Unplugged Live - DIY Solar

Adam and Rodney host a casual summer night of DIY solar Q&A and community discussion. They cover how extreme heat is reducing solar panel efficiency across the country, check in with last week's SolMax Solutions contest winner Jacob, and talk through ground mount vs roof mount solar, large vs small panel tradeoffs, string sizing for the MidNite THE ONE inverter, and FlexBOSS MPPT amperage...

In this Unplugged LIVE replay, Jeffrey from "There's a Trick for That" joins Eric, Rodney, and Adam to talk about DIY solar builds, plug-in solar systems, battery hacks, and real-world product testing. Jeffrey shares his solar journey from camping power stations to a 111 kWh "Tower of Power" battery build, his 240V plug-in solar system, and cold-weather battery testing with...

In this Unplugged LIVE replay, Rodney goes solo for a full deep dive on the MidNite Power THE ONE all-in-one hybrid inverter and the MNPowerflo16 LiFePO4 battery. We cover the specs, pricing, who this system is built for, and tease a huge giveaway coming next week. Plus viewer questions on DIY solar permits, battery setups, and PV fuse holders. Topics covered: MidNite Power THE ONE inverter specs...

Where does your backup power plan really stand? In this episode of Unplugged LIVE , Rodney, Adam, and Eric walk through five practical tiers of energy preparedness and help you figure out what level your solar, battery, generator, or off-grid setup is actually at right now. Watch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube to participate in the discussion: Unplugged Solar on YouTube The convers...

In this Unplugged LIVE replay, Jason from Jasonoid joins the crew to talk portable power stations, battery expansion hacks, honest performance testing, transfer switches, plug-in solar, backup power, and real-world tradeoffs for home, camping, and RV power. Jason explains how his channel moved from 12-volt fridges and DIY batteries into portable power stations, then digs into product naming confus...

In this episode, Eric, Adam DeLay and Rudy Wright take a deep dive into over a decade of living off-grid with solar power. Rudy, a seasoned installer and solar enthusiast, shares lessons from building his off-grid property since 2007, evolving from a simple battery backup setup to a comprehensive solar-powered homestead. Topics discussed include: • The realities and challenges of transitioning to...

Many solar users assume their system alone will keep the lights on during a blackout. But as this episode reveals, real outages often coincide with weather conditions that limit solar power—like clouds, storms, ice, or snow. Hosts Rodney and Eric explore the typical duration of extended outages and why relying on solar alone often falls short. They discuss practical strategies for preparing to sur...

In this lively episode of Unplugged Live, hosts Eric and Rodney join the conversation to share hands-on experiences with solar and off-grid living. Eric discusses his recent installation of the FlexBoss 18 in his well house, highlighting its straightforward setup and reliable performance. Rodney shares his journey adding more batteries and panels to his solar setup, along with his practical advent...

In this episode of Unplugged Live, Adam, Rodney, and Eric dive into recent community solar energy developments and take an up-close look at an electric side-by-side vehicle. Eric shares his experience transitioning from a gas-powered Kawasaki Mule to an electric model, discussing what’s impressed him and some of the drawbacks he’s found so far. The hosts cover updates from their own projects, incl...

In this episode of the Unplugged Live podcast, hosts Adam and Eric welcome Johnny from Johnny's Weekends to discuss the compelling addiction to solar power and the journey it inspires. Johnny shares his background transitioning from a mechanic and electrical work into solar, explaining how his YouTube channel helps demystify powering homes, RVs, and EVs using a variety of energy sources—from s...

When your solar battery hits 100% and the sun keeps shining bright, what do you do with all that excess energy? In this episode of Unplugged Live, Adam, Rodney, and Eric dive into practical strategies for diverting surplus solar power to maximize your system's efficiency and utility. Tune in as they explore solutions like connecting a second water heater to soak up extra energy, using smart du...

In this episode of Unplugged Live with Eric from East Texas Homestead, Adam Delay, and Rodney Hunt dive into the nuts and bolts of calculating how much solar power you really need for your off-grid or backup power setup. The conversation centers around practical aspects such as: • Determining the right number of solar panels for your inverter and system • Understanding the differences between seri...

