In this Unplugged LIVE replay, it is DIY solar trivia night. Adam De Lay runs the crew and the chat through 13 scored questions on panels, batteries, wiring, and safety while a live leaderboard builds all night. Perfect scores landed in the wheel of luck for a MidNite SPD giveaway, and @52gulfpapa took it home.

We also run the sunshine report with weekly solar production totals from around the country, answer a super chat about the EG4 string calculator, and celebrate the channel crossing 1,000.

Topics in this episode:

  • What actually powers a solar panel, and how irradiance is measured with a pyranometer
  • Series wiring and voltage math
  • Watt hour math at 50 percent state of charge
  • What a shunt does and why it matters
  • Standard test conditions vs real world panel output
  • BMS basics on lithium batteries
  • Wire gauge for low voltage DC runs
  • Heat derating and why panels lose output in extreme heat
  • Bypass diodes and shading
  • Surge ratings and SPD protection
  • 120V vs 240V standards
  • Parallel battery capacity math
  • The MidNite SPD giveaway wheel and the winner

Links and resources:

Watch and follow the Unplugged crew:

Watch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar

Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged".

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Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, and backup-power systems can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code.

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