| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Watt (W) / kilowatt (kW) | How fast power is used or made. 1 kW = 1,000 W. More |
| Kilowatt-hour (kWh) | How much energy, total. The number on your power bill. More |
| Solar array | All your panels together. More |
| Peak sun hours | Hours per day of strong, full sun. Winter has fewer. More |
| Charge controller | Moves panel power safely into the batteries. |
| MPPT | The efficient kind of charge controller. More |
| PWM | The cheap, simple kind of charge controller. More |
| Inverter | Turns battery power into normal wall outlets. More |
| Inverter-charger | An inverter that can also charge batteries from a generator or the grid. More |
| All-in-one inverter | Inverter + charge controller in one box, common at house size. |
| Hybrid inverter | Works with the grid and batteries, and keeps power on in an outage. |
| LiFePO4 | Lithium iron phosphate: the safe, long-lasting battery chemistry for solar. More |
| Server-rack battery | A 48V LiFePO4 battery that stacks in a rack. More |
| BMS | Battery management system: the battery's built-in protection brain. |
| Depth of discharge (DoD) | How much of a battery you use. LiFePO4 handles deep use; lead-acid doesn't. |
| 12V / 24V / 48V | System voltage. Higher suits bigger systems. More |
| Split phase (120/240V) | How US homes get both 120V and 240V (well pumps, dryers). |
| Days of autonomy | How long batteries carry you with no sun. |
| Ground mount | Panels on a frame on the ground: easy to reach, clean and angle. |
| Shore power | Plugging a van or RV into campground power. |
| DC-DC charger | Charges a van's house batteries from the engine while driving. |
| Soft starter | Tames the startup surge of a well pump or AC. |
Get the exact setup
A few taps and you'll know exactly what to buy for your situation.