How Solar Installation Works
One System From Us. Professional Installation From a Local Expert.
We built Charging Solar around a simple idea: you shouldn't pay an installer's markup on the hardware, and you shouldn't trust your electrical work to anyone but a licensed local professional. So we split the two — transparent factory-direct pricing on the system, and a vetted local installer for the part that actually requires someone standing in your attic.
Here's exactly how it works, start to finish.
The Process
1. You order online — no sales call required. Transparent, one-price checkout. No home visit, no pressure, no negotiating.
2. We build and ship your system. Your Charging Solar system is built to order and ships in 8–10 weeks. We'll email you tracking and status updates the whole way — this isn't a warehouse item pulled off a shelf, it's manufactured for your order.
3. While your system is in transit, we connect you with a local installer. We'll introduce you to a licensed, insured, vetted installer in your area. This happens before your system arrives, so you're not starting the search from zero once it's sitting in your garage.
4. Your installer provides a free, no-obligation site quote. They'll assess your roof, your electrical panel, permitting requirements in your city/county, and any site-specific factors — then give you a firm installation quote. You're never obligated to use the installer we introduce you to; you're always free to source your own licensed installer instead.
5. Installation, permitting, and inspection. Your installer handles the physical install, pulls the necessary permits, and coordinates the required utility and safety inspections. Timeline varies by jurisdiction — typically a few weeks from install date to final sign-off, depending on your local permitting office.
6. You're live. Once inspected and approved, your system is switched on, monitored through the inverter's app, and — if your state offers net metering — connected to start offsetting your utility bill.
Why We Don't Bundle Installation
Traditional solar companies wrap installation, sales commission, and hardware into a single opaque number — which is a big part of why comparable systems from established installers commonly run $45,000–$65,000 once installed. You never see what you're actually paying for the equipment versus the labor.
We only sell you the hardware, at a transparent price. You separately pay a licensed local installer for their labor, at whatever rate is fair in your market — and you can shop that quote just like you would any other home improvement project.
What this means for you:
- You know exactly what the equipment costs.
- You choose your installer, or use one of ours — either way, you can get multiple quotes.
- You're not paying a national sales/marketing overhead baked into an installed price.
What Determines Your Installation Cost
Installation cost is not included in your Charging Solar price and varies by installer and location. Factors that typically affect your quote:
- Roof type and pitch (composition shingle, tile, metal, flat — some require more labor or specialized mounting)
- Electrical panel condition — some homes need a panel upgrade to safely support the system
- Local permitting and inspection fees, which vary significantly by city and county
- Local labor rates, which vary by region
- Site accessibility (roof height, distance from panel to battery/inverter location, trenching if needed)
We recommend getting a firm quote from your installer before your system arrives, so you can budget accurately and schedule your install as soon as it's delivered.
Installer Standards
Installers we connect you with are expected to be:
- Licensed electricians/solar installers in good standing in their state
- Insured, carrying appropriate liability coverage
- Experienced with battery storage systems, not just panel-only installs
We'll always disclose exactly what vetting an introduced installer has gone through. If you'd rather use your own installer, every component in your system ships with full documentation and specs so any qualified licensed installer can complete the work.
Warranty — Who Covers What
- Charging Solar warrants the system components (panels, inverter, battery, and included hardware) against manufacturer defects. See our full warranty terms for coverage periods and claims process.
- Your installer provides a separate workmanship warranty covering the installation itself — ask for this in writing as part of your installation quote.
Keeping these two warranties separate is standard in the industry and is exactly how it should work: the manufacturer stands behind the hardware, and the installer stands behind their labor.
FAQ
Do I have to use the installer you connect me with? No. You're always free to use your own licensed installer. We'll provide full system documentation and specs so any qualified installer can complete the work.
How much does installation typically cost? It varies significantly by roof type, electrical panel condition, local permitting fees, and regional labor rates. Get a firm quote from your installer before committing — we intentionally don't estimate this for you, since it depends entirely on your specific home and market.
What if I need an electrical panel upgrade? Some homes do. Your installer will identify this during your site assessment and include it in your quote.
How long does the whole process take, start to finish? 8–10 weeks for your system to arrive, then typically a few additional weeks for installation and permitting/inspection, depending on your local jurisdiction. Total timeline from order to fully operational system is commonly 10–16 weeks, though this varies by location.
What happens if I'm not satisfied with the installer you introduce me to? Let us know, and we'll connect you with an alternative. You're also always free to source your own.
Ready for Solar Charging?
Transparent hardware pricing. A local licensed professional for the install. That's the whole model.