Everything I Use,
Test & Recommend.
One place for my DIY solar systems, batteries, inverters, panels, tools, wiring, small parts, monitoring resources, free education, current affiliate links and discount codes. If you saw me use it in a build, this is the first place to look.
Some links are affiliate links. They may earn MattMan Solar a commission at no additional cost to you.
Start With What You Need to Power.
Don't start by buying an inverter because it is on sale. Start with the loads, desired runtime and how much backup you actually want.
Essential Backup
Refrigerator, freezer, medical equipment, internet, lights and device charging.
Critical Loads
A serious 48V system feeding selected home circuits and supporting longer outages.
Whole-Home Backup
Larger inverter capacity, large battery storage and solar sized around real household energy use.
MattMan Solar Affiliate Links & Discount Codes
These are the links and codes I currently want viewers to use. Verify the final discount at checkout because promotions can change.
Signature Solar
Inverters, batteries, panels, racks and complete solar equipment.
Code: MMS50OFF
BigBattery
Large LiFePO4 batteries, NEXUS systems and energy-storage equipment.
Code: mattman5
WattCycle
12V and 48V LiFePO4 batteries including large wall-mount storage.
Code: MATT
LiTime
LiFePO4 batteries and related charging equipment.
Code: MMS8 8% site-wide
Amazon Storefront / General Link
Small parts, tools, wiring, meters, mounting hardware and components used throughout my builds.
Shop Solar Kits
Solar kits and packaged solar-system equipment.
Current page offer: $101 off through my MattMan link.
SanTan Solar
A good place to check for used, clearance and value solar panels.
Systems I Actually Build & Use
This channel is built around real hardware in real systems, not just reading spec sheets.
Home / Solar Shed
REAL TEST SYSTEM- Large SolarEdge grid-tied PV array
- 48V battery storage
- Whole-home inverter testing
- AC-coupling and backup experiments
48V RV
DAILY / REAL USE- EG4 6000XP
- 3 ร EG4 LifePower4 rack batteries
- Approx. 3.7kW solar
- Victron SmartShunt and Cerbo GX
Food / Coffee Trailer
BUSINESS USE- 48V architecture
- Dual EG4 3000EHV system
- Mobile off-grid power
- Ongoing larger-inverter upgrade testing
Battery & Inverter Test Systems
HANDS-ON- Rack batteries
- Wall batteries
- High-current discharge tests
- Charge, capacity, communication and thermal testing
Inverters I Use or Recommend
EG4 6000XP
A strong split-phase 48V platform for RVs, sheds, cabins, critical loads and smaller off-grid systems.
EG4 12000XP / V2
For larger off-grid or backup systems that need substantially more inverter output than the 6000XP class.
EG4 FlexBOSS 18 / 21
High-power hybrid platforms for larger residential systems, large PV arrays and grid-interactive use cases.
EG4 3000EHV
48V / 120V inverter used in my trailer work and useful for smaller systems that do not need split phase.
ZLPOWER 10kW 48V Hybrid
Lower-cost 120/240V hybrid option I have worked with in my large-system testing.
WattCycle 12000XP Super
High-output inverter currently entering my installation and real-world testing rotation.
Batteries I Use, Test or Recommend
BigBattery NEXUS
Large-format 48V battery used for capacity and high-current testing.
EG4 LifePower4 V2
48V rack battery format. Multiple LifePower4 batteries are used in my RV system.
Wiren 48V 100Ah
Value-focused rack batteries I have tested for communication and multi-battery behavior.
WattCycle 48V 314Ah Wall Battery
Large wall-mount storage for whole-home-size systems.
ECO-WORTHY 48V Rack Battery
Lower-cost rack battery option available through Amazon.
ECO-WORTHY / WattCycle 12V
Useful for portable builds, RV projects and smaller backup systems.
Solar Panels
New Panels
For new systems where matching electrical specs, physical dimensions and warranty matter.
Panel Pallets
Often the best cost-per-watt approach for large ground-mount and whole-home arrays.
Used / Clearance Panels
Worth checking when price per watt matters more than matching the newest modules.
Amazon Solar Parts, Wiring & Tools I Use
These are exactly the kinds of small components people ask about after watching my builds โ and the section I want to keep especially current.
Use my general Amazon affiliate link, or jump into the exact component links below.
