Unplugged Live - DIY Solar

Unplugged Live

Unplugged Live is a weekly livestream and podcast for DIY solar enthusiasts, off-grid builders, and anyone working toward real energy independence. Each episode features practical discussion, real-world experience, and honest conversation around solar power, batteries, inverters, home energy systems, and the lessons learned along the way. Hosted by Adam De Lay, Eric from East Texas Homestead, and Rodney Hunt, the show focuses on what actually works in the on your property, not theory, hype, or sales fluff. Expect breakdowns of current builds, viewer questions, troubleshooting, industry news.

  1. 3d ago

    Off Topic Hangout (Prerecorded Premiere)

    Welcome back to Unplugged LIVE. This week is a first for the show: the episode got prerecorded and airs as a premiere. Around midday on taping day the crew found out they could not make the live show, so Eric, Rodney, and Adam fired up the cameras that evening and recorded a hangout instead of skipping the week. Eric calls it the behind the scenes preview to the after show. The night is pure catching up: Rodney's new business startup with its LLC, DBA, and insurance paperwork, Adam's phone-heavy week at the day job, the Vegas airport story with the unattended bag and the mystery hallway between terminals, camping at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas, and a snapped line set that took out the mini split for good, which turns into a talk about why those R-410A units stopped being sold. The back half gets better still: the combiner box build on screen with its raceway and conduit, the truck story that ends in DMV paperwork, a sunshine report check with demo numbers filling in for the chat, two years of streaming history with the first stream dates and RE+ as the one miss, a look back at the very first stream that sparked the reaction video idea, the 20 to 30 minute after show pitch, AI agents talk, and a recommendation for a roof drone security build tested in a mock robbery. Topics in this episode: Why this week is a prerecorded premiereRodney's business startup: LLC, DBA, and insuranceAdam's week at the day jobThe Vegas airport storyQueen Wilhelmina State Park campingThe dead mini split and the R-410A problemThe combiner box buildThe truck story: broken belt and the DMVSunshine report check with demo numbersTwo years of streamsA look back at the very first streamThe after show pitchRoof drone security platformTell us where you want more: the members-only after show or the meetup with us at RE+ in Las Vegas. Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceF6zNXxLURMrxcDpWaoCXf7Z63xrcGNg-zWRE-MEb5m-FAA/viewform Support the show through our partners: Signature Solar: signaturesolar.com and Current Connected: currentconnected.com. Use code GET50UNPLUGGED for $50 off orders of $500 or more. Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. The hosts: Eric (Home Energy Independence), Rodney (Rodney Hunt), and Adam (Adam De Lay DIY). Unplugged LIVE streams Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern and 7 PM Central on the Unplugged DIY Solar channel. Email the show: live@unplugged.solar

  2. Oct 9

    PWM vs MPPT Solar Charge Controllers Explained for Beginners

    Tonight on Unplugged LIVE, we are making solar charge controllers easier to understand and helping you avoid common budget traps. Start with the basics of PWM versus MPPT: how each technology handles solar panel voltage and current, the power losses cheap PWM controllers cause, how to spot fake "MPPT" knockoffs on Amazon, and real-world examples that help you pick the right controller for your setup. The back half gets personal: Rodney announces his two-week notice live on air, Adam tests the Vatrer WiFi battery communications against his other battery brands, and the chat swaps its first controller stories, including the legendary budget specials that would not die. The episode closes with the solar farm debate: farmland versus parking lots. Topics in this episode: Why you can never wire a solar panel straight to the batteryPWM explained: the light switch approach and where it falls apartThe PWM power loss math on a real 300 watt panelMPPT explained: finding the sweet spot and running high voltage panelsSide by side: PWM near 70 percent, MPPT near 97 percentHow to spot a fake MPPT: weight, price, and voltage tellsWhen PWM is actually the right callThe PWM versus MPPT decision checklist for your buildRodney puts in his two-week noticeAdam tests the Vatrer WiFi battery against his other brandsYour first controller stories from the chatThe solar farm debate: farmland versus parking lotsSupport the show through our partners: Signature Solar: signaturesolar.com and Current Connected: currentconnected.com. Use code GET50UNPLUGGED for $50 off orders of $500 or more. Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. The hosts: Eric (Home Energy Independence), Rodney (Rodney Hunt), and Adam (Adam De Lay DIY). Unplugged LIVE streams Thursdays at 8 PM Eastern and 7 PM Central on the Unplugged DIY Solar channel. Email the show: live@unplugged.solar

