Yes. Plug-in solar panels are legal to buy, own, and use in California. SB 868, the "Plug Into the Sun Act," is currently moving through the California legislature and would formally reclassify small plug-in solar devices as household appliances, eliminating any remaining regulatory gray areas. All Bright Saver kits are UL certified and meet the highest safety standards.

Place the panels on a flat, sunny surface in your backyard, facing south or southwest. Connect the panels to the microinverter, then plug the AC power cord into a standard 120V outdoor outlet. The system starts generating power immediately. Most customers finish in under 30 minutes. No tools required beyond what's in the box.

No. Plug-in solar operates independently of your rooftop system. It doesn't connect to your rooftop inverter, electrical panel, or net metering agreement. You keep your NEM 2.0 rate. California net metering agreements allow expansion of up to 1 kW, which is exactly what the NEM expansion kits provide.

The kit must plug into a dedicated circuit — an outlet with its own breaker, nothing else on it. If you're not sure whether you have one, an electrician can check and add one if needed. This is typically a quick, inexpensive job.

Outdoor outlets also need a GFCI protection and a weatherproof cover.

As a result, minor electrician work may be necessary.

The NEM Pro Kit includes: two or four 410W solar panels, one 120V UL-certified micro-inverter, aluminum ground mounts with adjustable angles (40–75°), all cables, and access to the smartphone monitoring app. Each panel is approximately 7 ft × 4 ft and weighs about 45 lbs.

The NEM Go kit includes the same components with the exception of the panels. There are four 250 W solar panels, each aproximately 5 ft x 2.5 ft and weighs 26 lbs.

NEM Pro: All components are covered by a 10-year manufacturer warranty, including the solar panels, micro-inverter, mounts, and cables. Solar panels typically last 25–30 years.

NEM Go: Same as above but panels are covered by a 5 year warranty with a 25 year output guarantee.

NEM Go: Free shipping to California addresses.

NEM Pro: Free pickup from our Oakland or Los Angeles warehouses. Local delivery is available within 50 miles of Oakland for an additional fee (includes installation support). We currently serve California only.

No, the system will shut down immediately in case of a power outage for safety reasons. It does not provide backup power, even if it includes a battery.

Many cities do not require a permit for portable solar systems, but please check your local rules. Putting the solar kit together is comparable to assembling furniture, and our team will assist you if you choose the Delivery option. However, you may need an electrician for these reasons:

1. The Net Metering Expansion Kit and the 4-panel Backyard Solar with Battery system have to be plugged in to a dedicated circuit, i.e. to an outlet that has its own dedicated circuit breaker. If such an outlet is not available, please have an electrician install one.

2. The Backyard Solar with Battery system comes with an optional energy monitor (Smart Meter CT) for optimal performance of the system and to minimize backfeeding to the grid. This device is mounted in your breaker panel, which is also a job for an electrician.

It will simply increase your existing rooftop solar array's output by up to 900 W, which is below the 1 kW expansion that some utilities allow under existing net metering agreements. Please consult with your utility to find out whether you have to register the expansion with them.

No. This is a separate system that gets plugged into an electrical outlet, while any existing solar inverter that you may have is probably hard-wired to your home. That said, the generated electricity will mix with the energy from your existing inverter if you have an existing solar installation.

Yes, we highly recommend Astral Electrical if you're in the SF Bay Area

The Net Metering Expansion comes without a battery because it is intended to be a simple extension of your existing solar installation. If you have existing solar and wish to add a battery, you can purchase the Backyard Solar with Battery kit. Please note however, that the battery will not provide backup power to your home during an outage.

You can move the system just like your garden furniture. You will just need to have any electrical work (dedicated circuit and/or Smart Meter CT) redone at your new residence if applicable.