๐ Battery Wiring & Distribution
- DaierTek 300A BusbarAmazon โ
- Heavy-Duty 500A BusbarAmazon โ
- 150A Mini Power Distribution BlockAmazon โ
- 2/0 Copper Battery LugsAmazon โ
- PV WireAmazon โ
๐ฅ Fuses, Breakers & Disconnects
- DIHOOL 200A DC BreakerAmazon โ
- Victron MEGA / ANL Style Fuse HolderAmazon โ
- Blue Sea Class-T Fuse BlockAmazon โ
- BOJACK MRBF Terminal Fuse BlockAmazon โ
- Blue Sea 6010 Battery SwitchAmazon โ
- Victron 275A Battery SwitchAmazon โ
- Nilight Battery DisconnectAmazon โ
- PV Quick Disconnect SwitchAmazon โ
- Solar Panel DC Breaker / DisconnectAmazon โ
๐ง Tools I Use
- Hydraulic Lug CrimperAmazon โ
- Large Cable CuttersAmazon โ
- Digital Torque ScrewdriverAmazon โ
- Digital Torque Adapter SetAmazon โ
- Clamp MultimeterAmazon โ
- Klein MultimeterAmazon โ
- MC4 Solar Crimp ToolAmazon โ
- Wire StrippersAmazon โ
- ZIBOO Solar Panel TesterAmazon โ
โ๏ธ PV / Charging Components
- Victron SmartSolar MPPTAmazon โ
- PV Combiner BoxAmazon โ
- ECO-WORTHY 48V Rack BatteryAmazon โ
- ECO-WORTHY 12V 280Ah BatteryAmazon โ
- WattCycle 12V 100Ah BatteryAmazon โ
Solar Panel Mounting & Racking
IntegraRack IR-30
Ballast-style rack useful where penetration or permanent ground attachment is undesirable.
Renogy Adjustable Tilt Brackets
Adjustable mounting for RVs, sheds, boats and flat surfaces.
Z-Brackets
Simple fixed mounting for RVs, trailers, sheds, walls and other small-panel projects.
Build Your Own Repairable Power Station
A modular alternative to a sealed power station: battery + inverter + charge controller + protection that can be repaired or upgraded later.
Battery & Inverter Options
- ECO-WORTHY 12V 280Ah LiFePO4Amazon โ
- WattCycle 12V 100Ah LiFePO4Amazon โ
- Budget 12V 100Ah LiFePO4Amazon โ
- BESTEK 300W InverterAmazon โ
- BELTTT 1000W Pure Sine InverterAmazon โ
- VEVOR 1500W Pure Sine InverterVEVOR โ
Charging & Protection
- Victron SmartSolar 100/20Amazon โ
- Nilight Battery DisconnectAmazon โ
- BOJACK MRBF Fuse BlockAmazon โ
Solar Monitoring Resources
Useful software and platforms from my monitoring livestreams and system work.
Home Assistant
Open home-automation platform that can combine energy data with the rest of your home.
Solar Assistant
Popular local solar monitoring platform with support for many inverters and battery systems.
Victron Venus OS
Useful for Victron-based monitoring, Cerbo-style dashboards, Node-RED and advanced integrations.
Refoss Energy Monitor
A smart energy-monitoring option I have featured and tested.
DIY Solar Education & Free Resources
Free Solar Diagram
A beginner-friendly visual starting point for understanding a basic solar system.
$1,500 / $5,000 / $20,000 Systems
Example backup systems organized around budget and capability rather than random product lists.
DIY Solar Class
Step-by-step education for people who want to understand and build their own system.
Solar System Basics Series
The foundation topics I teach are: batteries, solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, disconnect switches, breakers/fuses, busbars, shunts and wiring. The goal is to understand what each component does before trying to design a complete system.
Work With MattMan Solar
1-on-1 System Review
Get a second set of eyes on your planned system, parts list or shopping cart before you buy.
Product Reviews & Collaborations
For solar, battery, inverter, tools, RV, creator-tech and other relevant brand collaborations.
About MattMan Solar
I focus on practical DIY solar: real builds, transparent testing, beginner education and systems for homes, RVs, trailers and outage preparation.
This Is the Page to Keep Current.
When I add a new battery, inverter, tool, affiliate program or discount code, this page should be updated first. Older articles can continue to exist as educational archives, but current buying recommendations should point viewers back here.
