14.1 Can I install solar myself?

Technically yes. But the barrier to entry is higher than most homeowners realize, so we do not recommend it for anyone without electrical experience.

Common problems we see:

1. Equipment qualification: people buy hardware that lacks UL certification or isn't on California's CEC eligible list. Without those, no permit. Without a permit, no legal interconnection.

1. Communication protocols don't match: many products communicate with each other, and DIYers sometimes buy two devices that don't talk to each other — often with no return option.

1. A permit is not legalization: many people misunderstand what a permit means. A permit only authorizes the install. After installation, the city must inspect and approve it. If it fails inspection, the system is legally a code violation and must be removed. A lot of DIY pictures online are systems that never passed inspection — don't learn from those.

1. Safety: the single biggest concern. This is 240V power, not a toy. The dangerous failure mode is a system riddled with hazards you can't see. 80% of the DIY photos online have visible code violations. Some examples: indoor-only wire installed on roofs, exposed to direct sun until the insulation oxidizes and falls off; batteries connected with exposed open wiring and placed inside the home.

DIY is possible, but only when you can guarantee both compliance and safety.