Plug-In Solar Panels
Plug-in solar panels are solar panels that are used with a plug-in solar microinverter, which plugs into an ordinary wall outlet. An electrician is not required in most cases. Here is how to size a system, what to check before buying, and which products fit the rules in your state.
See Recommended ProductsWhat Plug-In Solar Panels Are
A plug-in solar panel system is three parts: one or more solar panels, a microinverter that turns their DC output into household AC, and something to mount the panels on. The inverter ends in a normal plug. Nothing is wired into the electrical panel, which is the step that makes rooftop solar a permitted, professionally installed project costing five figures.
The power goes to whatever the home is drawing at that moment. There is no credit for sending power back to the grid under any of these laws, so the savings come from generating while you are using, and a system sized to the home's daytime draw pays back faster than a larger one that generates more energy than you can use.
These systems have been ordinary in Germany for years, sold at retailers like IKEA. In the US they sat in a regulatory gray area until Utah passed the first law in 2025. 9 states have passed one now, and bills are moving in more.
The panels
Typically 180W to 450W each, often bifacial. The same types of solar panels that are used for DIY solar, portable batteries, and RVs are often used for plug-in solar.
The microinverter
The part that plugs into your outlet, and the part the state wattage caps are written about. Common outputs are 360W, 391W, 900W, and 1,200W.
The mount
Check how much your panels weigh. Options are a ground frame, a balcony railing bracket, or a fence rail. It has to hold a 40 to 55 lb panel through the worst wind and snow the site gets. Or get a lightweight panel, which can be secured with zip ties or screws.
Battery, optional
Some units pair storage with the inverter, which can help if you won't use all the electricity as it is generated. It can also help you save money if you have time-of-use billing.
How Big a System Your State Allows
Every state that has passed a law caps the inverter output, and most set a lower threshold below which fewer rules apply. Size the system against the state you live in before shopping.
| State | Inverter cap | Lower threshold | Certification asked for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1,920W | 391Wsmall-device exemption | Labeled and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory |
| Maine | 1,200W | 420WInstall-it-yourself limit | UL 3700, or a comparable certification from a recognized testing lab |
| Maryland | 1,200W | 391WUL product-listing exemption | UL or equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory |
| Utah | 1,200W | None | UL or equivalent NRTL certified |
| Vermont | 1,200W | None | UL 3700, or an equal certification from a recognized testing lab |
The states above are the ones with a full writeup. Others have passed a law too, and the rest are unregulated, which means no rule sets a size at all and your utility decides. Compare the laws side by side or check your state on the map.
What to Check Before You Buy
Match the panels to the inverter, not just to the wattage cap and connector
For compatibility, it is important to check the spec sheets for the panels and the inverters. The watts and connectors are not enough to determine compatibility.
Check that the inverter is UL 1741 listed
UL 1741 is the inverter standard that confirms it shuts down in a power outage. Several state laws ask for listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and the inverter is the part that carries it.
Check for UL 3700 requirements
UL 3700 is the first US safety standard written for plug-in solar as a complete system. It was published in December 2025 and UL Solutions opened testing in January 2026, but no complete system carries the certification yet, only individual parts. That matters because Maine and Vermont both require it, so nothing on the market qualifies in those two states today.
Make sure you have a dedicated circuit with GFCI protection
A dedicated circuit avoids breaker masking, where solar feeding a branch circuit hides part of the load from the breaker that is supposed to protect it. A GFCI outlet can lower the risk of getting shocked. Follow the manufacturer instructions and state laws on outlet type and on how many units may share one outlet.
Choose the right panels for your space
Rigid and heavy panels generally last longer and are cheaper than lightweight flexible panels, but may not be safe to mount on a balcony.
Plan the mounting before the panels arrive
Panels can be much larger and heavier than most buyers picture. The 450W panel below is 69.4 by 44.7 inches and 54 lbs. These types of panels are best suited for ground mount systems, not balconies. Measure your space, and pick a mount rated for the wind and snow where you live.
The links below are affiliate links for EcoFlow, APsystems, Current Connected, and Amazon. I earn a commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Plug-In Solar Panels, Inverters and Mounts
Filter by your state to see only what fits its rules. Plug-In Solar Guide is for informational purposes only, so check before buying that a product is allowed and safe to install where you live. In a state that has not passed a law, check with your utility about exporting any power you do not consume.
STREAM Microinverter
One-Step Plug & Play Solar System
A plug-and-play microinverter with 3 MPPTs, 4 PV inputs, and 1,200W output, designed specifically for Utah's HB 340 framework. Pair with compatible solar panels and plug into any standard outlet to start offsetting your electricity bill immediately.
Buy NowAvailable in: CO, MD, UT · UL 1741
STREAM Ultra
Plug-in solar with battery for time-of-use savings
Combines a 1.92 kWh LFP battery with a built-in 800W grid-tied microinverter. Store solar production for evening use or charge from the grid during off-peak hours and discharge during peak rates (if your utility offers time-of-use billing). During outages, the grid-tied inverter shuts down, but you can plug devices directly into the battery's built-in outlets for up to 1,200W of portable backup power. Expand storage from 1.92 kWh up to 11.52 kWh by plugging additional STREAM Ultra units into a standard NEMA 5-15/5-20 outlet, or integrate with EcoFlow DELTA Series batteries.
Buy NowAvailable in: CO, MD, UT
EZ1-LV Plug-In Microinverter
Purpose-built plug-in solar. No complexity. Just works.
Skip the complexity of multi-input systems. EZ1-LV is designed to do one thing really well—efficiently power two panels with true dual MPPT and a clean plug-and-play setup. No oversizing, no guesswork—just reliable performance you can plug into your home outlet and start using right away. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make setup and monitoring simple, with no installer required.
Buy NowAvailable in: US · UL 1741
Callsun 200W Bifacial Solar Panel (2-Pack)
Pairs with the EcoFlow STREAM series
A 2-pack of 200W N-type bifacial panels. Pairs with the EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter or STREAM Ultra. Each panel fits cleanly into one of the inverter's PV inputs, with room to add more panels as your setup grows. The APsystems EZ1-LV is designed for larger panels (315W and up), so for that inverter see the Callsun 450W panel.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
Callsun 450W Bifacial Solar Panel (2-Pack)
Pairs with the APsystems EZ1-LV
A 2-pack of 450W N-type bifacial panels. One panel goes to each input on the APsystems EZ1-LV, using both of its independent MPPT channels for a 900W array that matches the inverter's 900W output. These panels are not compatible with the EcoFlow STREAM Microinverter or the STREAM Ultra. Both of those inverters cap each input at 14A, and this panel puts out 14.97A at its maximum power point, so it exceeds the rated input current. Check your mounting surface before ordering: each panel is 69.4 x 44.7 inches and weighs 54 lbs.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
IntegraRack IR-30 Ground Mount Frame
Durable ground mount for a yard array
A durable ground mount for anyone with yard space to spare. The aluminum frame sets a panel at a fixed 30° tilt, the right angle almost anywhere in the contiguous US, and stands up to serious wind and snow once anchored. No rails, augers, or concrete footings, and each frame goes together in about two minutes. The price is per frame, and you need one per panel plus one extra to start each row, so a two panel array takes three.
Buy NowAvailable in: US
Where Plug-In Solar Panels Are Allowed
What you can install comes down to your state, and in an unregulated state to your utility. Each state has a page covering where its legislation stands and what applies there today.