Is Solar Really Worth It? My March 2025 Bill Just Arrived! ☀️💰How do you use over 4,000 kWh in a month but only pay $111? Join us for an interactive DIY Solar & Self-Reliance livestream as we break down the real-world numbers from my system this March. I’m pulling back the curtain on my production versus grid usage and showing exactly how I saved over $400 in a single month. Whether you'r...

Join us for an interactive DIY Solar & Self-Reliance Live Stream! Whether you're just getting started or already deep into your off-grid journey, this is the perfect place to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with like-minded solar enthusiasts. We’ll cover:• Real-life DIY solar experiences• Tips & tricks for maximizing your system• Live Q&A — bring your questions! Want to sha...

We’ve got a special guest joining us this week — Ben from @MinuteManSolar! Never heard of him? Perfect — this is your chance to get to know him. We’ll be sitting down to talk all things solar, including what got him started on his DIY solar journey, along with hands-on experience from a variety of projects, system builds, real-world performance, and practical insights you won’t want to miss.🔗 Che...

For this DIY Solar Expert Q&A, we are bringing back Dexter Monroe from @CurrentConnected to answer your tough questions. Hosted tonight by @AdamDeLayDIY, @rodneyhunt, and Eric from @HomeEnergyIndependence Whether you're just getting started or already deep into your off-grid journey, this is the perfect place to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with like-minded solar enthusiasts. Ba...

Join @AdamDeLayDIY and @rodneyhunt for an interactive DIY Solar & Self-Reliance Live Stream! We’re hanging out, talking all things solar, and diving into real-world experiences from our own off-grid adventures. Whether you’re just getting started or already deep into your solar setup, this is the perfect place to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with like-minded solar enthusiasts. We’ll...

Spring is right around the corner, which means we're getting into the start of solar season! ☀️ A lot of people begin thinking about installing solar this time of year, so tonight we're talking about why many of us chose to go the DIY route instead of hiring an installer. Was it the cost savings? The ability to customize your system? Learning how everything works? Or maybe you just enjoy building...

This episode of Unplugged Live dives into real-world solar performance tuning. The community shares production numbers from across the country while the panel discusses inverter behavior under clouds, MPPT tracking differences, and why some systems outperform others despite similar panel counts. Topics include: Overpaneling: when it helps and when it doesn’t MPPT behavior in partial shade and clou...

This episode of Unplugged Live dives deep into off-grid communication systems with Average Joe leading the discussion. We break down Meshtastic vs MeshCore, how LoRa 915 MHz networks function, and what it really takes to build a resilient, decentralized mesh network with no monthly fees. Topics include: How mesh networks actually pass messages What causes the “snowball effect” and packet storms Re...

This episode of Unplugged Live turns into a real-world winter preparedness workshop. From well pump failures and frozen pipes to septic system sizing and battery heating strategies, the community dives deep into what actually breaks—or gets stressed—during extended cold spells. The live audience shares solar production numbers from across the country, with systems ranging from modest setups to 150...

This episode of Unplugged Live turns into a full-on solar classroom as Dexter from Current Connected walks through one of the most misunderstood topics in DIY solar: diodes, shading, and overcurrent protection . With real examples, live questions, and audience interaction, Dexter explains how bypass diodes actually behave, why the 125% rule exists, and what really happens when panels are shaded by...

This episode of Unplugged Live captures real-world experiences from a major winter storm affecting viewers across the U.S. and Canada. Eric, Rodney, and Adam are joined by a highly engaged live audience reporting grid failures, ice damage, frozen pipes, and battery drain in real time. The discussion moves past theory into what actually happens when solar production drops, generators run longer tha...

A major winter storm is moving across the country—and this episode of Unplugged Live turned into a real-time discussion on how people actually prepare when extreme cold, ice, and long outages are on the table . Rodney and Eric are joined by a highly engaged live audience sharing firsthand experience from across the U.S. and Canada, covering everything from solar performance in ice , to generator f...

What happens to your solar system if you’re not there to run it? In this episode of Unplugged Live , Eric, Rodney, and Adam discuss one of the most overlooked parts of DIY solar and home energy systems: usability for spouses, family members, and future owners . The conversation covers everything from documentation and labeling to transfer switches, cold-weather performance, EV charging habits, and...