  3. Oct 2

    Solar and Electricity Basics: Volts, Amps, Watts, and Battery Capacity Explained

    Welcome back to Unplugged LIVE. This week the crew goes back to basics: volts, amps, watts, and battery capacity, explained the way we wish someone had explained it to us. The night opens with Eric's new security camera rollout, then flows into open Q&A pulled straight from the live chat, where the battery math takes over the show. Adam builds the water tank analogy on screen: voltage is pressure, amps are flow, and watt hours are the size of the tank. The crew works a real example: a 100 Ah 12 V battery holds about 1.2 kWh, and once you pick a depth of discharge you can math out how long a refrigerator runs and what actually happens at midnight when the power goes out. Battery bank state of charge drift, balancing, and the equal cable length myth get settled too. The back half covers the Section 232 polysilicon proclamation and what it may do to panel prices: a 15 percent tariff plus price floors of $21 per kilogram for polysilicon and $0.38 per watt for modules, effective December 4, 2026. Plus the EG4 12000XP warranty story, array grounding and ground rods answered from a viewer super chat, the Sunshine Roll Call (the community logged just over a megawatt hour this week), Eric's FlexBoss21 zero production mystery, and RE+ Vegas logistics. Topics in this episode: Back to basics night: volts, amps, watts, and battery capacityThe water tank analogy: pressure, flow, and tank sizeWatt hours vs amp hoursThe 100 Ah 12 V battery: how much energy is really in thereDepth of discharge and usable capacityRefrigerator runtime and sizing a battery bankWhat happens at midnight when the grid goes downState of charge drift, balancing, and the equal cable length mythRaspberry Pi 5 as a Solar Assistant nodeEG4 12000XP warranty story: swap or fix the old inverterThe Section 232 polysilicon proclamation explainedThe $21/kg polysilicon floor and $0.38/W module floor from December 4, 2026Copper, grounding rods, and array groundingSunshine Roll Call: 29 on screen, community just over 1.1 MWh this weekRodney 136.1 kWh in North Carolina on a storm dayEric's zero production FlexBoss21 tampering mysteryCopper thieves, trail cams, and protecting the homesteadRE+ Vegas meetup: tickets, rooms, and plansLinks and resources: Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/Bf7cb7rDnKkSignature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep40 - use code GET50UNPLUGGED for $50 off orders over $500Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep40Watch and follow the Unplugged crew: Unplugged DIY SolarAdam De Lay DIYRodney HuntEric | East Texas HomesteadHome Energy IndependenceWatch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, inverters, grounding, and backup power wiring can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code and manufacturer instructions.

  4. Sep 25

    DIY Solar News LIVE: The $7B Solar for All Program Is BACK + Balcony Solar Goes Legal in NJ

