Question 1

What is Solar Planner?

Accepted Answer

Solar Planner is a free, web-based tool for designing solar power systems. You drag and drop real solar components (panels, controllers, inverters, batteries, fuses, wire) onto a canvas, connect them, and get automatic wire sizing and safety validation.

Question 2

Do I need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

No. You can use the full canvas, place components, and get wire sizing without signing up. Accounts are only needed if you want to save designs (up to 2 free) or export to PDF.

Question 3

Is it really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The core tool is free forever — full canvas, all components, wire sizing, safety checks, and sharing. The Pro plan ($5/month) adds unlimited saved designs and a Pro badge, but everything you need to design a safe system is free.

Question 4

What browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

Solar Planner works in all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). It works best on desktop. Mobile is supported for viewing designs but the canvas editor is optimized for desktop use.

Question 5

How do I add components to the canvas?

Accepted Answer

Open the component palette on the left side of the planner. Browse by category (Solar Panels, Controllers, Inverters, Batteries, etc.) and drag any component onto the canvas. Click a category to drill down into specific brands and models.

Question 6

How do I connect components with wires?

Accepted Answer

Hover over a component to see its connection handles (small circles on the edges). Click and drag from one handle to another to create a wire. You'll be asked for the distance between the two components — this is used to calculate wire sizing. Red handles are DC positive, grey are DC negative, blue are AC neutral, and brown are AC live.

Question 7

Why can't I connect two handles?

Accepted Answer

Connections must be polarity-compatible — positive to positive, negative to negative, AC live to AC live, etc. You also need to connect from a source handle (output) to a target handle (input). Data cables (for monitoring devices) can only connect to other data handles.

Question 8

What do the wire colors mean?

Accepted Answer

Red wires are DC positive, grey are DC negative, blue are AC neutral, brown are AC live, green is ground, and yellow dashed lines are data cables. When you hover over a wire, you'll see the recommended wire gauge.

Question 9

How do I route wires around other components?

Accepted Answer

Double-click any wire to add a waypoint (junction point). Drag the waypoint to change the wire's path. This lets you route wires neatly around components. Double-clicking a waypoint removes it.

Question 10

How do I change a component's brand or model?

Accepted Answer

Click a component on the canvas to select it. The properties panel on the right shows its details. Click the brand/model name to browse alternatives from the product catalog. Changing the model updates the specs automatically.

Question 11

How do I set my system voltage?

Accepted Answer

Your system voltage (12V, 24V, or 48V) is shown in the toolbar at the top of the planner. Click it to change. This affects wire sizing calculations across your entire design.

Question 12

How do I view wire details and safety status?

Accepted Answer

Click any wire on the canvas to select it. The wire properties panel shows distance, wire gauge, voltage drop (volts and percentage), and safety status (green/amber/red). You can update the distance if it changes.

Question 13

How do I add multiple solar panels?

Accepted Answer

Drag multiple solar panel components onto the canvas. Connect them to a solar combiner or directly to your charge controller. For parallel connections, connect all panel positives to the same positive bus, and all negatives to the same negative bus. For series, connect one panel's positive to the next panel's negative.

Question 14

What is the system overview panel?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Overview' button in the toolbar to see a summary of your entire system — total solar wattage, battery capacity, inverter output, and all wire connections with their safety status. This helps you spot issues at a glance.

Question 15

How does wire sizing work?

Accepted Answer

Enter the distance between two components and Solar Planner calculates the minimum wire gauge based on the current (amps), system voltage, and allowed voltage drop for that connection type. It always recommends one size up from the minimum for safety.

Question 16

What voltage drop limits do you use?

Accepted Answer

Different connections have different limits: Panel to Controller allows max 3% drop, Controller to Battery max 1%, Battery to Inverter max 1%, and Battery to Busbar max 1%. These are based on industry standards.

Question 17

What safety margins are applied?

Accepted Answer

Solar Planner adds a 25% safety buffer to all current calculations. For example, if your panel produces 15A, the tool recommends wire and fuses rated for at least 19A (15A + 25% extra). This means your wires and components run cooler, last longer, and are never pushed to their limits. This is standard electrical practice — never run anything at 100% capacity. The tool also adjusts for cold-temperature voltage increases on panel-to-controller connections.

Question 18

Wire colors on the canvas — what do they mean?

Accepted Answer

Green means the wire is safely sized (voltage drop well within limits). Amber means it’s marginal — close to the limit. Red means the wire is undersized or the voltage drop exceeds the allowed percentage. Always aim for green.

Question 19

Are the components real products?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The catalog includes real solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, and batteries from brands like Victron Energy, Renogy, Epever, Rich Solar, and more. Specifications come from manufacturer data sheets.

Question 20

Can I add my own components?

Accepted Answer

Currently the catalog is curated from real products. If your component isn’t listed, you can request it in the forum. Custom component entry is on the roadmap.

Question 21

How does component compatibility checking work?

Accepted Answer

Solar Planner automatically checks things like: panel Voc vs controller max input voltage, battery voltage matching the system voltage, inverter input matching battery voltage, and fuse ratings appropriate for the circuit current.

Question 22

How do I save my design?

Accepted Answer

If you’re logged in, designs auto-save 3 seconds after your last change. Free accounts get up to 2 saved designs. Pro accounts get unlimited saves.

Question 23

Can I share my design with someone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click the share button on any saved design to generate a unique link. Anyone with the link can view your design in a read-only mode. You can optionally set an expiry date.

Question 24

Can I export my design?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can export as PDF or PNG. This requires a free account.

Question 25

Can I start from a template?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Browse starter templates for common setups like a basic 12V camper system, off-grid cabin, or RV solar. Load a template and customize it for your needs.

Question 26

What's included in the Pro plan?

Accepted Answer

Pro gives you unlimited saved designs, a Pro badge on your profile, and priority support. Everything else (canvas, components, wire sizing, export, sharing) is free.

Question 27

Can I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cancel anytime from the billing portal. Your Pro access continues until the end of your current billing period (end of the month for monthly, end of the year for annual). No partial refunds for unused time.

Question 28

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept credit and debit cards via Stripe. All prices are in USD — your bank will convert to your local currency if applicable.

Question 29

I have a billing issue — how do I get help?

Accepted Answer

Use the billing portal (accessible from the pricing page when logged in) to manage your subscription, update payment methods, or view invoices. For other billing questions, contact us through the contact page.

Question 30

I found a bug — how do I report it?

Accepted Answer

Please use the contact page to report bugs. Include what you were doing, what browser you're using, and any error messages you saw. Screenshots help a lot.

Question 31

Can I request a feature or component?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Post feature requests in the community forum or use the contact page. We're actively building based on user feedback.

Question 32

Is there a community forum?

Accepted Answer

Yes — visit the forum to ask questions, share your designs, get feedback, and connect with other solar enthusiasts and DIYers.

Question 33

I'm new to solar — where should I start?

Accepted Answer

Start with a template (like the 12V Camper Basic) to see how a complete system looks. Then check the FAQ sections on wire sizing and safety. The forum is also a great place to ask beginner questions.

Question 34

Do you offer installation advice?

Accepted Answer

Solar Planner is an educational and planning aid. It does not replace professional installation. Always consult a licensed electrician before installing any solar system. Our tool helps you plan and understand your system — a professional ensures it's safe and code-compliant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Using the Planner

Wire Sizing & Safety

Components & Products

Saving, Sharing & Export

Billing & Pro Plan

Help & Support

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