Finding a local seller proved difficult for a North Carolina shopper with a small solar order in mind: just five or six panels.
After turning to Reddit for help, the shopper received a response pointing to a potential complication when ordering panels for delivery — freight shipping.
Here's what to know
The search centered on North Carolina's Piedmont region, where a shopper hoped to find 400- to 440-watt panels and asked Reddit's r/solarDIY community for leads.
"I am wanting to buy 5-6 solar panels that are 400-440 watt in the piedmont area of North Carolina. Does anyone know where we can find some ? I have searched market place with no luck," the original poster wrote.
One commenter replied, "I've found that if you need panels shipped, full-size residential panels usually make more sense in larger quantities because they often require LTL freight shipping. That's a big part of why I went with more 200W panels instead."
For homeowners considering a larger installation, 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 with no upfront costs. Homeowners can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to see their potential savings from vetted installers in their area.
More background
The panels the shopper requested would provide between 2,000 and 2,640 watts of rated capacity. Those ratings, however, do not guarantee how much electricity an installed system would produce.
Matching that capacity with smaller panels would require more of them — at least 10 200-watt panels to reach 2,000 watts.
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According to the commenter, power output per square foot is roughly comparable between conventional residential panels and HQST's newer 200-watt models. The HQST panels measure about 30 inches by 46 inches, they said.
What can be done?
The commenter reported a positive experience with HQST's newer models, but the exchange did not include a price comparison or freight quote.
For homeowners considering an installed system rather than sourcing individual panels, EasyHome offers a way to explore potential savings with vetted local installers. EasyHome can also help homeowners explore backup battery storage options; pairing solar with a battery allows homeowners to maximize savings and power their home with solar when the grid goes down.
Where can I learn more?
Buying a few solar panels can come with headaches beyond freight shipping. These stories cover costly system expansions, installation hurdles for imported equipment, and warnings about used solar deals.
• In New Jersey, adding seven solar panels brought a quote topping $16,000.
• After spending $41,000 on solar, a homeowner learned 13 more panels could require rework.
• A U.K. homeowner considered cut-price equipment from China, but finding an installer proved difficult.
• DIY solar shoppers questioned near-new prices for six-year-old panels paired with outdated IQ7 microinverters.
• A solar newcomer considered an 18-year-old solar setup, then received warnings about potential costs.
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