    It is the first episode of Unplugged Weekly, our new weekly DIY solar news format. Eric, Rodney and Adam break down the week in DIY solar: the news, the sunshine report board, and Q&A pulled straight from the live chat. The big story: a federal judge has restored the $7 billion Solar for All program after the EPA terminated it in August 2025. Two court rulings put the money back in play in September. Adam walks through what the program funds, and how to search your state name plus "solar for all" to find the grants and see who qualifies. Then New Jersey legalized plug-in balcony solar: up to 1,200 W per home, UL 3700 certified gear, no utility approval, no city permit, and landlords and HOAs cannot ban it. It takes effect March 1, 2027. Also this week: Pila Energy launched its plug-in mesh home battery at NY Climate Week (it powers out of a standard 120V outlet, and the crew digs into whether mesh anything here is real or a buzzword), UL launched a certification program for vehicle to grid so your EV can double as an 80 to 100 kWh home battery, and Goal Zero recalled 46,200 Yeti 3000X power stations because the circuit board can overheat (the fix is free firmware at recallsupport.goalzero.com). Plus hurricane season prep: test your backup power now, and how to size an inverter generator around the 75 percent sweet spot. Q&A covers rapid shutdown on a detached pergola, the AI agents Eric runs behind the scenes (Hermes, Ollama Cloud, Codex), Tigo CCA with the EG4 12000XP, where to buy panels in the southeast, and the RE+ Vegas meetup taking shape with a form coming on the website. Topics in this episode: The first Unplugged Weekly news format episodeSolar for All is back: a federal judge restored the $7B programHow to find Solar for All grants in your state and who qualifiesNew Jersey balcony solar goes legal: 1,200 W, UL 3700, no permit, HOAs cannot ban itPila Energy plug-in mesh home battery: real or buzzword?UL vehicle-to-grid certification: your EV as an 80 to 100 kWh home batteryGoal Zero Yeti 3000X recall of 46,200 units and the free firmware fixHurricane season prep: test your backup power before the stormGenerator sizing around the 75 percent inverter sweet spotRapid shutdown on a detached pergolaThe AI agents Eric runs: Hermes, Ollama Cloud, CodexTigo CCA with the EG4 12000XPWhere to buy panels in the southeastRE+ Vegas meetup taking shape (form coming on the website)Sunshine report: 174 kWh channel high from SurgeonTech in cloudy Arizona, 37 reporters on screen, Eric closed with 6.3 kWh in TexasLinks and resources: Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/iT_lSmT5awQGoal Zero Yeti 3000X recall fix: https://recallsupport.goalzero.comPila Energy: https://www.pilaenergy.com/Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep39 - use code GET50UNPLUGGED for $50 off orders over $500Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep39Watch and follow the Unplugged crew: Unplugged DIY SolarAdam De Lay DIYRodney HuntEric | East Texas HomesteadHome Energy IndependenceWatch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, generator interlocks, and backup-power wiring can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, fuel and CO risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows.

