880W APsystems Plug-In Solar Ground Kit Complete Guide
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The 880W ground kit pairs two 440W bifacial solar panels with one APsystems EZ1-LV plug-in microinverter to offset a portion of your daytime electricity use. It is the second-largest kit in our ground-mount lineup: two full-size rigid panels on ground racking, aimed at yards and gardens rather than balconies. There is an option to add the EZ1 Zero Export APmeter to prevent excess energy from going back to the grid.
This guide covers what is included, panel placement, power output, safe setup and the questions to answer before buying.
This system is not whole-home power or an outage-backup system. There is no battery in this kit, and the microinverter stops supplying power when the grid goes down.
In this guide
- Bottom line: who is this kit for?
- What is included and technical specifications
- Bifacial panels and ground placement
- How much electricity and money could it save?
- Is your home ready? Setup and permissions
- Certifications, warranty and limitations
- Frequently asked questions
- The next step
Bottom line: who is this kit for?
This kit is for renters or homeowners who have a sunny, unshaded patch of ground (yard, patio, etc.) and want a bigger offset than a 400W starter kit can give, without a rooftop installation. Two full-size panels on ground racking give you 880W of solar that you set up once and then let it work for you. Renters can use plug-in solar too; a ground kit like this one can move with you; check if you may need your landlord's permission.
Before choosing this kit, check the space, circuit, property permissions and utility requirements. These are large panels (about 5.7 x 3.7 ft and 51 lbs each), so plan for two people to more easily move and mount them. It’s possible to do it yourself, but much easier with a helping hand. The kit generates power while the sun is shining; it does not replace your utility service.
What is included and technical specifications
The kit includes two 440W Hanersun bifacial panels, ground-mount racking for both panels, one APsystems EZ1-LV plug-in microinverter with a power cord, and four panel connection cables. Monitoring is through the free AP EasyPower app. A battery is not included. An export-control meter, the APsystems EZ1 Zero Export APmeter, is an optional add-on you can choose with the kit; see "The optional zero-export meter" below.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated solar capacity (DC) | 880W total: 2 x 440W panels |
| Panel rating, each | 440W, 0 to +3%, at standard test conditions |
| Panel type | N-type TOPCon monocrystalline, bifacial, full black |
| Panel efficiency | 22.5% |
| Panel operating voltage/current | 32.7V / 13.5A at maximum power |
| Panel open-circuit voltage / short-circuit current | 38.7V / 14.3A |
| Panel dimensions / weight | 67.8 x 44.6 x 1.2 in; about 51 lb each |
| Panel junction box / fire rating | IP68; UL Type 29 fire rating |
| Microinverter model | APsystems EZ1-LV (Wi-Fi version) |
| Maximum AC output | 900W; 120V; 60Hz; up to 450W per panel input |
| Solar inputs | 2 input channels, each with its own MPPT; recommended panel range 315-660W+ per channel |
| MPPT range / maximum input voltage | 27-45V peak tracking / 60V |
| Maximum input current / short-circuit limit | 18A per channel / 25A per channel |
| Grid connection | Standard 120V plug; power cord included |
| Microinverter size / weight | 11.1 x 9.2 x 1.6 in; 9.3 lb |
| Microinverter weather rating | Type 6 enclosure (outdoor rated) |
| Microinverter operating temperature | -40 to 149 F (-40 to 65 C) |
| Connectivity / monitoring | Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; AP EasyPower app |
| Racking | Metal ground-mount racking, one rack per panel |
| Optional add-on: APmeter | APsystems EZ1 Zero Export APmeter (model APM1-W-2), single-phase smart energy meter |
| APmeter current input | External current transformer (clamp-style sensor) |
| APmeter measurements | Voltage, current, power, frequency, forward and reverse energy |
| APmeter accuracy | Power and active energy plus or minus 1% (Class 1) |
| APmeter connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz); Bluetooth 4.2 (up to about 33 ft indoors) |
| APmeter mounting | 35mm DIN rail |
| APmeter size / weight | 90 x 19 x 68.5mm (height x width x depth); about 100g |
| APmeter operating temperature | -40 to 158 F (-40 to 70 C) |
| APmeter protection | IP20 whole meter (not weatherproof); UL 94 V-0 flame-rated case |
Table sources: the APsystems EZ1-LV datasheet and the Hanersun HN18N-54HT 440W panel datasheet. The APmeter rows come from the APsystems APmeter Export Limit Datasheet (APM1 smart energy meter), which does not state a warranty.
