The Best Solar Panel Kits with a Battery and Inverter – Complete Solar Kits That Actually Contain Everything You Need
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Hundreds of thousands of people make the switch to solar every single year. If you are one of the many people that is considering making the move to solar in 2022, you may find that purchasing all of the necessary components can be somewhat confusing and even a little bit overwhelming.
While purchasing the equipment required to build a basic residential solar power system should be fairly straightforward, many solar retailers add unnecessary confusion to the process. This is down to the simple fact that far too many solar manufacturers and specialized retailers sell incomplete systems.
Worse of all, these incomplete solar kits often have misleading descriptions, like “Complete Beginner Kit”, or “Full Starter Kit”. These product descriptions are designed to intentionally confuse beginners and have them think that the kit will contain everything the need to get started.
How Can We Help?
To help you avoid wasting your time and money, we are going to highlight and review several complete solar panel kits that actually contain every component that you need to build your own solar power system, including solar panels, a battery, inverter, and charge controller!
We will also explain why some retailers and manufacturers choose to sell incomplete kits, which will help you know what to look for, so you can avoid making a costly mistake. Whether you are new to solar and don’t know where to start, or you are an experienced solar enthusiast that is just looking for a high-quality, all-in-one solar panel kit you can add to your current solar array, we are here to help you find what you need!
Why Do Solar Retailers Sell Incomplete Solar Kits?
If you have found yourself searching for a complete solar panel kit, only to find yourself frustrated by the number of solar kits that do not contain essential components, you are not alone.
The image above details a typical “complete” solar panel kit. Note how many components are labeled as “Not Included.”
Unfortunately, this is a common sales tactic that many online retailers and manufacturers follow. While the motives for doing so vary, it is very frustrating for consumers, especially when they are first starting out.
The following are just some of the reasons why many solar retailers offer incomplete solar panel kits:
- The Kits Are Not Catered to Beginners – Unfortunately, many retailers assume that all of their customers already know what they need. Product descriptions are vague because it is believed that anyone browsing their online store already understands how each component within a solar power system functions. When a major component is missing, it is assumed that any interested customers would understand that. Put simply, many online retailers and solar equipment manufacturers do not cater their websites to beginners
- Future Upselling Opportunities: Another common sales strategy is to leave the option open for upselling opportunities and add-ons. These retailers hesitate to sell complete kits because they want to secure repeat business from their customers. If you have everything you need in one quick and easy purchase, how could they sell you anything else?
- They Do Not Carry Every Component: For some retailers and solar manufacturers, the reality is they just don’t carry each piece of equipment that is required to build a complete solar power system. For example, there are many companies that just specialize in solar panels and charge controllers, which means they do not carry batteries and inverters. These types of companies simply cannot offer a truly complete solar kit, but many still advertise so-called beginner kits. How can it be a true beginner kit if it is missing half of the components a beginner would need to get started?
- More Attractive Pricing: Some retailers choose not to sell complete solar power systems for the simple fact that it allows them to advertise their so-called “complete solar power kits” at lower prices. If you are selling to a largely uninformed consumer base that does not really know what they are looking for, being able to sell cheaper kits than those offered by your competitors could be enough to secure plenty of extra sales.
Given that batteries and inverters are two of the most expensive pieces of solar equipment, you can significantly slash your prices if you sell “complete” solar kits that do not contain these two vital components. The retailer makes a sale and the customer believes they are getting a deal; however, the reality is the customer has been misled.
- Avoiding Long-Term Customer Support Obligations: Finally, many retailers do not want to be on the hook for long-term customer support. When you buy everything from a single retailer or brand, they will be who you reach out to if you have questions or concerns in the future. Some of these retailers do not want to field these questions, so they only sell half of the components required to build a complete solar power system.
Ideally, you would buy your complete solar panel kit from a single retailer that was dedicated to providing long-term support to all of their customers.
So, What Do You Actually Need?
Complete Solar Power Kits:
One of the major causes of confusion for beginners that are unsure what they need is the fact that there are countless solar products out there offered by a wide range of brands. While this can be overwhelming for those that are just starting out, the truth is, there are actually only four main components that make up a basic solar power system – the solar panels, the charge controller, the power inverter, and the battery.
In order for your solar power system to be able to generate and store solar electricity that you can actually use to power to your electronic devices and appliances, you will need some combination of those four vital components.