  5. Sep 18

    DIY Solar R&D Wish List: The Products Manufacturers Have Not Built Yet

    What products are the DIY solar manufacturers missing, and what would they make a killing on if they built it? Eric walked in blind to the topic, so every idea is worked out live, with the chat pile of AAA answers folded in. We cover the centralized communications hub every DIYer wants (the Victron Cerbo model that nobody else copies), the USB dongle grind, a brand agnostic monitoring hub and why it also solves the FCC remote access question, the universal battery communication hub and the battery to battery BMS Tower of Babel (JBD, Pace, Seplos, Pylon), Meshtastick and MeshCore control of inverters with no Wi-Fi, and the two GitHub projects that already exist for it. Plus Eric's watertight solar pergola roof and panel gasket ideas, the solar company that ships your whole kit with wiring diagrams and permit paperwork, the smart breaker and CT per circuit ideas, the inverter that auto starts a generator and the water heater timer trick for Chargeverter loads, alternator charging for 48 volt banks, a dedicated cell level battery screen that pairs like the Blue Eddy fridge power display, PoE powered monitoring per breaker, a customizable MPPT, a 120 volt smart outlet built into the side of the inverter, EcoFlow's Wi-Fi reconnection flaw, EV to MPPT high voltage handshake ideas, and the sunshine report with production totals from around the country. Topics in this episode: The R&D wish list format: what product should exist but does notVictron Cerbo: the single hub model and why nobody else copies itDongle fatigue: four inverters, four dongle setups, zero local bufferingSolar Assistant and the USB hub questionMeshtastick and MeshCore: inverter control with no Wi-Fi, two GitHub projects already existThe solar company that ships wiring diagrams, labels, and permit helpChargeverter timer tricks: 240V water heater timers and smart plugsSmart breakers with timers and the whole smart panel price realityEV batteries under a trailer floor and the EG4 RX 60 under false floor ideaTime of day charge windows and Blue Eddy battery maintenance modeUniversal battery communication hub: JBD, Pace, Seplos, and Pylon all speak their own talkPer breaker PoE monitoring and the Emporia view comparisonCustomizable MPPT: low voltage high amps vs high voltage low ampsVictron 8kW native split phase for the US market rumorsEV to MPPT: the high voltage handshake problem and two step down ideaAlternator charging for 48 volt: EcoFlow and Blue EddieSunshine report: 1.2 MWh channel day, 31 reporting, average 40.5 kWh, weekly highs 775 CTX and 289.4 WIRE Plus Vegas mid November: videos, live streams, and a possible meet and greetEric's Solar Ports build on East Texas Homestead, new videos every TuesdayLinks and resources: Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/BA2lvB1uTtkEric's Solar Ports build series: https://www.youtube.com/@EastTexasHomesteadSignature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep38 - use code UNPLUGGED50OFF for $50 off orders over $500Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep38Watch and follow the Unplugged crew: Unplugged DIY SolarAdam De Lay DIYRodney HuntEric | East Texas HomesteadHome Energy IndependenceWatch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, generator interlocks, and backup-power wiring can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, fuel and CO risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows.

  6. Sep 10

    Plug-In Solar Q&A: 120V vs 240V, Zero Export, and Grid-Down Workarounds with Jeffrey

    Plug-in solar is the fastest growing corner of DIY solar, and Jeffrey from There's A Trick For That is the guy who tests it hardest. He's back for round two, and the whole episode is plug-in solar: your questions, his real data, zero hype. We cover the 120V vs 240V question (including the two-circuit trick that gets real 240V from two micro-inverters), whether plug-in solar can pair with a whole-home standby generator, battery pairing with portable power stations and raw LiFePO4, what happens when the grid goes down, anti-islanding and why your inverter must shut off, the best zero-export options on the market right now, and why plug-in solar costs what it costs. Plus: Jeffrey walks through the plug-in solar laws sweeping the country (Utah first, roughly nine states with official laws now), the 1,200W continuous rule on a 15A circuit, why balcony solar kits get throttled, a buyer's warning on panel prices (the tariff-driven price floor and what to buy before December 4, 2026), and the sunshine report with weekly production totals from around the country and the world. Topics in this episode: Jeffrey's path from camping channel to plug-in solar specialistWhat plug-in solar is and why states are legalizing itUtah's first-in-the-nation law and the 1,200W continuous rule120V vs 240V plug-in solar and the two micro-inverter 240V workaroundEV charger outlets, 30A circuits, and garage installsAnti-islanding: why grid-tie solar shuts off when the grid goes downGenerator pairing and the backfeed warning on non-bidirectional metersBattery pairing: portable power stations, raw LiFePO4, and the balcony kit battery-buffer trickZero-export options on the market right nowWhat plug-in solar costs and who it's actually worth it forPanel prices: the tariff cliff and what to buy before prices climbSymmetrical 240V loads and pool pump mathSunshine report: 2 MWh channel call, Arizona 218 kWh, international roll callWhere plug-in solar goes next: distributors, panel stocking, and the balcony solar waveLinks and resources: Jeffrey's channel (There's A Trick For That): https://www.youtube.com/@theresatrickforthatJeffrey's website: https://theresatrickforthat.comJeffrey's 6 months of real plug-in solar data: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JQKUQZOMmgJeffrey's first Unplugged appearance (Episode 26): https://youtube.com/live/C8_ghCURkAsSignature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep37 - use code UNPLUGGED50OFF for $50 off orders over $500Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep37Watch and follow the Unplugged crew: Unplugged DIY SolarAdam De Lay DIYRodney HuntEric | East Texas HomesteadHome Energy IndependenceWatch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, generator interlocks, and backup-power wiring can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, fuel and CO risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows.