The microinverter's 450W-per-input cap sits just above each panel's 440W rating, so very little potential production is lost to inverter limits.
The optional zero-export meter. The APsystems EZ1 Zero Export APmeter is an add-on you can choose with this kit. It is a small smart meter with a clamp-style sensor (a CT) that is installed at your electrical panel. It watches how much power your home is using and, through your Wi-Fi and the AP EasyPower app, tells the microinverter to turn its output down when the panels would make more than your home is using at that moment. The goal is to keep your solar from sending power back to the utility. You do not need it for the kit to work. Choose it if your utility asks for zero export, or if you simply want your solar to stay inside your home. Installation is at the electrical panel, so use a qualified electrician and follow local electrical codes. APsystems lists the sensor as fitting a 100A breaker, so confirm it suits your panel before ordering. Setup is in the AP EasyPower app, by Bluetooth or QR code. APsystems lists a 2-year warranty on the APmeter. With the meter, solar your home cannot use at that moment is held back instead of exported, so savings come only from the solar your home uses, which is how the estimates above are figured.
Bifacial panels and ground placement
Bifacial panels collect light on their front and on their back, where light reflects off the ground. Capturing that reflected light means you can potentially produce slightly more energy than the panel rating: expect a few percent extra in typical conditions, with the best gains over light surfaces such as pale gravel.
Placement still drives most of your production. Aim the panels south if you can, keep them clear of shade from trees, fences and buildings, and follow the racking instructions for tilt and anchoring. Because each panel has its own input on the microinverter, shade on one panel does not reduce the other panel's output. Panels collect the most power when the sun's rays hit them square-on, and even well-placed panels will not produce their full rated 440W all day. Heat, wiring and conversion losses are normal.
How much electricity and money could it save?
The 880W panel rating (900W microinverter rating) is power under standard test conditions, not a promise of constant output. Sunshine, shade, temperature and panel angle change production. Watts describe power at one moment. Kilowatt-hours, or kWh, describe electricity over time and are the units on your electric bill. A useful estimate needs your location, panel direction and angle, shade, electricity rate, and how much solar electricity your home uses as it is produced.
Related: our plug-in solar glossary
What bifacial panels add. These panels are bifacial: the front collects sunlight like any panel, and the back also collects light that bounces off the ground. A panel that is not bifacial cannot use that reflected light, so this kit produces slightly more energy than it would with ordinary panels of the same size. Hanersun rates the back side at 80% (plus or minus 5%) of the front, and its datasheet lists each panel at 488W instead of 440W with a standard amount of reflected light on the back (135W per square meter), about 11% more power in that lab test. A real yard gets less. Reflected light is weaker than in the test, the racking blocks some of it, and the gain depends on what is under the panels: light gravel gives more, grass or soil gives less. NREL modeling and field testing puts annual bifacial gains at roughly 4% to 11% depending on the panel type and site. We count 7.5%, the average of that range, for a low-to-the-ground yard kit.
A simple way to estimate daily production: multiply the kit's 0.88kW solar capacity by 1.075 (our 7.5% bifacial gain, explained above) to get about 0.95kW, multiply that by your location's peak sun hours, then subtract real-world losses. At 4.5 peak sun hours (the US average), that is about 4.3kWh per day before losses; heat, wiring, conversion and panel angle together typically take off roughly 10 to 15 percent. Sunshine and shade are the biggest variables.
