Sample solar plan for a Michigan home

This is a sample plan. It's what you get for a made-up Michigan home: Patrick's notes, the equipment he'd pick, and the full report. Yours is built from your own home and usage.

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Solar system recommendation · Sample plan

Grid-tied with battery backup system for a sample Michigan home

Greenville, MI · Reviewed and approved by Patrick McCarty on October 19, 2026

Download the sample PDF Your equipment

From Patrick

This is a sample plan for a made-up home: a 1,900 sq ft ranch near Greenville with four people, propane heat and a well.

The goal here is a grid-tied system that also keeps the fridge, freezer, well pump, furnace blower and lights running in an outage. I picked a kit with a hybrid inverter and 11 kW of panels, a little more than this home's yearly use needs, because Michigan winters cut solar production hard. The battery covers the must-run loads for about a day with no sun, and a propane generator takes over in a long winter outage.

In your own plan, this is where I explain the choices I made for your home.

Your recommended equipment

Picked for your system from OMO Solar (Ozark Mountain Offgrid). Prices are OMO's as of October 19, 2026; their site shows the current price.

10KW Complete Offgrid Solar Kit + EG4 FlexBOSS21 + 14.3KW 48V EG4 Lithium Indoor Wall Battery + 11KW Solar with Roof Mounting Rails and Wiring

Hybrid inverter that works with the grid and keeps the house running in an outage. 11 kW of panels, a little more than the numbers need, to help in Michigan winters.

$24,519.00

View at OMO
2 × Solar Panel 10AWG MC4 Cables - 1 Pair - 100 Feet Black + 100 Feet Black

Extra PV wire: the kit doesn't list how much it includes, and the 70 ft run needs about 310 ft.

$381.16 ($190.58 each)

View at OMO

PV wire: your 70 ft run from the panels to the inverter needs about 310 ft. The equipment above includes 400 ft, which covers it.

Kits don't include everything: conduit, roof mounts or footings, the wire to your house panel and more. See Beyond the kit in the report below for this system's list.

Equipment total $24,900.16 before shipping and tax

In your own plan, one button puts all of this in an OMO Solar cart, and Patrick is told when you order.

Get a plan for your home, $45

Your generator: buy and install locally

Sergeant Generators LLC

Veteran-owned generator sales, installation, maintenance and repair, run by a fellow Army veteran Patrick trusts.

Serves Laingsburg, Lansing, East Lansing, Holt, Waverly, Okemos, Haslett and surrounding areas.

For the generator in this plan, Patrick recommends them for buying it and having it installed. They're a separate company: PJM Designs doesn't sell or install generators, and isn't paid for recommending them.

Visit their website Email them (586) 318-8066 (586) 257-2633

Building your report…

The answers this plan is based on (the sample home)

1 Where the panels will go

ZIP code Panels face Mounted

Shade on the panels Snow on the panels in winter

Enter your ZIP code to load the sun data for your address.

2 What kind of system

Grid-tiedPanels feed the house and the grid. No batteries. Lowest cost per kWh, but no power in an outage. Grid-tied with battery backupLike grid-tied, plus batteries that keep the essentials running when the power goes out. Off-gridNo utility at all. Panels, batteries and usually a generator for the dark weeks of winter.

How much of your bill to cover

3 How much power you use

Your bill shows "kWh used". An average month is enough; all twelve is better, because Michigan use swings with the seasons.

Average kWh per month Enter each month

Add what you'll run. For battery backup, tick Backup on what must keep running in an outage. Tick Together on what can be on at the same moment: that sizes the inverter.

Appliance	Watts	Hours a day	How many	When	Backup	Together	Remove

4 Batteries and generator

Battery type Run with no sun for

Generator Fuel you have at the house

Size the panels to cover

5 Panel size, prices and payback (optional)

Panel size (watts) Panel area (sq ft each)

Add prices you've been quoted or found, and the plan shows an equipment total. Leave blank to skip.

Panels, $ per watt Batteries, $ per kWh Inverter and controller, $

Racking, wire and parts, $ Your electric rate, $ per kWh

6 About your project

This helps Patrick pick equipment that fits how and where it will be installed. PJM Designs recommends equipment only; we don't install, provide stamped designs or handle permits.

Where the panels will go Roof type Distance from the inverter to the panels (feet, one way)

Main electrical panel Electric company Who will install it

Budget for equipment When you want to buy Phone (optional)

Anything else Patrick should know

Want one for your home?

Patrick reviews your home, usage and Michigan winters himself and picks equipment that fits. One update is included, and you can ask him questions about the plan.

Get a plan for your home, $45

PJM Designs gives equipment recommendations only. We don't install systems, provide stamped or engineered drawings, handle permits or inspections, or take part in any part of the installation. We don't sell your information to anyone. When your plan is ready, Patrick gives OMO Solar your name so they can credit his referral if you order from them.