Tech Insight : How to Install and Maintain a Solar Kit

Looking to install your own solar kit or better understand how it works? This video is for you. ☀️🔧

In this episode, Floréal Villanova, founder of Solutions Otonomi, teams up with Alex from ASE Energy to walk you through the setup and maintenance of a fully autonomous solar kit, perfect for off-grid or self-consumption use.

👉 You’ll learn:

• What a solar kit is and how it works
• How to wire each component (panel, MPPT charge controller, battery, inverter)
• Best practices for safety and performance
• Common mistakes to avoid

🎯 An accessible yet in-depth resource for anyone looking to install or maintain a solar power system on their own.

🛠 Why watch this video?

Because it helps you:

• Understand how solar kits work in real-life setups
• See how to wire Victron Energy components
• Gain hands-on knowledge for your own projects or customers

📌 This video is part of our educational series designed to empower solar professionals and enthusiasts.

🔗 Looking for digital tools to sell, install, or manage solar kits? Check out Otonomi DX – our platform built for the digital age of solar.

FAQ

What does a stand-alone solar kit include?

A solar panel, a charge controller (MPPT), a battery bank and, if needed, an inverter that turns 12 V into alternating current to plug in appliances. In the example shown by ASE Energy, a French solar kit distributor: a 115 W panel, a Victron MPPT controller, two 40 Ah gel batteries in parallel (12 V, 80 Ah) and a 600 W inverter, enough to charge phones, laptops or drones in a camper van.

Can you connect a solar panel directly to a battery?

No. That is the charge controller's job: it matches the panel's voltage (often around 20 V in the sun for a "12 V" panel) to the battery's. Connection order: battery first, then the panel; reverse the order to disconnect. Otherwise, a controller with automatic voltage detection can mistake the panel for a 24 V battery bank.

Which protection devices and tools do you need to install a kit yourself?

At a minimum, a fuse on each piece of equipment, ideally on both polarities. For safety, gloves and safety glasses, and a clear understanding of the wiring diagram before you start. In the toolbox: a multimeter, ideally with a clamp meter, an MC4 crimping tool, screwdrivers and wrenches.

How do you monitor and maintain the system?

Choose a Bluetooth charge controller (Victron's "Smart" range) to check production history from a phone, and add a battery monitor, the only way to know the state of charge precisely. Check that connections are tight at least once a year, especially in a vehicle: loose connections cause overheating.

How do you protect batteries in winter?

Keep them in an insulated but ventilated box. Gel batteries tolerate freezing but cannot charge or discharge below 0 °C. For winter storage, disconnect the loads and recharge them at least once a month, or let the solar panel keep them topped up. This advice is given for the French context, where the episode was filmed.