A worked example:
- Location: Mid-Atlantic yard, about 4.5 peak sun hours on an average day, south-facing, no significant shade
- Production: 0.88kW x 1.075 (7.5% bifacial gain) = 0.95kW, x 4.5 hours = 4.28kWh per day, minus about 15% real-world losses = about 3.64kWh per day, or about 109kWh per month
- Compared with the average bill (Maryland): Maryland's average electric rate is $0.2141/kWh (EIA, July 2026) and its average home uses 929kWh for a bill of about $198.86 per month. If your home uses all 109kWh as it is produced, 109kWh x $0.2141 = about $23.34 per month (about $280 per year). That is about 12% of the average Maryland electric bill ($23.34 / $198.86).
The same math at different sun and rate levels:
- Lower sun, lower rate (Washington): about 85kWh per month at $0.147/kWh = about $12.50 per month or $150 per year (3.5 peak sun hours). That is about 9% of Washington's average electric bill ($12.50 / $140.55 per month, based on 955kWh average use at $0.147/kWh).
- Higher sun, higher rate (California): about 145kWh per month at $0.336/kWh = about $48.72 per month or $585 per year (6 peak sun hours). That is about 29% of California's average electric bill ($48.72 / $169.13 per month, based on 503kWh average use at $0.336/kWh).
State rates are from EIA's Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (July 2026); average bills and usage are from ElectricityPlans' state-by-state EIA data (July 2026). These are modeled estimates with chosen assumptions. Your number depends on your sun, your rate, your placement and shading, and how much of the daytime production your home actually uses.
Do not assume that exported power earns a credit or that every meter handles it the same way. Check our state tracker or ask your utility how it will measure and bill your setup, including any required approval or notification. This kit is not zero-export on its own; the optional APsystems EZ1 Zero Export APmeter adds export control if your utility requires it.
Is your home ready? Setup and permissions
- A sunny, unshaded patch of ground for two large panels on racking, in a safe, secure placement. Panels are about 5.7 x 3.7 ft and 51 lb each; plan for two people.
- A suitable outdoor outlet on a dedicated circuit, with proper grounding and GFCI protection.
- A cable route that reaches the outlet within the power cord length, without a power strip or extension cord.
- Any required landlord or HOA permission, plus state, local and utility checks.
- Confirmation that your meter and billing are suitable for grid-connected solar.
At a high level: assemble the racking per its instructions, mount the panels, connect each panel to its own input on the microinverter, plug in to the outlet, and connect the microinverter to the AP EasyPower app. Have a qualified electrician install the Zero Export APmeter and assess any circuit changes, new outlet work or uncertainty about your setup. If you move the kit, recheck the electrical requirements at the new location.
Related: How to check a dedicated circuit | GFCI outlets and plug-in solar | Plug-in solar rules by state
Certifications, warranty and limitations
The APsystems EZ1-LV microinverter is certified to UL 1741 and UL 3700 (CSA certification) and meets IEEE 1547, which includes anti-islanding and rapid-shutdown safety functions. That certification covers the microinverter as a component, not the kit as a whole system, and no whole-kit certification is claimed. Rules differ by state: some states ask for a certified microinverter, while others look at the whole system. Check our state guides before buying.
Panel warranty at a glance. Hanersun covers each 440W panel with a 15-year product warranty and a 30-year linear power-output warranty. They are two separate promises. The clock for both starts on the earlier of your installation date or three months after delivery. The warranty is transferable to a later owner as long as the panels stay where they were first installed.
Product warranty (15 years). This covers serious visible defects or abnormal performance caused by faulty materials or workmanship, as long as the panel was installed and used the way Hanersun's installation manual describes. Hanersun can ask you to show that the problem comes from the panel itself and not from installation, handling or weather. Details are in Hanersun's limited warranty.
