A do-it-yourself solar solution that pays for itself up to 300% faster than traditional solar systems.
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$220,197
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A do-it-yourself solar solution that pays for itself up to 300% faster than traditional solar systems.
About this project
Solar for everyone
Every day the global use of fossil fuels pollutes our precious planet. Humankind needs a cleaner, more sustainable alternative. Unfortunately traditional solar costs upwards of $20,000 - an unrealistic investment for many people. In 2016, less than 1 in 100 homes in America have solar.
We are excited to announce Legion Solar, an affordable, flexible, do-it-yourself (DIY) solar solution that is easy to install and pays for itself 3 times faster than traditional systems. Starting at only $599 ($399 on Kickstarter) consumers can easily design a system that fits their unique budget, needs, and lifestyle.
Easy as 1–2–3
A faster return on investment.
When you purchase from a traditional solar company, you pay for overhead costs such as licensed contractors, electricians, sales consultants, permits, and liability insurance, on top of a significant markup.
With Legion Solar's DIY kits, you just pay for what you need to get the job done, lowering your cost and maximizing your return on investment.
Tax Rebate
PLX Devices Inc., a California Corporation, will provide you with a bill of sale copy of your pledge for you to claim your tax credit with your local government authority. In the United States, a 30% solar tax incentive is available to take advantage of when filing your income tax return.
Offset your most expensive power
Most utility companies use a tiered pricing model based on either time-of-use, amount of consumption, or both. Because Legion Solar produces power during peak hours, even a 200W system can drop you into a lower price tier and make a noticeable dent in your electric bill.
Expand your power.
Traditional solar panels require you to commit to a certain size system - upgrading these systems is complicated and expensive. This results in consumers purchasing a larger system than they need to prevent the possibility of ‘outgrowing’ it.
Legion Solar offers a flexible system that meets your current budget, needs, and lifestyle. When you're ready to upgrade to a bigger system, adding panels is easy.
A worry-free non-invasive solution.
Traditional solar systems often require evaluations, permits, and professional installation teams. Mounting these panels usually requires drilling into your roof’s cross beams. Even professional contractors can fail to do this correctly, leaving many customers dealing with a leaky roof. Legion Solar offers a variety of DIY solutions that allow you to set up your own system without compromising the integrity of your roof.
A portable solution for renters and alternative homes.
Are you renting or anticipating a move? Take your solar with you! Legion Solar is easy to uninstall and reinstall. Leaving almost no footprint at previous installations, Legion Solar's flexibility makes it a popular choice for renters and mobile home owners.
Plug-and-play YOU can do yourself!
Each of Legion Solar's panels weigh only 17.6 lbs (8kg) and include easy-to-install plug-and-play electronics. We offer a variety of resources to help you decide how and where to install your solar panels depending on your specific needs.
The most cost-effective choice.
Despite being smaller and customized, Legion Solar is also more cost effective than the competition. The average solar panel systems cost more than $4/W (i.e. a 5 kW system will generally cost you upwards of $20,000). As a Kickstarter Early bird pay only $2/W! Regular consumer’s paying full MSRP will pay only $3/W.
How much can I save?
Estimating how much you can save is easy! Use the map below to find your average daily sun exposure.
Use your average sun exposure and the size of your desired system to calculate your monthly output.
Multiply your monthly energy production by the price you pay for electricity.
For example, Alex a consumer in our hometown of San Jose, CA, gets an average sun exposure of 5.5 hours per day. Alex is interested in a 200 Watt Starter Kit that costs $399 and generates 28.2 kWh per month. With a peak rate of $.33/kWh Alex can expect to save an estimated $9.30 per month. That's $111.60 per year back in Alex’s pocket! At this rate, Alex can recoup his Early Bird investment in just a little over three years!
Example with $399 200 Watt Early Bird Starter Kit is San Jose, CA
If Alex invests just $1051(with early bird starter set) he could see savings of $335 per year.
Example for 600 Watt System in San Jose, CA
As Alex adds additional Expansion Kits his return on investment only gets better and better.
