DIY plug-in solar gains momentum in the US

EcoFlow's high-end, weatherproof, plug-in solar kit with integrated battery. | Image: EcoFlow

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.

How it started

With a deep breath, I took the cable seething with 800W of solar power and plugged it directly into a standard wall jack in my home. Nothing sparked, nothing smoked, and by the end of that sunny summer day, my electricity bill had dropped to nearly $0.

As unnerving as it sounds to treat a common household power outlet as a power input, these DIY plug-in sol ...

Read the full story at The Verge.