In-depth guides, comparisons and how-tos for power stations, solar and backup power.
AC vs DC explained in one line: direct current (DC) flows one way, and alternating current (AC) keeps reversing direction. Your solar panels and batteries make DC. Your outlets deliver AC. Every off-grid or backup system exists to move power between the two, and knowing the difference makes inverters, chargers and wiring much easier to […]
Victron Orion parallel setups are allowed: Victron’s manuals openly discuss systems with several units in parallel, but they flag a few things you need to get right. A single Orion XS gives you 50A, and plenty of van and Sprinter owners want more, so the question of adding a second one comes up all the […]
To program a Victron MultiPlus-II, you need a way to talk to its VE.Bus port and some free Victron software. Victron’s manual lists the hardware as an MK3-USB (VE.Bus to USB) interface and an RJ45 UTP cable. From there you can use the VictronConnect app or VEConfigure on a computer. Here’s what each tool does […]
The solar tax credit in 2026 no longer exists for systems most homeowners buy and own. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC 25D) ended for property installed after Dec 31, 2025. A few things are left, though, and some of them matter a lot if your 2025 credit was bigger than your tax bill. […]
Amp-hours vs watt-hours comes up every time someone compares a 12V battery to a 48V battery or to a portable power station. The short version: watt-hours tell you how much energy a battery holds. Amp-hours only mean something once you know the voltage. Here’s how to convert between them and compare batteries fairly. Amp-Hours vs […]
A watts to amps calculator comes down to one line, amps = watts ÷ volts, the same relationship the U.S. Department of Energy uses for appliance energy estimates. This guide gives the formula, a ready-made chart for common voltages, and the two corrections people forget: inverter losses and power factor. Use it to size wire, […]
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 […]
Victron PowerAssist is a MultiPlus-II feature that lets you run loads bigger than your shore power or generator can supply. You set a maximum input current. When your loads go over it, the MultiPlus-II tops up the difference with power from the battery. When the loads drop, the spare shore power recharges the battery. It’s […]
Net metering vs net billing is the most important utility rule to understand before you buy solar. Both programs credit the power your panels send to the grid. The difference is how much each exported kWh is worth, and that can change your payback by years. What Happens to Your Extra Solar At midday your […]
The Ohm’s law formula is V = I × R: voltage equals current times resistance, the relationship physicist Georg Ohm published in 1827. It’s the most useful equation in DIY electrical work. It explains why cables get hot, why voltage sags under load, and why a dead short on a battery is so dangerous. Here’s […]
