How to Find a Complete Solar Inverter Kit – Stop Wasting Your Time and Money with Incomplete Solar Kits

Oliver

Written by Oliver. Last updated:

Table of Contents

Residential and portable solar power systems are growing in popularity every single year. This exciting technology gives individuals the opportunity to generate their own electricity, which is exciting for those that live off-grid, as well as anyone that owns a RV, camper van, or remote cabin. A basic solar power system can also act as a lifeline in the event of a lengthy blackout, natural disaster, or other emergency situation.

While this all sounds great, the truth is, knowing where to start can be somewhat confusing. Far too many manufacturers and solar retailers sell incomplete systems. Not only is this confusing for beginners, purchasing a solar power system that is missing components can end up being a very expensive mistake.

How Can We Help?

In our own experience, we find that relatively few retailers will include a power inverter when they sell a supposedly ‘complete’ solar kit. Others will simply package a few solar panels with a battery and make it seem like that is all you need to get started.

If you are interested in getting started with solar, but you are unsure what you need, or how you can just purchase a complete solar kit that contains everything you need, we are here to help! Not only will we explain what you need to get started, we will point you in the right direction of some outstanding options that will fit just about anyone’s power needs.

Why Do So Many Brands & Retailers Sell Incomplete Solar Kits?

Before we go over some of the best options, we should start by explaining why so many retailers carry incomplete kits.

The Equipment is Not Catered to Beginners:

Unfortunately, there is a common trend within the solar industry to assume that consumers already have a reasonable understanding of what they need and how each component within a solar power system operates. While it does make sense that brands would advertise their products towards knowledgeable consumers, everyone has to start somewhere and hundreds of thousands of new people build their first solar power system each year.

They Do Not Carry All of the Required Components:

While it may sound fairly obvious, it is worth noting that some manufacturers and retailers simply do not carry all of the equipment required for a complete solar power system. If, for example, you were dealing with a brand that specialized in solar batteries and solar panels, it might be unlikely that they even stock power inverters, which would make it impossible for them to sell complete solar power kits.

Upselling Opportunities:

While we would prefer if it wasn’t the case, many retailers do not want to sell complete solar power systems to their customers, as it nullifies upselling opportunities. If a customer gets everything that they need to build their new solar power system in one purchase, there is very little chance that they will need to buy anything else from that retailer.

Cost Cutting:

Another reason why many solar retailers will not sell complete solar power systems is the simple fact that it allows them to advertise their “complete” solar power kits at much cheaper prices. If you are selling to a largely uninformed consumer base, low prices can set your products apart. We often find that many retailers will not sell complete solar inverter kits, as power inverters tend to be very expensive, so including one would drive up the overall price of the kit. The same can be said for batteries, which are expensive to manufacture and ship. In this sense, they are intentionally misleading customers in order to secure a sale.

Retailers Don’t Want to Offer Ongoing Customer Support:

Another reason why many retailers and solar manufactures avoid selling complete solar power systems is the simple fact that they do not want to take on the customer service responsibilities that come with selling a complete solar power system. When someone that is new to solar power purchases a complete solar power system from a single retailer, there is a good chance that they will have questions about installation and more.

Some retailers do not want to deal with the inevitable calls and emails that come with selling a truly complete solar kits. In some cases, when you buy direct from the manufacturer, they do not have the customer service capabilities to handle support that goes beyond specific questions about the equipment they sell. General questions about solar power systems can overwhelm their customer service team, so they avoid selling complete kits as a precaution.

This is why it is worth trying to find a retailer that is equipped to deal with general solar questions, as well as questions and concerns about the equipment that they sell.

What are Your Options if You are in the Market for a Complete Solar Power System?

While there are countless pieces of solar equipment that you can use to build your solar power system, there are two basic types of systems that beginners should familiarize themselves with.

Residential Solar Power Systems:

The first is a traditional residential solar power system. These systems pair solar panels with a power inverter, charge controller, and battery bank. While you can find two-in-one inverters and charge controllers, most of these systems use separate components.

Unfortunately, many retailers will advertise complete systems, but they are actually missing one or more of the required components. For example, Renogy, which is one of the biggest brands in the industry, sells a variety of solar starter kits, but when you actually look at what they come with, they are often just a few solar panels, a charge controller, and the cables required to wire the two together. They are missing half of the components required to build a solar power system.

*Note how many components are listed as (Not Included) in this Renogy Solar Starter Kit.

This Renogy 100W Solar Starter Kit is a perfect example. While a beginner may assume that a “Solar Starter Kit” would contain everything you need to get started, the kit is missing a power inverter, as well as a battery bank. This means it wouldn’t be able to convert the DC power the solar panels generate into usable AC power, and it also wouldn’t’ be capable of storing any of that power. In other words, it is incomplete, and it is missing some of the most important and expensive components a solar power system requires.

If you are just starting out, you would be much better off choosing an actual complete kit that contains everything you need. Not only will this save you the hassle of shopping for missing components and allow you to get your system up and running right away, it will end up saving you money in the long run, as buying bundled components tends to be less expensive than buying them separately.

Solar Generator Kits:

If you are unfamiliar with solar generators, they are incredible pieces of solar equipment. Essentially, a solar generator is an all-in-one unit that contains a built-in deep-cycle battery, a power inverter, a charge controller, and a variety of output ports. When paired with one or more solar panels, a solar generator can act as a complete solar power station.

