Do I need an electrician for a plug-in solar kit?

Maybe. SB 868 covers systems designed to connect to your home's wiring through a receptacle (an outlet).^[source] Whether you need an electrician depends on the kit and on your home's wiring.

This page explains the idea. It is not electrical advice and it doesn't tell you how to do electrical work: a licensed electrician should decide what your home needs.

What a "dedicated circuit" is

A circuit is the wiring that runs from your breaker panel to one or more outlets. A dedicated circuit serves just one outlet or appliance, so nothing else shares it.

When a kit is likely to need one

• Kits certified under today's UL framework. The Senate committee analysis says the current UL certification framework "requires a unique plug (not the standard electrical outlet) and dedicated circuit", so in California an electrician would install it.^[source]
• Kits sold before SB 868. Canary Media reports that sellers have offered kits "provided that customers get an electrician to wire them into a dedicated circuit on the breaker box."^[source]
• Larger kits. The more power a kit makes, the more it matters what else is on the circuit. Ask before you buy.

Outlets, extension cords and older homes

pv magazine's guide for California homeowners gives three safety rules for any plug-in kit:^[source]

• Use a dedicated or lightly loaded outlet. Your breaker can't see the power a kit feeds in, so a circuit that already runs a space heater or a window air conditioner can be overloaded.
• Never use an extension cord or a power strip.
• In an older home, have a licensed electrician check the circuit first.

MIT Technology Review, reporting the concerns of a UL Solutions engineer, adds two more reasons the outlet matters:^[source]

• Shock-protection outlets may not work as expected. Many GFCI outlets may not work properly when power flows back into the outlet from a solar panel.
• The plug can stay live after you unplug it. The plug's blades may still carry power for a short time, and longer if the panels are in sunlight. Handle it like a live plug.

That's why UL's current framework calls for a special outlet designed for plug-in solar, which an electrician installs.^[source]

If you're not sure what else shares an outlet's circuit, ask an electrician rather than guessing. For the other checks, see before you buy a plug-in solar kit.

Questions to ask the seller

1. Does this kit need a special receptacle or a dedicated circuit?
2. Which testing lab certified the complete system, and what is the listing number?
3. What is the maximum AC output in watts?

You can also run through our four-question kit checker.

Finding a licensed electrician

Check any electrician's license with the Contractors State License Board's free License Check before you hire them.^[source] Ask for a written quote that says exactly what they'll install. If you rent, get your landlord's written approval first (see our renters guide).

We don't refer electricians yet. Not electrical, legal or financial advice.