Example for 1200 Watt System in San Jose, CA
Upgrading your reward
The bigger your system, the more you offset your usage and lower your monthly bill. Adding expansion kits and increasing the size of your system is easy. Check out the video below:
Find your customized system in the chart below and add the specified amount to your original pledge. Visit the project page and click the blue “Manage" button (located at the top right corner of the page next to your pledge amount). On the following page select "Update your pledge," plug in the new amount (base pledge + expansion kits), and select "Confirm".
Installation
Legion Solar's light weight (17.6 lbs / 8kg) panels, include plug and play technology and a variety of mounting options that make it easy to install. We are also building an online installation guide with DIY tips, tricks, and best practices to help you successfully make your transition toward energy independence.
Monitoring your savings with the Legion Solar app
The Legion Solar App communicates with your SolarHub and allows your to monitor your system’s performance from anywhere!
*App screen shots may change slightly due to continuous product improvement.
Technical Specs
*Tech specs may change slightly due to continuous product improvement.
Timeline
About PLX
For more than 13 years, PLX Devices has designed and developed award winning products in the automotive and consumer electronics industries. Our mission is to continue to design award winning products our backers enjoy. Please feel free to browse our entire catalog at www.plxdevices.com.
Our Team
Inventor of Legion Solar and founder of PLX Devices Inc., Paul Lowchareonkul holds a number of patents and has manufactured more than 40 products in just the last 14 years. PLX is proud to be located in the heart of Silicon Valley California where technology and innovation has been the driving force since the digital boom.The spirit and passion for creating amazing products is shared by all of the members of the PLX team.
Thanks to Kickstarter and over 13,000 backers, PLX has raised over $1.3 Million and brought 6 projects to life. Our last campaign, Luxor 2: the Flashlight Perfected, ships this July.
PLX Devices Inc. and Legion are registered trademarks of PLX Devices Inc.
Legion Solar is patent pending.
Developing the Prototypes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim a tax rebate with Legion Solar?
PLX Devices Inc., a California Corporation, will provide you with a copy of your bill of sale that includes your pledge amount and a description of the solar system for you to keep as a record when filing your income tax return. In the United States the solar tax credit is 30%. Please check with your local government tax authority to claim your tax credit.
Is Legion Solar compatible with 110VAC and 220/230VAC power grids?
Yes. At the end of this Kickstarter campaign, a survey will be sent, asking you to confirm your name, mailing address, and other details pertaining to your solar system. When asked about your power grid’s specifications, be sure to either select 110VAC or 230VAC to ensure you receive the inverter electronics properly set to your grid's operating voltage.
How do I Pledge for the upgrades?
Please scroll up to the section ‘Upgrading your reward’ for details and watch the "Upgrading your system made easy" video.
What is the warranty?
PLX Devices Inc. covers manufacturing defects for up to 10 years for solar panels and 5 years for electronics. If you happen to encounter a manufacturing defect, solar panel, inverter and other electronic failures typically occur within the first year of operation.
What makes your system so much lower priced than other systems?
Legion solar has been optimized to fit any lifestyle and unique budget, so that you can maximize your return on investment as quickly as possible. With Legion Solar, you just pay for a plug and play solution. You do not pay for overhead costs such as licensed contractors, electricians, sales consultants, permits, and liability insurance incurred by the solar companies.
Do I need to obtain a permit to install Legion Solar with EdgeMount?
Legion Solar's do-it-yourself EdgeMount system, does not exceed a 3 lbs per square foot load added on your roof. This is well under the load limit for which a permit is required by most cities worldwide. Additionally, our EdgeMount system does not modify the existing structure of your home and instead affixes itself to the side of your home in a similar fashion to a satellite dish. Please check with your city ordinances for your local rules and regulations.
How do I select the correct EdgeMount bracket?
At the end of the campaign we will send you a size selector chart. You will be able to supply photos of your installation location and take a few simple measurement so that we can include the EdgeMount bracket size that fits your specific location.
How sturdy and wind resistant is the EdgeMount System?
The EdgeMount system is made from steel/zinc and aluminum and is incredibly sturdy when mounted with the aluminum framed solar panels. The low profile, aerodynamic design has been tested to withstand winds upwards of 50MPH and gusts upwards of 70MPH.
How many solar panels per row can I install on the EdgeMount System?
