Hello! Hopefully this is the right community for this question.

I’ve started small with solar by getting a 100W panel that connects to a battery that I charge daily and use it to charge things like my laptops or other devices.

I want to start adding additional panels and sending that solar power into our home to use throughout.

As I vaguely understand it, I can get a grid-tie microinverter and then plug panels into that? Will this work? Do I need different type of panels? Do all the panels need to match in specs/watts? It has MC4 (I think?) cables and bullet output.

How are yall sending solar to your home without getting a full on roof mounted solar system?

Thanks!

EDIT: in California

  • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
    8·
    26 days ago

    With the existing 100W panel you have it isn’t really worth it, but there are relatively cheap mini systems these days that are sold under the term “balcony solar” that can plug into a regular outlet and feed power into your home network.

    • venusaur@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      26 days ago

      For sure. At least it’s something for now. Easier than the battery system I got going on. I was planning on adding more panels anyways. Probably like the ones you’re talking about. Do they all have to be the same or I can mix and match panels on the microinverter?

      • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
        4·
        25 days ago

        Panels can have different voltages, so you can’t just randomly mix them. And those mini-inverters have maximum capacity you can’t exceed (typically 800W).

        • venusaur@lemmy.worldOP
          2·
          25 days ago

          Ah so they can have different wattages but voltage has to match?

          If you exceed capacity it doesn’t just cap?

          • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
            3·
            25 days ago

            It depends if they are linked in series or in row, but yes, typically it is better to have them all with the same open-circut voltage.

            I guess most will have an overload protection, but with these cheap ones I would stay on the safe side and not add so many panels that an overload can easily happen.