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“My goal is to run as much of my house as possible excluding the dryer, heat pump, and stove.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A Tennessee homeowner is taking the next step toward powering much of their house with solar after designing their own system and buying nine panels for $195 each.
With the panels secured, the homeowner is now considering a $3,800 battery-and-inverter bundle to put the system to work, but they turned to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY forum for advice.
In the Reddit post, the original poster explained that they bought nine 710-watt Canadian Solar panels for $1,755, including tax, which comes to about 27 cents per watt.
The OP added that, “I have my heart set on the EcoWorthy bundle they have a sale on right now. It is the 10kW inverter and a 16kW battery for $3,800…My goal is to run as much of my house as possible excluding the dryer, heat pump, and stove.”
Commenters joined the thread to congratulate OP on the work and offer a few simple recommendations. One wrote, “That’s a coincidence, I picked up nine 710w Canadian solar bi-facials last friday… Fully off grid. You’ll probably find that for summer these panels will produce enough. Wintertime not so much.”
Another user added, “Seems like a solid price on the panels. I just installed 550W panels and I thought those were massive! I could barely reach across to get the fasteners torqued one at a time.”
A third commenter recommended, “To start thinking about racking and all the extras (combiner if needed and PV disconnect). All that stuff adds up and is critical for a successful install.”
As the OP discovered, adding battery storage can help protect a home during outages, increase energy independence, and save money on energy, depending on electricity rates and system costs.
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.
Homeowners comparing this DIY purchase with installed options can explore EnergySage for home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates. EnergySage has teamed up with electrification brand Qmerit to help homeowners get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
And for readers seeking a smaller backup option rather than the OP’s ambitious household setup, Pila is another company offering strong battery backup options. Pila’s plug-and-play batteries cost a fraction of a whole-home backup system, offering a different starting point for backup power.
Before buying solar equipment, check battery capacity, inverter compatibility, installation rules, and price. 
• A Tennessee solar owner hoped a $1,400 Anker kit could cut monthly electricity bills.
• A UK solar buyer added a third battery while weighing an upgrade to a 10-kilowatt inverter.
• A Queensland homeowner considered ALDI’s $10,999 solar deal, then learned why inverter size matters.
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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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