Plug-in solar
CraftStrom Plug-In Solar: Kits, Specs, Claims and What to Check
CraftStrom sells plug-in solar kits from 1,200 W to 2 kW from Houston. Published specs, the certification and all-50-states claims, and what to check first.
Key facts
- CraftStrom is a Houston, Texas seller of plug-in solar kits; its site lists 1,200 W, 1,600 W and 2 kW kits as of November 2026.
- The 1,200 W Eco-Line kit lists six 200 W panels, three microinverters, mounts and a PowerMeter with current sensors.
- On November 3, 2026, CraftStrom listed the 1,200 W kit at $2,362.50 on its home page and $2,390.63 on its product page.
- Most state plug-in laws cap a device at 1,200 W; the 1,600 W kit fits only Colorado's 1,920 W cap, and the 2 kW kit exceeds every state cap we have read.
- The site calls the system UL 3700 compliant; a listing of the complete system by a recognized laboratory is what state laws ask for.
CraftStrom is a Houston-based seller of plug-in solar kits. As of November 2026 its website lists a 1,200 W Eco-Line kit with six 200 W panels, a 1,600 W kit and a 2 kW kit with a 3 kWh battery, each with microinverters, mounts and a PowerMeter. The site says the kits are legal in all 50 states; in fact, your state’s law and your utility decide.
What CraftStrom sells
CraftStrom markets “plug&play” solar for homeowners and renters and gives a Houston, Texas address on its website, which is published in English, German and Spanish. It sells directly through its own online shop. The kits are complete: panels, microinverters, mounting hardware, cables and a monitoring device are in the box.
The table summarizes the three kits as listed on CraftStrom’s home page on November 3, 2026. Prices are the company’s listed prices on that date, not market observations of our own.
| Kit | Panels | Inverters | Extras | Listed price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 Watt Eco-Line | 6 x 200 W “Shield Series” | 3 x 400 W “Smart Inverter” | 6 mounts, PowerMeter | $2,362.50 (home page); $2,390.63 (product page) |
| 1600 Watt Premium Kit | 8 x 200 W bifacial | 4 x 400 W | 8 mounts, PowerMeter | $4,267.20 |
| 2 kW Solar + 3 kWh Battery | 10 x 200 W bifacial | 5 x 400 W, plus a 600/1,200 W off-grid inverter | 3 x 1 kWh battery towers, NEC Smart Breaker, PowerMeter | $8,608.95 |
The two listed prices for the 1,200 W kit differ, and press roundups earlier in 2026 quoted other figures for CraftStrom kits; check the current listing at checkout. The product page quotes shipping in three to four weeks.
Published specifications of the 1,200 W kit
The figures come from CraftStrom’s product page. Voltgeber has not tested the product.
| Component | Specification as published |
|---|---|
| Panel | 200 W monocrystalline, 1,496 x 705 x 35 mm, 11.2 kg (about 25 lb), 22 percent efficiency |
| Panel electrical | Voc 22.1 V, Vmp 18.7 V, Imp 10.7 A |
| Panel certifications and warranty | CE, RoHS; 10 years |
| Inverter | “Hedy”; listed as 400 W in the kit contents and as 350 W peak output in the specifications; 420 W maximum input |
| Inverter AC | 120 V (also 230/240 V variants) |
| Inverter certifications | ETL (UL), VDE, CE, FCC; “ETL certified to UL 1742 and IEEE 1547” on the product page, “ETL certified to UL 1741” in the FAQ |
| PowerMeter | Up to three clamp-on current sensors; adjusts output every 0.1 seconds; ETL, CE, RoHS, FCC; 10-year warranty |
Two details deserve a question to the seller. The inverter’s output appears as both 400 W and 350 W, which matters because three units at 400 W reach exactly 1,200 W while three at 350 W reach 1,050 W. And “UL 1742” on the product page is presumably a typo for UL 1741, the grid-interactive inverter standard the FAQ names.
Small 200 W panels are lighter per piece than the 400 W panels common in other kits, about 25 pounds each, which helps on a railing. Six of them still weigh about 150 pounds together and need six mounting points. Our mounting bracket guide covers loads and attachment.
The certification claims
CraftStrom’s product page describes the 1,200 W system as “UL 3700 compliant,” its home page as “NEC compliant and certified,” and its FAQ says the inverters are ETL certified to UL 1741. It also says the units were tested by Lawrence Berkeley and National Renewable Energy laboratories, without saying what those tests covered.
“Compliant” and “certified” are not the same thing. UL 3700 is the outline of investigation for interactive plug-in photovoltaic equipment and systems, and UL Solutions opened a certification program for it in January 2026; Intertek’s ETL mark is another route to a listing by a recognized laboratory. What the state laws ask for is the certification itself:
| State | Requirement |
|---|---|
| California (from Jan 1, 2027) | Certified as a plug-in photovoltaic system by UL or an equivalent laboratory |
| Virginia (from Jan 1, 2027) | Certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and meets the NEC |
| Maryland | Certified by UL or an equivalent laboratory |
| Colorado | Labeled and listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory |
Ask CraftStrom for the listing of the complete kit, the laboratory’s name and the file or certificate number, and keep it. In Virginia, the utility notification form asks for the certifying laboratory. Our inverter guide explains UL 1741 and UL 3700.
