Frequently asked questions
Common questions about panel counts, the design month, cold-climate batteries, data storage, installation, and permit suitability.
Solar Pal calculates the number of solar panels required, total array capacity in kilowatts, number of batteries needed, usable battery bank capacity in kilowatt-hours, panel and battery wiring configuration, monthly peak sun hours for your location, and all major system losses — all based on your specific site location, electrical loads, and system parameters.
Yes — Solar Pal is free for personal, non-commercial use. There is no subscription, no account required, and no data collected. Commercial use requires a written licence from DEC Group Inc. Contact info@decgroup.pro for commercial licensing.
Yes. After the first load, Solar Pal works fully offline. The service worker caches all application assets, making it suitable for use in the field at remote off-grid sites with no cellular coverage.
Solar Pal supports flooded lead-acid (FLA), AGM (sealed), Gel, and LiFePO4 lithium battery chemistries, with the correct depth of discharge limit applied automatically for each. For cold-climate off-grid systems (e.g. northern Canada), FLA and AGM are recommended as they safely charge and discharge below freezing.
Solar Pal is a design aid and starting point for professional review, not a stamped engineering drawing. For a regulated installation in Canada or the United States, a licensed electrician or professional engineer must prepare the drawings and obtain the required permits. The Solar Pal exported report is a useful basis for those professional conversations.
The design month is the calendar month with the fewest peak sun hours at your location and panel orientation — typically December at northern hemisphere sites. Solar Pal calculates peak sun hours for all 12 months and sizes the system for the worst month, ensuring it is never underpowered year-round.
Yes. Solar Pal supports off-grid, grid-tied, and hybrid system types. Select the appropriate type in Step 1. The sizing calculation is the same; the system type appears on the project card and in the exported report. Grid-tied and hybrid systems also require utility interconnection approval (e.g. Hydro-Québec's net-metering programme in Québec).
All project data is stored exclusively in your device's local browser storage (localStorage). No data is transmitted to any server, and no account is required. If you clear your browser or app data, projects will be lost — use the Export function to save a permanent copy of important designs.