Safety Disclaimer

SolarKitHQ publishes buying guides for solar panels, portable power stations, batteries, charge controllers, inverters and solar lights for homes, RVs, campsites and off-grid cabins. Solar gear stores and moves real electrical energy. This page sets out what our content is and is not.

We do not give wiring or installation instructions

We compare products. We do not explain how to connect anything to a home’s electrical system, a breaker panel, a transfer switch or the utility grid, and we do not cover grid-tie systems. Any connection to home wiring, any roof-mounted array and any permanent installation should be planned and carried out by a licensed electrician under local codes and permits.

Ratings are the maker’s figures

Watts, watt-hours, amp-hours, voltage, cycle life, lumens and run times are reported as the manufacturer or listing states them, and we label them that way. Real output depends on sunlight, panel angle, temperature, shading, cable length and the load you connect. We do not estimate electricity bill savings, and we do not promise how long a product will run your devices.

Certifications only where stated

We mention a UL, ETL, CSA or FCC mark, an IP rating or a battery management system only when the listing or the maker’s documentation states it. If a listing states none, we say so, and the product scores zero on safety.

Batteries and power stations

Lithium and lead acid batteries can overheat, vent or catch fire if they are damaged, short circuited, overcharged or charged outside their temperature range. Use the charger and settings the maker specifies, fuse every battery connection as the manual directs, keep terminals covered, never charge a damaged battery, and keep batteries and power stations away from heat, water and children. Do not run a fuel generator or any combustion appliance indoors.

Panels, cables and inverters

Solar panels produce voltage whenever light reaches them, even when nothing is connected. Keep connectors covered until you connect them, stay within your charge controller’s stated maximum input voltage and current, and use cable and fuses of the size the maker specifies. An inverter’s surge rating lasts only a moment; stay within its continuous rating, give it room to vent, and keep it dry.

Money and incentives

We do not cover tax credits, rebates, incentives or utility programs, and nothing here is financial advice. Ask a qualified professional about your own situation.

Manufacturer instructions come first

Where anything on this site differs from the product manual, follow the manual and local electrical codes.

Questions about this page: [email protected].