Simple, practical checklists to help you plan, commission, and maintain your solar system with confidence. Print any of these and check them off as you go.
Before you begin: These checklists are general guidance for Canadian solar owners. Electrical connections, grid interconnection, and permits must be completed by a licensed electrician and inspected to your local code (CEC / provincial authority). When in doubt, stop and call us at (306) 620-2532 or submit a ticket on our Product Support page.
☀ Understanding Your Solar System
The five building blocks of almost every system, in plain language.
Solar panels turn sunlight into DC electricity. More panels (or higher-wattage panels) = more energy on a sunny day.
Inverter converts panel DC into the 120/240V AC your home uses. A hybrid inverter also manages batteries and backup.
Batteries (LiFePO₄) store extra energy for night, cloudy days, or grid outages. Optional on grid-tie, essential off-grid.
Racking mounts panels to your roof or the ground at the right angle and holds up to Canadian snow and wind loads.
Balance of system is the wiring, breakers, disconnects, and conduit that tie it together safely.
Three common system types
Grid-tie: works alongside the utility; excess power can earn net-metering credits. No backup during an outage unless you add batteries.
Hybrid / backup: grid-tied but with batteries, so essential loads keep running when the grid goes down.
Off-grid: fully independent; sized carefully around your usage, with batteries and often a backup generator.
Not sure what you need? Use the Solar Savings Estimator on our Technical Support page, or send us your monthly kWh and goals and we'll size a matched system.
Final checks as a grid-tied system is brought online (with your electrician).
All panels mounted, torqued to spec, and grounded per manufacturer instructions
Array wiring polarity verified; string voltage within the inverter's MPPT range
Inverter mounted, AC/DC disconnects installed and labelled
Grounding and bonding complete and inspected
Utility interconnection approved; net-metering agreement in place
Inverter firmware updated and configured for your province's grid settings
Monitoring app connected to Wi-Fi and showing production
Rapid shutdown (if required) tested
Permit inspection passed and paperwork filed
Do not backfeed the grid until your utility has approved interconnection. Grid settings and anti-islanding must be configured correctly — leave these to your electrician/installer.
Bringing a stand-alone system to life for a cabin, acreage, or remote site.
Battery bank installed in a dry, ventilated space above freezing; terminals torqued
Battery BMS communication to the inverter connected (closed-loop where supported)
Inverter/charger DC and AC connections complete and fused/breakered correctly
Charge controller or hybrid MPPT settings matched to your battery chemistry
Panels connected; charging confirmed (batteries taking charge in sunlight)
Critical loads panel wired; non-essential loads kept off the backup circuit
Generator (if used) connected for auto-start / manual backup and tested
Low-battery cutoffs and charge limits set to protect the bank
System monitored for a full day/night cycle to confirm it holds through the night
Winter tip: keep batteries above freezing — charge acceptance drops in the cold, and most LiFePO₄ packs pause charging below 0°C to protect the cells (our batteries include low-temp protection).
Get the most life and safety out of your LiFePO₄ storage.
Installed in a clean, dry, ventilated location, off the floor in flood-prone areas
Kept above freezing for charging; avoid sustained high heat
Terminals clean, tight, and torqued to spec; no corrosion
BMS communication active; no persistent fault or imbalance warnings
Charge/discharge limits set within the manufacturer's spec
Stack/rack cables sized correctly and secured
Firmware kept up to date via the manufacturer's app/portal
Never open, puncture, or submerge a battery module, and don't mix chemistries or brands on the same bank without confirming compatibility. If a battery is swollen, hot, or throwing repeated BMS faults, stop use and contact us.
A little upkeep keeps production high and warranties intact.
Every few months
Check the monitoring app for production drops or fault codes
Clear snow, leaves, or debris from panels when safe to do so from the ground
Confirm batteries are holding charge and cycling normally
Once a year
Visually inspect panels for cracks, hot spots, or loose clamps
Inspect racking hardware and re-torque any loose fasteners
Check wiring, conduit, and connectors for wear, rodent damage, or corrosion
Verify inverter cooling vents are clear and firmware is current
Review year-over-year production; investigate any significant decline
Confirm disconnects and rapid shutdown still operate correctly (with an electrician)
Snow & safety: never climb an icy or steep roof to clear panels — most systems recover quickly as snow slides off. Production lost to snow is usually small over a full year.
Adding a backup generator to a hybrid or off-grid system, for the pieces you handle and the ones your electrician does.
Generator sized to your critical loads plus battery-charging draw (kW rating confirmed)
Generator type matched to your inverter's AC input (voltage, frequency, split-phase where required)
Transfer switch or the inverter's built-in AC input / ATS wired by a licensed electrician
Inverter generator-input settings configured (charge current, voltage window, auto-start if supported)
Auto-start / two-wire start connected and tested (if your generator and inverter support it)
Fuel supply, ventilation, and clearances meet the manufacturer's and local requirements
Generator grounding/bonding done to code
Test run: confirm the generator starts, charges the battery, and hands back to solar/battery cleanly
Never connect a portable generator directly to household wiring without a proper transfer switch — backfeed is dangerous to you and utility workers. Leave the AC transfer wiring to a licensed electrician.
Getting a solar-powered electric fence energizer set up and holding a charge — ideal for livestock and remote paddocks with no grid nearby.
Sizing & setup
Energizer output (joules) sized to your total fence length and animal type
Solar panel and built-in battery sized for your cloudiest season (extra capacity for winter)
Energizer mounted upright with the solar panel facing south, unshaded, and clear of livestock
Fence wire/tape run with proper insulators; no vegetation shorting the line
Grounding — the #1 fix for a weak fence
Multiple galvanized ground rods installed (more rods in dry or frozen ground)
Ground rods spaced apart and away from building/utility grounds
Ground and fence terminals connected with proper clamps and rated wire
Fence voltage tested with a fence tester along the full run
Winter tip: frozen, dry ground conducts poorly — add extra ground rods and keep the panel clear of snow so the battery stays charged through short winter days.