  7. Sep 4

    DIY Solar Trivia Night: 13 Questions, One Winner, and a MidNite SPD Giveaway

    In this Unplugged LIVE replay, it is DIY solar trivia night. Adam De Lay runs the crew and the chat through 13 scored questions on panels, batteries, wiring, and safety while a live leaderboard builds all night. Perfect scores landed in the wheel of luck for a MidNite SPD giveaway, and @52gulfpapa took it home. We also run the sunshine report with weekly solar production totals from around the country, answer a super chat about the EG4 string calculator, and celebrate the channel crossing 1,000. Topics in this episode: What actually powers a solar panel, and how irradiance is measured with a pyranometerSeries wiring and voltage mathWatt hour math at 50 percent state of chargeWhat a shunt does and why it mattersStandard test conditions vs real world panel outputBMS basics on lithium batteriesWire gauge for low voltage DC runsHeat derating and why panels lose output in extreme heatBypass diodes and shadingSurge ratings and SPD protection120V vs 240V standardsParallel battery capacity mathThe MidNite SPD giveaway wheel and the winnerLinks and resources: Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep36 - use code UNPLUGGED50OFF for $50 off orders over $500Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep36Watch and follow the Unplugged crew: Unplugged DIY SolarAdam De Lay DIYRodney HuntEric | East Texas HomesteadHome Energy IndependenceWatch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unpluggedsolar Have a question or a solar setup to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, and backup-power systems can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code.

  8. Aug 29

    Grid Failures and Backup Power: What DIY Solar Actually Fixes

    Hurricane Lala knocked out power to more than 180,000 people in Hawaii, and a derecho with 70 to 100 mph winds left 374,000 without power across 53 counties in Indiana. Gary, Indiana waited 14 days for the lights to come back on. Rodney, Eric and Adam break down what these 2026 grid failures mean for people who want real backup power. We get into the practical side: why a 72-hour kit is a good start but two weeks is the goal, which loads matter first (fridge, internet, lights, CPAPs and other medical devices), why a generator is only as good as your fuel supply, and how a solar roll call from the community stacks up. Plus a V2H reality check and what everyone is working on next. Topics in this episode: Hurricane Lala in Hawaii: 180,000+ without powerThe Aug 11 derecho: 374,000 outages across 53 Indiana countiesGary, Indiana: 14 days without electricity72-hour kit vs a two-week backup planMedical loads: CPAPs, oxygen concentrators and consolidatorsGenerators vs solar: fuel dependency and pairing bothV2H reality check after a Tesla Model 3 purchaseSolar roll call from the communityWhat each host is working on nextHave a question or a grid-down story to share? Email us at live@unplugged.solar with subject "Unplugged". Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=unplugged&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep35Use code UNPLUGGED50OFF for $50 off orders over $500. Current Connected: https://currentconnected.com/?ref=AzzpK9Fl&utm_source=yt&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep35

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Unplugged Live is a weekly livestream and podcast for DIY solar enthusiasts, off-grid builders, and anyone working toward real energy independence. Each episode features practical discussion, real-world experience, and honest conversation around solar power, batteries, inverters, home energy systems, and the lessons learned along the way. Hosted by Adam De Lay, Eric from East Texas Homestead, and Rodney Hunt, the show focuses on what actually works in the on your property, not theory, hype, or sales fluff. Expect breakdowns of current builds, viewer questions, troubleshooting, industry news.

Information

  • Creator
    Unplugged Live
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Unplugged Live
  • Show Website
    Unplugged Live - DIY Solar

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