Before You Start: Check Your Space

Before buying a system, assess your space:

  • Direction: South-facing is ideal. East or west-facing will generate 15–25% less power. North-facing is not viable.
  • Shading: Nearby buildings, trees, or overhangs that shade your panels during peak sun hours (10am–3pm) will significantly reduce output.
  • Space: A typical 400W panel is about 2m × 1m. A 600W system needs two panels. Make sure you have room.
  • Outlet access: You need a standard 120V outlet within reach of the battery unit's power cable (usually 3–5 meters).

Step 1: Choose Your Mounting Solution

There are several mounting options that don't require permanent modifications:

  • Balcony railing mounts: Clamp-on brackets that attach to standard balcony railings. Most systems include these. No drilling required.
  • Ground/floor stands: Adjustable stands that sit on the balcony floor. Panels can be angled for optimal sun exposure.
  • Window mounts: Suction cup or tension-rod mounts for windows. Less efficient but useful if you have no balcony.
  • Flat roof mounts: If you have roof access, weighted ballast mounts require no penetrations.

Step 2: Position the Panels

Optimal panel angle is equal to your latitude. In New York (40°N), angle panels at 40°. In Los Angeles (34°N), angle at 34°. Most balcony railing mounts allow 30–60° adjustment.

If you can only choose one angle, 30–35° works well for most of the US and maximizes summer production when days are longest.

Step 3: Connect the System

Plug-in solar systems are designed to be simple to connect:

  1. Mount the panels in your chosen location
  2. Connect the panel cables to the battery unit (usually MC4 connectors — they only fit one way)
  3. Place the battery unit indoors, near an outlet
  4. Plug the battery unit's output cable into the wall outlet
  5. Download the manufacturer's app and follow the setup wizard

The entire installation typically takes 30–60 minutes. No electrician required.

Step 4: Configure TOU Settings

In the app, set up your Time-of-Use schedule:

  1. Enter your utility's peak hours (usually 4–9pm on weekdays)
  2. Enter your peak and off-peak rates
  3. Enable automatic TOU optimization

The system will then automatically charge during off-peak hours and discharge during peak hours, maximizing your savings.

Step 5: Monitor and Optimize

After installation, monitor your system for the first week:

  • Check daily generation against your expected output
  • Verify the battery is charging and discharging at the right times
  • Adjust panel angle if generation is lower than expected

Most systems show real-time generation, battery state, and estimated savings in the companion app. Look for systems with apps that display real-time monitoring, TOU scheduling, and historical savings data.