About PlugWattLab
About PlugWattLab
We help people work out whether plug-in solar and home backup power make sense for their home: what's allowed where they live, what a kit could save, and how long a battery will keep things running.
- Sources on every pageLaws, spec sheets and published tests, linked and dated.
- Formulas in the openEvery calculator shows its maths and its assumptions.
- No paid rankingsNo brand can pay to appear, rank higher or be reviewed.
What we cover
- Plug-in solar. Small solar kits that plug into a wall socket, sometimes called balcony solar. The rules are changing fast, especially in the US and the UK, so we track them place by place.
- Portable power stations. Battery units that keep a fridge, a router or medical equipment running in a power cut. We compare them on usable capacity and output, not on marketing claims.
- Home backup. Larger home batteries, and how to choose between backing up the whole home or just the essentials.
How we work
Our guides start from primary sources: the text of laws and regulator guidance, manufacturer spec sheets, and independent test results published by others. Every guide lists its sources and the date we last checked them.
We don't test products hands-on. When a figure comes from a manufacturer, we say so. Our calculators show their formulas and assumptions on the page, so you can check the maths or change it.Read how we research.
Who we are
PlugWattLab is a small, independent publication. No solar or battery company owns it or pays to appear in it. We pay for the site with display ads, and we explain exactly how on ourHow we make money page.
What we're not
We're not electricians, lawyers or financial advisers, and nothing on this site replaces advice from one. For wiring, talk to a qualified electrician. For the rules where you live, your regulator, network operator or utility has the final word.
Get in touch
Spotted a mistake, or a rule change we've missed? Email hello@plugwattlab.com or see our contact page.