Editorial Policy
Power gear is sold on big numbers: peak watts, battery capacity, panel output, lumens. Some of those numbers mean exactly what they say and some do not. This page answers the questions readers ask us most about how SolarKitHQ handles them, and who stands behind what we publish.
Who runs SolarKitHQ?
A small editorial team, led by the site’s owner as editor in chief. The editor writes the rules below, signs off on what goes live and takes responsibility when something is wrong.
How do you make money, and does it change your picks?
When you buy through some of our links, the retailer pays us a commission. We do not take payment for reviews, sponsored articles, guest posts or links, and no brand can buy its way into a guide or up the rankings. If two power stations are neck and neck, the one that pays us more does not win. The published specs, the safety listings and the warranty decide it.
Where do the numbers come from?
From the product listing, the maker’s spec sheet or manual, and the warranty document. We copy watts, watt-hours, amp-hours, volts, cycle ratings, lumens and run times as the maker states them and label them as maker-rated. We do not convert watt-hours into amp-hours, estimate run times or round anything up. Continuous and surge output are always shown separately, because a 2000W surge figure on a 1000W inverter is not 2000W of usable power. If a listing leaves out something you need, such as a controller’s maximum PV input or a battery’s low-temperature charging limit, we say it is not stated.
Do you use AI?
Yes, to gather listing data and draft articles. Drafts are not published as written. Every model name, spec and rating is checked against its source listing first, and anything that cannot be traced is removed. Scores follow the fixed weights on our How We Pick page.
Why don’t you show savings or payback figures?
Because they depend on your utility, your roof, your usage and local programs we cannot see. We do not publish bill savings, payback periods, tax credits, rebates or net metering claims. We compare the equipment, not the economics of your home.
Why won’t you explain how to wire a system into my house?
Connecting anything to a home’s electrical panel, a transfer switch, an interlock or the grid is work for a licensed electrician, and roof mounting carries its own risks. Our guides stop at choosing the equipment. Where a product is meant for that kind of connection, we say it needs professional installation and leave it there. The Safety Disclaimer covers the basics.
How do you treat safety marks and weather ratings?
UL, ETL, CSA and FCC marks, IP ratings and battery management features are reported only when the listing states them, and always as the maker’s claim. We never describe a product as waterproof, fireproof or military grade. A missing listing is written down as missing, and it counts against the product’s score.
Will you tell me what is wrong with a product?
Always. Every pick gets its drawbacks in writing, and every guide says who should look elsewhere, such as a panel too large for a van roof, a power station whose solar input is too low to recharge in a day, or a light with no stated battery size.
Where are the prices?
Not in our articles. Prices change too often to be useful in print. Check the retailer page before you buy. Our affiliate relationship is disclosed near the top of each article and in full on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
I found a mistake. What happens next?
Email [email protected] with the page, the claim and a source if you have one. We fix the article, update its date and note the change. We do not delete errors to hide them.