Post #1907479

2026-05-03 06:40 UTC

Do you have an example of stealth solar? I've been thinking a lot about 'stealth solar' where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy. It might be stealth as there are strict rules or just want to keep it low key. #balconysolar is sort of stealth gone mainstream. With cheaper MPPT devices you can now accept slightly poorer efficiency due to placement and with microinverters don't need to make long strings. I particularly think that there is no point having a solar panel in storage, best get it out there and generating even if it's in a temporary place! So I thought I'd start a small website that documents different stealth setups, so if you have cheeky solar panels and would be willing to share a little info (but not too much if it would get you in trouble) get in touch. #stealth #solar #solarpunk #balkonsolar #hiddensolar

Replies (15)

@anthropy@mastodon.derg.nz 2026-05-03 08:50

@smallsolar@techhub.social unsure if this counts but I got 3 450wp panels sitting upright against my garden fencing. Main reason for it is that in the winter at noon the sun hits this spot basically exactly head-on, so I still get ~1-1.5kw of power out of this in the winter despite the dutch latitude

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@yngmar@social.tchncs.de 2026-05-03 07:10

@smallsolar@techhub.social In some flats where balcony solar isn't allowed because the landlord is a bastard, people have been building solar tables, which is just a panel with four legs. There is no rule against having a table on your balcony and no rule what a table has to be made of. You'll probably find many pictures if you search for "solartisch". They can be used as table as well (best use a table cloth to avoid scratching the glass, although it is pretty tough).

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@smallsolar@techhub.social 2026-05-03 06:45

I recently added an ecoflow stream battery to my house (properly with a fused spur and isolator as plug in isn't yet allowed) and it gives me 4x MPPT so I can position 4 panels in different positions even if they aren't optimum and generate some solar. I suspect I'll end up putting 2 on my garage in a traditional setup and then 2 directly on an east facing wall of my house which can't be seen by anyone. I'll probably mount the wall ones myself, still debating the garage ones as it's a slate roof which is a bit tricky to work with.

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@syhr@mastodon.art 2026-05-03 07:21

@smallsolar I love this! I live in a 'conservation' area so it would be great to learn about the different ways people are doing stealth solar.

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@EarthOrgUK@mastodon.energy 2026-05-03 07:28

@smallsolar I have semi-stealth for my off-grid system with PV on the porch roof and garden walls, as well as the non-stealth grid-connected system!

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@Maker_of_Things@cupoftea.social 2026-05-03 08:06

@smallsolar I had a large box trailer parked on my drive. It was becoming redundant and only used for storage, so I hung two solar panels on the side. The trailer has been scrapped now, and the panels are back in storage as we are planning to move house.

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@dtl@8bitorbust.info 2026-05-03 08:17

@smallsolar I've a little 10W panel on the shed roof. It used to keep a Pi running, now it powers a humidity sensor to control a dehumidifier.

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@ohmrun@indieweb.social 2026-05-03 09:11

@smallsolar Maybe you can help me. What would happen if you were to add a plug in inverter to an AC circuit provided by a low frequency inverter?

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@realSiegfried@troet.cafe 2026-05-03 09:25

@smallsolar "Stealth solar" is a new term for me (English is not my first language). I say "guerilla solar", but stealth sounds nicer.

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@thierna@mastodon.green 2026-05-03 09:26

@smallsolar this is a great idea. I am looking for a way to place solar panels on my balcony. My landlord said no, when I asked. So some stealth option could still work. Someone has experience with those solar tables? is a battery on the balcony in the sun a very bad idea? or could it still work?

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@six_grandfathers_mountain@mastodon.social 2026-05-03 09:56

@smallsolar RE about stealth solar where people attach #solarpanels to places in a subtle way to capture the sun's energy #offthegrid #diy #solarcharger #msnow had a 2min segment on just off the shelf system to charge his #EV seems there are no rules in his town, see video

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@etchedpixels@mastodon.social 2026-05-03 09:59

@smallsolar meshcore repeaters is one. They tend to sprout mysteriously as little solar powered units up trees and stuff

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@jetlagjen@gts.phillipsuk.org 2026-05-03 10:48

@smallsolar my solar panels are impossible to see unless you're on the roof or flying. I've only ever seen them in photos. We didn't hide them on purpose, it was just an accident of the shape of our roof. We live in a terrace, without space between houses to step back and see the south-ish facing slope. This is pretty common for terraced houses, so there's a fair amount of potential stealth solar there.

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@Photo55@mastodon.social 2026-05-03 12:26

@smallsolar The shed roof which needs patching. I've been thinking about a porch, or just canopy over the front door, to stay dry while manipulating the keys.

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@matt@mastodon.knight.fyi 2026-05-03 12:45

@smallsolar we have 8x 100W solar panels that used to be on the roof of our RV. I’d love to be able to use them for the house, just not yet figured out how to best leverage the energy they generate without some complex tie-in / battery setup.

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