Performance warranty (30 years, linear). Solar panels slowly make a little less power each year. That is normal. Hanersun puts a limit on it: in year one, output is at least 99% of the panel's rated power, and after that the loss is no more than 0.4% of rated power per year, so output is at least 87.4% by year 30. For a 440W panel, that means about 436W or more in year one and about 385W or more in year 30 (about 769W for the pair). These numbers are measured under standard lab test conditions (full sun, 25° C), not on your lawn on a cloudy day, so real-world output will be lower at any age. A power claim needs a test report from a qualified third-party lab showing the panel is below the guaranteed level.
If a claim is approved. Hanersun chooses the fix. It can repair or replace the panel at no charge, refund the panel's current value (the original price reduced by about 3.3% for each year of age), or, for a power shortfall, pay the difference or send extra panels to make up the missing power. Hanersun pays for the repair and for shipping a replacement to you. Removing and reinstalling panels is on you. A replacement does not restart the clock: it is covered for the rest of the original period.
How to make a claim. Tell Hanersun or OwnWatts in writing, promptly after you find the problem. Include a description of the problem, photos and/or videos showing the damage or issue, the full serial number and a photo of the barcode on the panel label, a copy of your invoice and your delivery date. If the panel needs to go back for inspection, Hanersun issues a return authorization first and will not accept returns without one. If Hanersun finds the panel is not defective, it sends it back at your cost. Keep your invoice and the panel labels in a safe place.
What is not covered. The warranty does not cover panels that were moved and reinstalled at a new site, altered or repaired without Hanersun's written consent, or installed, handled or maintained against the installation manual. It also excludes damage from events outside Hanersun's control such as fire, flood, hurricane, lightning, hail or heavy snow, use on mobile platforms or near salt water or corrosive chemicals, pest damage, and panels with removed or altered labels or serial numbers. You also need proof of purchase. Hanersun is not liable for lost electricity or other indirect losses.
APsystems warranties the EZ1-LV microinverter for 12 years; register it in the free AP EasyPower app, because unregistered units get only a 2-year warranty. Racking warranty is set by its manufacturer. These are component terms, not a single warranty for the whole kit. Weather resistance does not replace installation instructions. The microinverter is outdoor rated (Type 6 enclosure); still follow the manual on placement and cable handling. APsystems notes the EZ1-LV is designed for ground-level DIY installations such as gardens, not rooftops.
Related: What plug-in solar certification labels mean
Frequently asked questions
Will this cover my whole electricity bill?
No. It is designed to offset a portion of daytime electricity use: in our state examples, roughly 9% to 29% of an average home's bill. Your savings depend on your site, household use and electricity rate. It does not eliminate utility service or fixed charges.
Does it work during a blackout or include a battery?
No. There is no battery in this kit, and the grid-connected microinverter stops output during a blackout. Do not buy this kit as emergency backup power.
What happens on cloudy days or in shade?
Output falls when less sunlight reaches the panels. Keep panels clear of shadows from trees, fences and buildings. Because each panel has its own input, shade on one panel does not cut the other's output.
Can I install it on a roof or balcony?
This kit is sold for ground mounting. APsystems designs this microinverter for ground-level DIY setups such as gardens, not rooftops, and the included racking is not a roof or balcony product.
Do I need a permit, utility approval or a new meter?
That depends on your location and utility. Check before buying or installing. Ask the utility specifically about export, meter compatibility and billing. If your utility requires zero export, choose the kit with the optional APsystems EZ1 Zero Export APmeter.
Can I add more panels later?
The microinverter's two inputs are sized for this panel pair. To grow, you would add a second kit with its own microinverter on its own circuit rather than more panels on this one. Most states with plug-in solar bills allow up to 1200W of plug-in solar per dwelling unit (Colorado allows up to 1920W.)
Can I move it later?
Yes, though the panels are large (about 51 lb each), so plan for two people. Recheck placement, electrical requirements and local rules at the new site.
The next step
If you have a sunny patch of ground and want 880W of plug-in solar, explore our 880W ground kit. Not sure about placement, your outlet or your meter? Ask us before you order.
