GoKawiilThe brains of plug-in solar is the microinverter. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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Plug-in solar uses microinverters to feed power into a household system.
So far, in the US, only Utah has passed legislation to allow such systems.
These systems cost about $2,400 and will take years to pay off.
Ever since handling my first tiny solar panel quite a few decades ago, I've been fascinated by them. The fact that a bit of glass had the ability to harvest power from a big nuclear orb 93 million miles away blew my mind back then, and continues to blow my mind now. Since then, solar panels have grown in size and efficiency and dropped in cost to the point where it's becoming economically feasible for you and me to buy panels and generate our own electricity.
But what do you do with that power?
Also: I've tested dozens of power stations - here's how I'm preparing for summer blackouts
Up until now, you've had two options. You could have a standard rooftop solar system, have that professionally connected to your home's electrical system, or you could connect your panels to a portable power station, and use that to power devices in your home. The downside to the first option is cost, since installing solar panels on your roof and connecting them to your electrical system is a professional job. The downside to the second option is the limitation of having all the power flow through a power station.
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