When you are browsing solar kits, look for one that contains all four pieces of equipment. You should also try to find one that is capable of generating and storing the exact amount of electricity your need to meet your specific power requirements.
Solar Generator Kits:
More recently, solar generator kits have presented themselves as a practical alternative to a traditional solar power system.
If you are unfamiliar with solar generators, they are incredible convenient 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, while 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, there are now several solar generator models that are so powerful that they can act as full home backup systems!
When you purchase a complete solar generator kit, it will come with at least one solar generator and an appropriate number of solar panels to match the power rating for that particular solar generator. The complete kits also come with all of the cables required to wire the solar generator to your solar panels.
Our Recommendations for Complete Solar Panel Kits
We want to help simplify the process of finding a solar panel kit, which is why we are highlighting several options that actually contain an inverter and a battery. Rather than waste your time and money shopping through dishonest retailers that intentionally obscure the fact that their solar panel kits are incomplete, we want to help you purchase complete do-it-yourself solar kits from retailers that will actually give you everything you need in one package.
The following are just some of our favorites:
Complete All-in-One Off-Grid Solar Kits:
If you are looking for a high-capacity solar panel kit that you can use to build a complete off-grid solar power system, we recommend taking a look at this All-in-One HBK Solar Kit Collection from www.ShopSolarKits.com.
Each of their HBK Solar Kits comes with everything you need, including a two-in-one solar power inverter and charge controller, as well as multiple solar panels and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery bank. On top of that, they come with all of the cables, connectors, and brackets you need to wire everything together. They even include detailed wiring instructions and an installation guide!
Unlike many of the “complete” solar kits out there, each of these HBK Solar Kits contains every single component you will need.
The All-in-One Off-Grid Solar Kit Collection from ShopSolarKits.com is another great place to start. They carry a wide range of all-in-one solar kits that deliver varying power capabilities, and 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 are affordable, offer significantly more storage capacity than a typical solar generator, 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 and 10.5kWh worth of storage capacity, as well as 6x 335W American-made monocrystalline solar panels! This is more than enough power to run even the most demanding appliances.
For those on a tight budget, the OGK-8 Complete Off-Grid Solar Kit is an outstanding option. You get 3x 200W monocrystalline solar panels, a 4,000W split phase (120/240V) inverter, and your choice of a 2.4kWh battery, or an upgraded 5.2kWh battery bank. All of this is available at a very reasonable price and you get every single cable and wire required to get your new solar power system up and running!
If you need a little bit more power, you also have the option to upgrade to the OGK-10 Complete Off-Grid Solar Kit, which increases the output rating to a more robust 6,000W and doubles the number of solar panels you would get with the OGK-8 Kit. You also get 7.2kWh worth of usable storage capacity, so you will be able to have access to a significant amount of reliable backup power whenever you need it.
If you are just looking for a basic solar power kit that comes with everything you need to get started at an affordable price, we also recommend browsing the ShopSolarKits Complete DIY Solar Panel Kit Collection. You can easily compare and contrast each of the kits and find the exact option 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.
If the convenience and affordability that a solar generator can offer sounds more appealing than a traditional solar power system, we recommend the following solar generator kits:
This complete solar generator 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 your solar generator.
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!
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!
For those that would like to have the option to run even the most demanding electronic appliances, we recommend the EcoFlow Delta PRO EMRG Kit. This complete kit gives you 16x 100W solar panels and the incredibly powerful Delta PRO Solar Generator!
You also get two of EcoFlow’s Delta PRO Smart Batteries, which brings the storage capacity up to 10.8kWh! When the expanded storage capacity is combined with the Delta PRO’s powerful, built-in 3,600W pure sine wave inverter, your solar generator system will have enough output power to keep even your most demanding electronics running.
Essentially, this kit combines the convenience and portability of a solar generator with a permanent solar panel array. You really get the best of both worlds.
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 number of solar panels and solar cables, ShopSolarKits.com has done the hard work for you by bundling everything together. Best of all, the prices for their solar generator kits are very competitive!
Final Words
By choosing a solar kit that actually comes with a battery and inverter, as well as all of the other solar components you need, you will save yourself plenty of time, frustration, and money.
You shouldn’t have to settle for an incomplete solar panel kit. By browsing the solar power kits and solar generator kits we highlighted above, you can avoid making one of the most common and costly mistakes that many beginners fall into.
