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Solar unlocks free energy from the sun, but it isn’t as simple as “buy panels, get free electricity.”
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A Reddit user preparing to buy a home in central Connecticut asked whether a DIY solar setup with battery storage could handle charging two EVs that together cover about 650 miles each week.
The motivation was to reduce exposure to steep power costs, but commenters suggested the main challenge may be regulatory rather than mechanical. 
According to a Reddit thread, the poster was considering an EG4 inverter and sub-panel connected to roughly 15 kilowatts of solar panels and 30 to 60 kilowatt-hours of battery storage. They said the concept was meant to cost less than full-service solar-plus-battery proposals while still allowing grid charging when solar output is low.
People responding to the post pointed to similar systems already in use. One commenter said their home has 12 kilowatts of solar and 50 kilowatt-hours of batteries on an EG4 setup that runs in off-grid mode, charging an EV from the battery until storage drops to 20% and then switching to grid power: “A perfect solution for us.” Another commenter said an EG4-12000XP with a 30-kilowatt-hour battery bank can also be configured for grid charging if it is tied into the correct breaker.
One commenter approached the question by estimating the driving load first. At 0.3 kilowatt-hours per mile, 650 miles of weekly driving comes to about 195 kilowatt-hours per week, or roughly 28 kilowatt-hours per day. Using 3.5 winter sun hours as an example, the same commenter said that around 10 kilowatts of solar would be the starting point, while 15 kilowatts “leaves cushion.” Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without any upfront costs. Homeowners looking to go solar can use EasyHome to explore potential savings from vetted installers in their area.
A commenter from central Connecticut said Eversource’s distributed-generation rules may leave little room for a middle-ground approach. In that person’s reading, there is “no ‘semi-off grid’ with Eversource,” and adding a second system could mean installing another meter socket, possibly upgrading the pole transformer, and placing the arrangement under a net meter or 980 rate agreement.
The same commenter added that Eversource may cap system size based on past electricity use, though it may allow for items such as heat pumps, air conditioning, and two EVs. Even so, they said 650 miles of driving each week could still exceed that threshold. They also pointed to a possible “$50 a month incentive for ‘managed EV charging'” if Eversource can remotely control the vehicle’s charging times.
Commenters said it is important to confirm that any chosen inverter includes anti-islanding protection so it does not send power back to the grid during an outage. Another commenter added that inverter passthrough could be a simpler option than an interlock in some setups.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Replies also framed the choice as a tradeoff between smoother backup behavior and less utility paperwork. They said hybrid or “version 2” systems can automatically pull grid power when needed, while a fully off-grid design with a transfer switch may help avoid some permission-to-operate complications. One commenter with a similar installation said the total cost was about $25,000, and the system was running after roughly a week.
For homeowners still weighing their options, EasyHome‘s free explorer tool can make it easier to see what solar options are available locally and what the savings picture may look like. EasyHome can also help readers explore backup battery storage, and pairing solar with a battery can maximize savings while keeping a home powered when the grid goes down.
Several stories below cover the same Connecticut solar rules, DIY decisions, and EV-charging needs that came up in this discussion. 
• In Connecticut, a homeowner did the solar math before deciding on a two-story DIY install.
• One Connecticut solar customer said credits vanished despite higher output as buyback uncertainty grew.
• In California, a homeowner’s 52-panel off-grid solar system now powers two EVs, AC, and a well.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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