on this briefly at the beginning but no, there is no wiring you have to do other than plugging your panels into the power station. If you are chaining several panels together, the connections are simple. Anker, Jackery, and Ecoflow clearly label everything and use one way connectors that can’t be reversed. 

If you can plug in an extension cord, you can use solar panels and a solar generator. 

Solar Power is for Everyone

It didn’t take me long to realize my initial impression of portable solar panels and power stations were incorrect and that, even someone inept with tools such as myself, can use solar panels successfully. 

If you have remaining questions, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a chat, shoot us an email, and let us know your solar panel and solar generator questions!