derek the solarboi

18/07/2024

If you're at RE+ Mid-Atlantic in Philly today, be sure to come find me! I'll be the one in the purple beard 😄

24/06/2024

I probably should get a GoPro at this point

16/05/2024

Tfw you're recording a video about ground faults and the ground faults disappear

07/05/2024

Wanna see what it looks like when a panel blows off the roof? This is what it looks like 😳 Not only did the panel that came off in 50mph winds bend into a sail, but as it tumbled to a lower roof, it smashed three other panels on the way down. Make sure y'all are double-checking that you got those end-clamps tight. No one was hurt, thankfully.

03/05/2024

Rack-A-Tiers Mfg. sent me their new PV connector tool, here's what I think!

Rack-A-Tiers sent me their new PV connector tool, the Solar Serpent. Here’s how it works, and what I think.

29/03/2024

Wheeeeee I love perovskite hype with no substance

From CleanTechnica: In a new paper published February 26 in the journal Nature Energy, a CU Boulder researcher and his international collaborators unveiled an innovative method to manufacture the new solar cells, known as perovskite cells, an achievement critical for the commercialization of what ma...

25/03/2024

Thanks to for having me on the show this week! We talked about my latest video on UL 3741, the state of the industry, , and more! You can find it on the homepage at solarboi.com 😄

06/03/2024

New YouTube video! IronRidge has gotten their flush mount racking approved for UL 3741, which is an enormous win for the solar industry. The history behind what that means and why it's so significant is fascinating, and I dove into all the details so you don't have to!

It's a long time coming, but maybe we can FINALLY ditch optimizers and microinverters as a standard feature of solar installations.'s press re...

15/02/2024

A solarboi is nothing without his solarwife. My forever valentine. 😍

29/01/2024

I'm on vacation right now, so I'm reading books! "I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" by is EXTREMELY good. Her life is so far removed from anything I've personally had to experience, which comes with an entirely different perspective on money. Her experience really touches into the extreme corners of our economic system, which effectively removes the painting from the frame, letting you glimpse into the weird and ugly corners that are unseen for many, but affect so many people's lives for the sake of wealthy people who don't give a s**t. If I ever decide to be crazy enough to start a company, I aspire to model it after her business: paying everyone the same wage, from the CEO to the receptionist. Everyone's labor is valuable and dependent on others, and everyone deserves a living wage.

23/11/2023

hey look, shirts

link in bio or whatever

02/10/2023

Gonna hopefully FINALLY get some field testing in with this thing tomorrow 🤩

01/10/2023

Understated but kinda delightful piece of swag from to complement an afternoon of nerdy server work 🍻

22/09/2023

Crispy.

15/09/2023

What a show. It was my first time going to RE+, and I hope I can come again every year. 🤩 Met so many wonderful people, whether long-time friends, or brand connections to be explored in the future. I'm utterly exhausted, in the best kind of way. 😌

13/09/2023

Block party!

12/09/2023

Showtime, baby

12/09/2023

Hanging out with the crew! Their communications conference and RE+ happened to line up perfectly, so we were able hang out and talk comms needs in the solar industry! So fun.

30/08/2023

I've got solar on the brainnnn ☀️

What are you all excited to see at in a few weeks???

26/08/2023

As many of you know, I've been on TikTok/Insta for a long time, doing maintenance and service videos, and general industry commentary. I'm focusing on branching out to YouTube and building that skill, so I'd appreciate any feedback you may have, and the ol' like and subscribe if you enjoy it!

You can find more at solarboi.com! I plan to keep these videos coming, so please like/subscribe/share if you enjoyed it!

14/08/2023

Comment below what's wrong with this picture, wrong answers only

02/08/2023

Mmmmm, roasted rapid shutdown, just in time for lunch

15/06/2023

Found baseball in grass. Wondered why baseball in grass. Found reason. 😂

14/06/2023

Harder to get the shot than it looks like sometimes 😂

02/04/2023

wahoo, solar