One of the major advantages of solar generators is the fact that they are portable. A typical residential solar power system is fixed in place, where a solar generator is designed to go where it is needed. This explains why they are a popular option for RV enthusiasts, campers, and those that are interested in emergency preparedness.

They are also very beginner-friendly, as everything is contained within a single unit. While solar generators were fairly limited in their storage and output power capabilities when they were first introduced, today there are several solar generators that are so powerful that they can act as full home backup systems!

Our Recommendations for Complete Solar Kits

While it can certainly be frustrating and confusing when you are first starting out, our aim is to help you get started with solar in the most straightforward way possible. One of the easiest ways to do so is to simply purchase a complete DIY solar kit from a retailer that includes everything you will need in one package.

Not only will our recommendations for truly complete solar kits save you time, money, and hassle, we will try our best to highlight retailers that offer ongoing support for their customers. While complete DIY solar kits are designed to be user-friendly and fairly simple to install, you may still have questions, which is why it is so important to choose a retailer that can be relied upon to answer those questions with real-time customer support.

Solar Generator Kits:

If you are interested in the convenience and affordability that a solar generator can offer, the following kits are great options:

This complete kit pairs the impressive EcoFlow Delta MAX with 4 x 200W monocrystalline solar panels. Given that the Delta MAX is equipped with a built-in 2,016Wh lithium battery, a 2,400W power inverter, and an efficient charge controller, the kit comes with everything you need to begin storing and using solar electricity right away.

Not only do you get everything you need in one convenient package, the Delta MAX is Wi-Fi enabled and the internal battery charges at lightning-fast speeds. The battery is also expandable, which means you have the option to purchase expansion batteries to increase your overall storage capacity. This is a great option when you are first starting out, as you can easily upgrade your system as your power requirements grow, rather than having to fully replace the components.

Overall, it is a very capable solar generator that comes with everything you need to get started, including efficient solar panels and all of the cables and connectors required to wire everything together!

Where to Buy

Check Out the EcoFlow Delta Max Quad Kit

Like the Delta MAX, the Bluetti AC200P MAX is a highly capable solar generator that can act as a true all-in-one solar power system. This Nomad Kit pairs the AC200P MAX with 3x 200W solar panels. As an added bonus, buyers can choose between rigid solar panels, which are better for permanent home installation, or foldable solar panels, which are a better option for those that value portability.

The AC200P MAX offers 16 power outputs, including two wireless charging pads! It has a 2,048Wh battery and a 2,200W inverter, so it can supply power to a wide range of electronic devices and appliances. Just like the Delta MAX, the battery is expandable, meaning it can grow with you as your solar power requirements increase. It is another outstanding option for any beginner that is looking for a true all-in-one kit!

Where to Buy

Check Out the Bluetti AC200P MAX Nomad Kit

Other Solar Generator Kit Options:

If you would like to browse other options, www.ShopSolarKits.com offers a wide range of complete solar generator kits. Each of the kits contains everything you need, so there is no need to worry about missing components. They also back all of their solar generator kits with ongoing support and include their own wiring diagrams and simple installation instructions.

Rather than buying a solar generator as a standalone unit and needing to go out again to buy the appropriate solar panels and solar cables, ShopSolarKits has done the hard work for you by bundling everything together. Best of all, the prices for their solar generator kits are very competitive!

Complete All-in-One Off-Grid Solar Kits:

For those that are interested in a fixed residential solar power system, we recommend taking a look at complete all-in-one solar kits. These kits come with everything you need, including a two-in-one solar power inverter and charge controller, as well as multiple solar panels and a largescale lithium battery bank. On top of that, they come with all of the cables, connectors, and brackets you need to wire everything together.

The All-in-One Off-Grid Solar Kit Collection from ShopSolarKits.com is a great place to start. They carry a wide range of kits that deliver varying power capabilities, but they all come packaged with everything you need for a seamless installation process.

The beginner-friendly wiring instructions and ongoing customer support they offer are also really beneficial, especially for those that are just starting out.

While these kits lack the portability you get with a solar generator kit, they offer significantly more storage capacity and they can even act as whole-home backup systems.

Take, for example, The HBK-6 Complete Off-Grid Solar Kit, which comes with an inverter that can deliver 6,000W/240V of output power, 10.5kWh worth of storage capacity, and 6x 335W American-made monocrystalline solar panels! This is more than enough power to run even the most demanding appliances.

Basic DIY Solar Kits:

If you are just looking for a basic solar power kit that comes with everything you need to get started, we also recommend browsing the ShopSolarKits Complete DIY Solar Panel Kit Collection. You can easily compare and contrast the various kits and find the exact kit that meets your unique needs. No matter which you choose, you can rest assured that it will come with every single component you need in one simple package.

Unlike what you find with many other retailers, these kits actually do come with everything you need to get started. While they are not quite as big or as powerful as the WHK Off-Grid Kits, they are a great way to get started with solar. Best of all, they are budget-friendly and really easy to install.

Final Words

While it may seem somewhat overwhelming at first, building your own solar power system does not have to be a complicated or expensive process. By shopping complete solar inverter kits that actually come with everything you need, you can quickly and easily get your new solar power system up and running.

Don’t allow yourself to be drawn to prices that are too good to be true. Make sure that the solar kit you are buying contains all of the components you need. Solar generator kits are a great place to start, but they are not for everyone. If you want a permanent solar power system for your home or cabin, consider the kits we highlighted above!

We hope you liked this article. Please rate it or leave us a comment.

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.