“Legal in all 50 states”: what the law says
No product is legal or illegal in every state by itself. As of November 2026, ten states had signed plug-in solar laws by Bright Saver’s count, and those laws set conditions on size, certification and number of devices. In the other forty, your utility’s interconnection rules apply, which generally call for an application before any generator runs in parallel with the grid. CraftStrom’s own FAQ acknowledges this, telling buyers to check whether their electricity company requires an interconnection agreement.
Measured against the laws we have read:
- 1,200 W Eco-Line: within the 1,200 W caps of Utah, Maryland, Virginia and California, if its certification meets each state’s wording.
- 1,600 W kit: above the 1,200 W caps; within Colorado’s 1,920 W cap.
- 2 kW kit: above every state cap we have read, so it falls under ordinary interconnection rules everywhere.
Several laws also limit you to one device per meter, address or dwelling. Our overview of plug-in solar laws by state lists them; CraftStrom’s home state is covered in plug-in solar in Texas, which has no law.
The PowerMeter and the breaker panel
The PowerMeter measures what your home uses and throttles the inverters, or charges the battery, when production exceeds consumption. CraftStrom’s FAQ says its sensors clamp onto the two main lines in your breaker box. That means opening the panel, which is electrician work in most homes and usually off-limits for renters.
No state law we have read requires zero export, and Maryland and Virginia bar utilities from requiring controls beyond what is built into the device. The PowerMeter is therefore optional from a legal point of view; its value is keeping surplus from leaving unpaid.
Circuits and the dedicated-outlet claim
CraftStrom’s FAQ says up to 2,000 W can be connected to a dedicated circuit, defined as a breaker serving a single outlet, and that peak current will not exceed 14 A on a 15 A breaker. Electricians usually size continuous loads at no more than 80 percent of a breaker’s rating, 12 A on a 15 A circuit. The 2 kW kit also includes what CraftStrom calls an NEC Smart Breaker, which its FAQ says continuously measures the draw on the circuit. For anything above 1,200 W, have an electrician confirm the circuit. Our 1,200 W explainer explains why most laws stop there.
How it compares on paper
| Feature | CraftStrom 1200 W Eco-Line | Typical US plug-in kit, November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 1,200 W (3 inverters; per-unit rating listed inconsistently) | 400 to 1,200 W |
| Panels | Six 200 W panels | One to three panels of about 400 W |
| Mounts | Included | Often included |
| Zero-export control | PowerMeter with current sensors | Optional on some kits |
| Certification | ETL to UL 1741 for inverters; “UL 3700 compliant” | UL 1741 inverter; complete-kit UL 3700 listing on some products |
What to check before you buy
- Check your state’s law and cap, and whether your utility must be notified.
- Ask CraftStrom for the complete-system certificate, the laboratory and the file number.
- Confirm the inverter’s AC output per unit and in total.
- Decide whether you need the PowerMeter, and who will install the sensors in your breaker panel.
- Confirm the mounts suit your railing, wall or ground, and get written permission from your landlord or HOA.
- Read the return policy and warranty terms on the company’s site before ordering.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
What is CraftStrom?
CraftStrom is a seller of plug-and-play solar kits based in Houston, Texas, according to its website. It offers kits of 1,200 W, 1,600 W and 2 kW with a battery, each including panels, microinverters, mounts and a PowerMeter that measures household consumption.
Is CraftStrom plug-in solar legal in all 50 states?
The website says so, but legality depends on your state and your utility, not the product. Ten states had signed plug-in solar laws by November 2026, most with a 1,200 W cap; elsewhere, utility interconnection rules apply. CraftStrom's own FAQ tells buyers to check whether their utility requires an interconnection agreement.
Is CraftStrom UL certified?
CraftStrom's FAQ says its inverters are ETL certified to UL 1741, its product page adds IEEE 1547 and calls the system UL 3700 compliant. Ask for the certifying laboratory's file number for the complete system, because state laws require certification of the device, not a compliance statement.
How much does the CraftStrom 1200 watt kit cost?
On November 3, 2026, CraftStrom listed its 1,200 W Eco-Line kit at $2,362.50 on its home page and $2,390.63 on the product page, with shipping quoted at three to four weeks. Its listed prices have changed more than once in 2026; check the current listing.
Do I need an electrician for the CraftStrom PowerMeter?
The PowerMeter's sensors clamp onto the two main lines in the breaker box, according to CraftStrom's FAQ. Working inside a breaker panel is electrician territory in most homes and is usually not allowed in rentals, so plan for that before you buy.
Can I use the CraftStrom 1600 W or 2 kW kit under a state plug-in law?
Only within the state's cap. Utah, Maryland, Virginia and California allow 1,200 W, so the 1,600 W and 2 kW kits exceed them. Colorado allows 1,920 W, which covers 1,600 W but not 2 kW.
Sources
- CraftStrom home page: kits, prices and claims
- 1200 Watt Eco-Line plug&play solar: product page and specifications
- CraftStrom FAQ
- UL Solutions debuts testing and certification framework for safer plug-in solar across the United States
- SB-868 Electricity: portable solar generation devices (Chapter 985, Statutes of 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 56-596.8: small portable solar generation devices
- Colorado Session Laws 2026, Chapter 127 (HB26-1007), signed act
- Plug-in solar legislation tracker
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or electrical advice. Your utility, state and local code have the final say.