Last updated: October 17, 2026

This page explains how Solar Power DIY researches, writes, checks and corrects its content.

Our purpose

We publish guides about DIY solar power systems for DIYers planning small off-grid, backup and portable solar systems. Our guides focus on understanding components, sizing panels, batteries and inverters, and planning small off-grid, backup and portable systems.

How we research

  • We base our guides on manufacturer specifications and installation manuals, government energy resources such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and published electrical safety guidance.
  • We separate facts, estimates and opinion. Facts and figures link to their source; estimates state their assumptions; opinions are labeled as our view.
  • Where a guide covers safety, we link to the official source rather than restating it as our own advice, and we place warnings where readers will see them.

What we do not do

  • We do not claim to have tested or used a product unless the article explicitly describes that use.
  • We do not invent test results, scores, star ratings, statistics, testimonials or reviews.
  • We do not promise savings, output, payback periods or performance that a source does not support.
  • We do not publish hand-typed prices or “deal” claims, because they go out of date quickly.
  • We do not accept payment, free products in exchange for coverage, or sponsored placements in our guides.

Safety-sensitive topics

Solar panels produce voltage whenever light reaches them, and batteries can release very high currents. Our guides explain concepts and planning; they are not installation instructions. Work on household wiring, grid connection and higher-voltage systems requires permits and a licensed electrician where local rules say so.

Affiliate links

We earn commissions from some links, as explained in our Affiliate Disclosure. Commissions never decide which products we include or how we describe them, and articles with affiliate links say so before the first link.

Updates and corrections

We review guides when products, specifications, rules or official guidance change, and we show the date a guide was last updated. If you find an error, please contact us with the page URL and details. We review every correction request, fix confirmed errors and note significant corrections at the end of the article.