ServicesSolar System Add-Ons
Solar System Add-Ons in Cottonwood Heights
We add EV chargers, monitoring, panel upgrades and extra modules to solar systems already working at your home. Each add-on is sized against what you have, wired to code and checked before we leave, so the new piece and the old system run safely together.
Getting more from the system you already own
A solar system is rarely finished the day it is switched on. You buy an electric car, your household grows, or you simply want to see what the panels are producing each hour. An add-on lets the system keep up without starting over.
The work matters more than the part. Every add-on ties into live electrical equipment, and solar circuits can carry voltage whenever the sun is up. We treat that seriously: we shut down and verify the system is de-energized before anyone touches a conductor, label every new disconnect, and leave the electrical room as tidy as we found it.
If your plans also call for stored power, our Battery Storage page covers that work in detail. Here we focus on the smaller upgrades that make an existing array more useful day to day.
Add-ons we install
EV charger installation
A Level 2 charger on its own dedicated circuit, placed where the cord reaches your parking spot without crossing a walkway. We check that your service panel has room for the load first, and we can set charging to favor the hours your panels produce most.
Production and consumption monitoring
Current sensors and a gateway that show what the array makes and what your home uses, in real time. Seeing both numbers side by side makes it obvious when a string underperforms or when an appliance is quietly drawing power all night.
Main electrical panel upgrade
Older 100-amp panels often cannot safely accept solar backfeed plus a car charger. We replace an undersized or worn panel with one rated for the combined load, coordinating the utility disconnect and the inspection so your power is off for as short a time as possible.
System expansion
More modules added to an existing roof-mounted array, matched to your inverter's capacity and string voltage limits. If the original inverter cannot take the extra panels, we tell you plainly before any work is scheduled.
Smart load control
Smart breakers or load controllers that let you shift or shed big loads like water heaters and dryers, keeping the panel within its rating as you add equipment.
Signs an add-on makes sense now
A new electric car is on the way
Charging from a standard outlet is slow and keeps a regular circuit loaded for hours. A dedicated charger is safer and pairs naturally with daytime solar.
You cannot tell how the system is doing
If the only feedback you get is the monthly utility bill, a problem can sit unnoticed for a season. Monitoring shows it within days.
Breakers trip or the panel feels warm
A warm panel cover, a buzzing breaker or repeated trips suggest the panel is near its limit. That should be looked at before anything else is added.
Your bills crept back up
New appliances, a home office or a hot tub can outgrow the array you sized years ago. Expansion brings production back in line with use.
Winter bills hit harder than expected
Short December days and snow on the panels cut production in our valley. Monitoring and a slightly larger array help you plan for the low months instead of being surprised by them.
How an add-on project runs
- 1
A free virtual appointment
We start by phone and video. You show us your electrical panel, inverter label and the spot you have in mind, and we talk through what you want the add-on to do.
- 2
Load check and written plan
We calculate whether your service and panel can carry the new load alongside the solar backfeed. You get a written, line-item plan that shows what is needed and why, including anything we found that should be fixed first.
- 3
Permit and scheduling
We pull the electrical permit and set a work day that suits you. If a short power shutoff is needed, you know the window in advance.
- 4
Install day
The crew shuts the system down, verifies zero voltage, and keeps tools and cable off paths where children or pets walk. New circuits are labeled at the panel and at each disconnect.
- 5
Testing and walkthrough
We restart the system, confirm the add-on works under real load, and show you how to use it and how to shut it off safely. Then we clean up and arrange the final inspection.
What shapes the price of an add-on
Add-ons vary more than most people expect, because the same charger can be a simple job at one home and a panel replacement at the next. We price from what your equipment actually needs, and we explain each line before you decide. Many projects are available with $0 up front.
- Electrical panel capacity
- If your panel has spare room, the job stays small. If it is undersized or aging, a panel upgrade becomes part of the work.
- Distance and routing
- A charger mounted next to the panel needs little wire. One across the garage or outside by the driveway needs longer runs, conduit and sometimes trenching.
- Inverter and equipment compatibility
- Expansion depends on whether your inverter has headroom. Monitoring hardware also varies by brand, and some older systems need an extra gateway.
- Permits and utility coordination
- Panel upgrades and expansions involve permit fees and, in some cases, a utility disconnect and reconnect. We include these in the written plan.
Questions about solar add-ons
Something not covered here? (801) 876-1777
Can I add an EV charger if my solar system was installed by another company?
Usually, yes. A charger connects to your electrical panel, not directly to the panels outside. We review your existing setup during the virtual appointment and confirm the panel can carry both loads safely.
Will adding panels affect my existing equipment?
It can, which is why we check before recommending it. New modules have to match your inverter's voltage and capacity limits. If they do not fit, we explain the options plainly, including when expansion is not worth it.
Do I need a new electrical panel?
Not always. Many homes have room to spare. If a load calculation shows your panel would be overloaded with solar backfeed plus the new circuit, we recommend an upgrade and show you the numbers behind it.
Will my power be off during the work?
For a charger or monitoring, often only briefly at the circuit level. A panel upgrade needs a longer shutoff, usually part of one day, and we tell you the window ahead of time so you can plan.
Is the work inspected?
Yes. We pull the electrical permit and arrange the inspection, so the finished add-on has been checked by the local building department and not only by us.
Plan your next upgrade with us
Tell us what you want your solar system to do next, and we will show you what it takes to add it safely. We work with homeowners across Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Holladay and nearby towns.