- Roof angle 0 (flat) -10 degrees: Max 8 panels (800 watts) per row
- Roof angle 10 - 30 degrees: Max 6 panels (600 watts) per row
- Roof angle 30 - 60 degrees: Max 4 panels (400 watts) per row
- Roof angle 60+ degrees: Max 2 panels (200 watts) per row
Can I plug Legion Solar into ANY electrical outlet?
Yes. The micro inverter supplies power by synchronizing with your AC power grid system. Maximum system size is dependent on the following factors.
For 110VAC Systems:
- Circuit breaker rating 10 Amps - 1000 Watts max
- Circuit breaker rating 15 Amps - 1400 Watts max
- Circuit breaker rating 20 Amps - 2000 Watts max (Hard wire connection recommended)
For 230VAC Systems:
- Circuit breaker rating 5 Amps - 1000 Watts Max
- Circuit breaker rating 10 Amps - 2000 Watts Max
- Circuit breaker rating 15 Amps - 3000 Watts Max (Hard wire connection recommended)
Can I have a Legion Solar setup greater than 2000 watts for 110VAC and 3000 watts for 230 VAC?
Yes, each breaker from your breaker box can handle the maximum amount of current for that branch of circuit. You can connect a set of panels to one breaker branch and connect another set of panels to another breaker branch, thus allowing you to expand your system.
For example on a 110VAC system, if you have a 15Amp breaker, and two 10Amp breakers. You can connect up to 1400 watts to the 15 Amp circuit and 1000 watts to each of the 10 Amp circuits giving you a total of 3400 watts.
What is your solar panel performance guarantee?
Greater than 90% performance retention the first 10 years, greater than 80% performance retention first 25 years.
Can I buy Legion Solar when this Kickstarter campaign is over?
By purchasing through Kickstarter you make this amazing innovation possible, receive a significant discount, and are the first to receive a unit. If this campaign is successful, Legion Solar will also be available on our website, but at for full MSRP.
What kind of shipping method will you be using?
US and Canadian backers will receive their reward though UPS Ground (with tracking). International backers will receive their reward though International Priority Mail (with tracking). We highly recommend international backers upgrade their shipping to include insurance (please message us if this is something you are interested in).
If my power goes out, can Legion Solar still provide power to my home?
No. Legion solar generates electricity only when there is grid power present.
Where is the best location to install the solar panels?
For best results install your solar panels where they can receive full unobstructed sunlight from sunrise to sunset. Whether you are installing Legion Solar on your roof or awning, garden or any other location, we offer installation tips for a full range of mounting options.
What tilt angle should I install the solar panels?
Solar performance output depends greatly on the angle of your installation. We recommend 2 options. The first is a fixed tilt option where your angle remains the same year round, yielding you 71% efficiency. The second method is to adjust your tilt twice a year, to a summer tilt angle and a winter tilt angle, yielding you 75.2% efficiency. A third less recommended option is to fully track the sun on 2 axis. This delivers 99% efficiency, but is much more complicated and rarely used. In a future upgrade, we will provide a link to a solar tilt calculator in addition to other resources on our website.
Risks and challenges
PLX Devices has been designing and successfully bringing products to market for almost 14 years with a focus in automotive and consumer electronics. Legion Solar is our 7th Kickstarter project. We're absolutely confident we can fulfill this project.
Manufacturing Solar Panels - Our biggest challenge is to cargo transport our Thailand assembled solar panels to the United States and then test them individually for output efficiency. We will need to ensure that packaging, logistics and transport go without any problems. PLX Devices Inc. has had 14 years of experience with this type of transport and we're confident that this will not be an issue regarding reward fulfillment.
Manufacturing Inverters - The solar inverters fit very nicely with our core skill set. Manufacturing, assembling and testing of electronics is our expertise. The biggest challenge is to ensure that all inverters pass our rigorous 35 point inspection before they are shipped to our backers.
App Development - Deploying the App will be new to PLX Device Inc. Luckily we have an incredible amount of resources in the Silicon Valley California to get the job done right. A Legion Solar cloud server allows the SolarHub to the app on your smartphone. We understand this will require great attention to detail our engineers will work through. As with all our past Kickstarter projects, we are confident that you will receive an excellent product.
We have manufacturing partners who will uphold internationally recognized quality standards and procedures such as ISO9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14000, TQM, SPC.
The prototypes are finished and we're ready to go into production. We need your help and we hope you'll join us 'Bring the Future.'
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