How many batteries to power a house depends on two numbers, not one. Energy (kWh) decides how long you last. Power (kW) decides what you can run at the same time, including the startup surge of an AC or well pump. Most homes run out of power capacity before they run out of energy. Electrical […]
Solar lease vs buy got more complicated in 2026. The 30% federal credit for homeowner-owned systems (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after Dec 31, 2025. Third-party-owned systems (leases and PPAs) may still qualify for a business credit (48E) for the owner, under rules that are still changing. That shifts the math between […]
Tesla’s Powerwall 3 packs 13.5 kWh of storage, up to 11.5 kW of continuous power and a built-in solar inverter with six MPPTs into a single wall- or floor-mounted unit, making it one of the most powerful single home batteries you can buy. This review walks through every spec from Tesla’s current US datasheet, how […]
Generator vs battery backup for home comes down to how long your outages last. A generator runs as long as there’s fuel. A battery is silent, instant and fume-free, but it runs out unless solar refills it. Many homes end up using both. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every […]
Grid-tie vs hybrid vs off-grid is the first design decision in any home solar project. It decides whether you need batteries, what happens in a blackout, and roughly what you’ll spend. Here’s how each type works and who it suits. Electrical work can be dangerous: follow the manual, fuse and size every cable correctly, and […]
NEM 3.0 is the nickname for California’s Net Billing Tariff (NBT). The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted it on Dec 15, 2022 (Decision 22-12-056). It applies to PG&E, SCE and SDG&E customers who submitted an interconnection application on or after April 15, 2023. The utilities call it the “Solar Billing Plan.” Its main change […]
Microinverters vs string inverters is the main equipment choice on most residential solar quotes, and power optimizers sit somewhere in between. All three turn panel DC into home AC. They differ in where that conversion happens, which changes shade performance, monitoring, safety compliance and what fails over 25 years. How Each Works Microinverters vs String […]
Are solar panels worth it now that the 30% federal credit is gone? For a lot of homes the answer is still yes, but the margin is thinner. Systems homeowners own and install after Dec 31, 2025 get no federal credit (IRS), so the full price has to pay for itself through lower bills. Three […]
According to the IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page (checked Oct 21, 2026), the federal 30% credit for home solar “is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.” That makes the solar tax credit 2026 story a new one: homeowners who buy a system this year save through carryforwards, state […]
Your solar payback period is how many years it takes for bill savings to equal what you paid for the system. Installers’ estimates often lean optimistic. With a spreadsheet, NREL’s PVWatts and your own bills, you can check them in under an hour. In 2026 there’s one big change: don’t subtract a 30% federal credit […]
