Installing solar panels is a project many Canadians take on themselves, from a 200W panel on an RV to a full off-grid system at the cottage. Larger systems connected to a home's wiring or the grid need a licensed electrician for at least part of the work. This guide walks through the ten steps of a typical installation, what you can do yourself, and how to keep your panels producing for decades.
Can you install solar panels yourself?
- Usually DIY: 12V systems for RVs, vans, boats and sheds; portable panels; small off-grid cabin systems below 50V DC.
- DIY with an electrician: many homeowners mount the racking and panels themselves and hire a licensed electrician for the inverter, the AC connection and the final inspection.
- Licensed electrician required: anything connected to your home's electrical panel or the utility grid. In Ontario, the work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor and inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA); other provinces have similar rules.
Working on a roof is the most dangerous part of any solar job. Use fall protection, never work alone, and stay well away from overhead power lines.
Step 1: Choose the right panels or kit
Size the system from your energy use, then choose panels and an inverter that are designed to work together. See our guide on how to choose solar panels in Canada, or start from a matched solar panel kit or off-grid solar system.
Step 2: Assess the site
In Canada, panels facing due south produce the most energy; east or west faces produce roughly 15% to 20% less. Check for shade from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings at different times of year, since the winter sun is much lower. Confirm your roof has at least 10 to 15 years of life left before you mount panels on it. No good roof? A ground mount or pole mount lets you choose the ideal angle and makes clearing snow easier.
Step 3: Get permits and utility approval
Check with your municipality about building permits, and with your provincial electrical authority about an electrical permit. If you will connect to the grid or use net metering, apply to your local utility before you buy equipment: utilities set their own size limits and approval steps. Some rebate programs also require approval before installation.
Step 4: Install the mounting system
Locate the roof rafters and fasten the mounts into them, not just into the roof deck, using flashing at every penetration to keep water out. Space mounts according to the racking manufacturer's tables for your area's snow and wind loads. For ground mounts, set posts or ballast below the frost line or as the manufacturer specifies. A tilt of roughly your latitude gives the best year-round output; steeper angles help snow slide off.
Step 5: Mount the panels
Lift panels with at least two people and never carry them by the junction box or cables. Fasten them with the clamps specified by the racking manufacturer, at the clamping zones shown in the panel's installation manual, and torque bolts to spec. Leave the gaps the manual requires between panels for expansion.
Step 6: Wire the panels
Connect panels in series, parallel or a mix to match your inverter or charge controller's input window. In Canada, cold-weather voltage is the critical check: panel voltage rises as temperature drops, so use each panel's open-circuit voltage (Voc), its temperature coefficient and your area's lowest expected temperature to make sure a string never exceeds the equipment's maximum input voltage. Use UV-rated PV wire and matching connectors, ground the frames and racking, and install the disconnects and rapid-shutdown devices your electrical code requires.
Step 7: Connect the inverter, batteries and the grid
Mount the inverter and any batteries in a dry, ventilated location, within the temperature range in their manuals. Most LiFePO4 batteries should not be charged below 0°C, so keep them in a heated space or choose self-heating models. Grid connection and work inside your electrical panel must be done by a licensed electrician.
Step 8: Test the system
Before switching on, check polarity and open-circuit voltage of each string with a multimeter. Then follow the inverter's start-up sequence and watch its display or monitoring app for production and any error codes.
Step 9: Final inspection and commissioning
Book the electrical inspection and, for grid-tied systems, your utility's meter change or connection approval. Do not export power to the grid until the utility gives you permission.
Step 10: Care and maintenance
- Cleaning: rain cleans most panels. Rinse with plain water and a soft brush if dust, pollen or bird droppings build up, and never use a pressure washer or abrasive cleaner. See how to clean solar panels.
- Snow: snow usually slides off tilted panels within a day or two of sun. If you clear it, use a soft roof rake from the ground, not a metal shovel, and never climb onto a snowy roof.
- Inspections: once or twice a year, check for loose clamps, damaged cables, critter nests under the panels and corrosion at connectors. Critter guard mesh keeps squirrels and birds out.
- Monitoring: compare production month to month. A sudden drop usually means shade, a tripped breaker, a failed connector or an inverter fault.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a solar installation take?
An RV system takes a day. A typical home system takes one to three days of installation, but permits, utility approval and inspections can take several weeks, so start the paperwork early.
Can I install panels on a cottage roof?
Yes, if the roof is sound and the rafters can take the extra weight and snow load. Many cottage owners choose a ground mount instead, which is easier to install and to clear of snow.
Do I need batteries?
Grid-tied systems work without batteries, but they shut off in a power outage. Off-grid systems and anyone who wants backup power need batteries.
Have questions about your installation? Call us at 1-800-858-4318 or contact our team.
