S2 · E24June 12 · 1 hr 6 min
Where does your backup power plan really stand? In this episode of Unplugged LIVE, Rodney, Adam, and Eric walk through five practical tiers of energy preparedness and help you figure out what level your solar, battery, generator, or off-grid setup is actually at right now.
Watch us live every Thursday at 8 Eastern on YouTube to participate in the discussion: Unplugged Solar on YouTube
The conversation starts with a simple question for the audience: are you still fully dependent on the grid, do you have a basic emergency generator plan, have you added a small solar and battery setup, are you running a larger hybrid system, or are you truly off-grid and self-reliant? The guys break down what each stage means in the real world, what it can and cannot power, and what it takes to move up to the next level.
Rodney also shares a recent issue with his GridBOSS and hybrid inverter system, where the setup unexpectedly started pulling from the grid in the middle of the day. That leads into a larger discussion about why even a great system needs a backup plan, why screenshots of your settings matter, how communication issues can create single points of failure, and why simple off-grid inverters like the 6000XP can still have a place even when hybrid systems offer more automation.
The hosts compare different ways to build resilience into a solar setup, including transfer switches, interlocks, spare inverters, generator inputs, battery expansion, and keeping a path to power critical loads if one piece of equipment stops behaving. They also talk through audience examples, including systems with multiple 6000XPs, 21 kW of solar, 64 kWh of battery storage, and people working their way from basic backup toward full hybrid or off-grid capability.
This episode also includes the latest Unplugged solar roll call, where viewers check in with their daily kWh production and location, plus a big announcement about upcoming system giveaways connected to MidNite Power's rebranding contest. The guys discuss the chance to win an MNPower One inverter and MNPowerflo 16 Battery package through the name and logo contest, plus an additional live-chat giveaway planned for the June 25th stream.
Along the way, the crew gets into real homeowner realities too: rising utility costs, property taxes, government solar incentives, community-scale solar ideas, water usage, and what it actually takes to keep a home running when life, weather, and equipment do not cooperate.
Topics covered:
The five tiers of backup power and solar preparedness
How to know whether your system is grid-dependent, hybrid, or truly off-grid
Why small solar and battery systems still matter
GridBOSS, FlexBOSS, 12kPV, and 6000XP reliability considerations
Why every system needs a bypass or fallback plan
Transfer switches, interlocks, generators, and spare equipment
Solar roll call and audience kWh production
MidNite Power rebranding contest and system giveaway details
Upcoming guest Jeffrey from There's a Trick for That
If you are building a DIY solar system, upgrading your backup power, trying to get off the grid, or just figuring out what your next step should be, this conversation is a practical reality check. The goal is not just to own solar equipment, but to know what your system will actually do when the grid goes down.
Hosted by: Rodney, Adam, and Eric from Unplugged LIVE.
Watch live every Thursday at
