The Verge · Разработка · 18 мин назад
DIY plug-in solar gains momentum in the US
EcoFlow’s high-end, weatherproof, plug-in solar kit with integrated battery. | Image: EcoFlow This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started With a deep breath, I took the cable se…
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With a deep breath, I took the cable seething with 800W of solar power and plugged it directly into a standard wall jack in my home. Nothing sparked, nothing smoked, and by the end of that sunny summer day, my electricity bill had dropped to nearly $0.
As unnerving as it sounds to treat a common household power outlet as a power input , these DIY plug-in solar kits, sometimes called balcony solar, have proven to be safe and effective for years already in Europe, and are slowly making their way into the US to democratize the production of energy. They transform solar from a high-barrier capital improvement ( starting at around $15,000 ) requiring contractors, engineering permits, and utility preapproval, into an consumer appliance you can buy at a supermarket (starting around $300) and hang from a balcony railing or prop against a wall — all without the help of an electrician.
Traditional plug-in solar kits include a few solar panels and a small microinverter that ties itself to the electrical grid. The microinverter converts solar energy into power that’s prioritized for use by devices inside your home.