Years of living with solar power taught me these 12 myths are simply wrong

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Solar savings depend heavily on location.

Solar panels can cause burns, shock, or death.

Plug-in solar needs a battery during power cuts.

Renewable energy is a topic that seems to be mired in a fog of war of myths and nonsense. It seems that everyone has an opinion, and a polarized opinion at that, and myths and nonsense are common on both sides of the debate. And these myths aren't helping people who want to figure out if solar is for them or, if they've taken the plunge, get the most out of their investment.

Also: Considering plug-in solar? My expert advice after setting up the DIY energy tech at home

Time to do some mythbusting. I've been using portable solar generators and solar panels for years, from small 100 W portable units to arrays that can capture thousands, to simple but effective plug-in solar systems that shave a few bucks a month off the power bill. I know what I'm talking about, and I'm happy to tell it like it is.

Myth 1 (and 2): You'll save loads/none at all from solar panels

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