Silicon Solar review: our verdict

This Silicon Solar review looks at a long-running, family-owned solar shop in upstate New York that sells small solar panels, solar cells, educational kits, solar sign lights and solar fountain pumps, and designs custom solar products for other companies. Its niche is the small end of solar: a 12W panel you build yourself, a classroom kit, a trickle charger for a car battery, or a solar light for a business sign. For hobbyists, teachers and small projects, that focus is useful and hard to find elsewhere, which is why we list Silicon Solar as our pick for DIY parts.

It is not the place to buy a home solar system, and customer experiences are mixed. Independent customer reviews range from very positive comments about sign lights and pumps to complaints about stock shortages and slow communication, and some DIY items, such as solar cells sold by the watt, were out of stock when we checked.

NerdBible did not order from Silicon Solar or test its products for this review. It is an editorial assessment based on the company's own pages and on customer review platforms and business directories, each linked below.

What is Silicon Solar and who is it for?

The Silicon Solar About page says the company was established in the late nineties by two Cornell University graduates, beginning as a research and development firm that grew out of a high school science project selling solar science kits to teachers. It later opened a manufacturing facility in Bainbridge, New York, where it still ships orders and runs a showroom, and it says it has served more than 150,000 customers, including the US Government. The site footer gives the trading company as Innovative Solar Solutions LLC.

Silicon Solar suits:

  • Hobbyists and makers who want to solder their own small panel or power a project with a small module.
  • Teachers and schools looking for solar science and classroom kits.
  • Homeowners and businesses who want solar sign lights, garden lights or a solar fountain pump that runs without mains power.
  • Companies developing a solar product that need design and small-run manufacturing help.

It is a poor fit for anyone planning a rooftop system, a large off-grid array or a portable power station setup.

What does Silicon Solar sell?

Small solar panels and cells

The Solar Panels and Cells category covers modules from 1W to 400W in flexible and rigid designs, including 1 to 5W modules, 5 to 15W panels, 12V aluminium-framed panels, encapsulated and non-encapsulated flexible panels, and small OEM panels. It also mentions wholesale panel kits for larger DIY projects. The cells by the watt page sells loose cells for building your own panel, with each watt roughly 2.5 by 2.5 inches and about 10 percent extra included to allow for size differences, though that item was listed as out of stock at the time of writing.

Build-your-own and education kits

The Build Your Own 12W Solar Panel Kit includes 30 commercial solar cells, interconnection material, flux, a soldering iron and instructions, and Silicon Solar says it is recommended by several universities. The solar education category adds a 45W DIY panel kit, a classroom solar cart kit, a children's demonstration kit and an evacuated tube collector demo. The kit pages also explain what you need for tabbing and why flux quality matters, which is useful practical guidance for first-time builders.

Lights, pumps and chargers

Much of the current catalogue is finished products: SunPal and GenLight solar sign lights, flood and spot lights, landscape lights, AquaJet solar fountain and pump kits with optional battery backup, solar hot water parts, and small 12V solar trickle chargers for car batteries. The homepage says its custom sign lighting kits are manufactured in upstate New York.

Custom design and manufacturing

Silicon Solar's OEM design services page offers product design, prototyping and production for companies building solar products, with manual and automated soldering lines, PCB and LED circuit design and injection moulding. This is aimed at businesses rather than consumers, but it explains the "custom" label in our listing.

What should you know before a DIY solar project?

Silicon Solar's kit pages double as a short guide for first-time builders, and the points they make are worth knowing whoever you buy from. You need two widths of tabbing: narrow tabbing, about 2mm, to connect one cell to the next, and wider tabbing, about 5mm, to join strings of cells together. A decent soldering iron matters, and Silicon Solar warns that poor flux can damage cells within a year or two, so it sells a flux pen it says is safe for cells. Loose cells are fragile and break easily, which is why the company adds extra cells to orders sold by the watt.

For finished products, think about where the panel will sit. Silicon Solar's AquaJet pump kits come in daytime-only versions and versions with battery backup that keep water moving after dark, and its sign lights pair a separate panel with the lamp so the panel can face the sun while the light faces the sign. A small panel in partial shade will deliver far less than its rating, so a sunny, south-facing spot (in the northern hemisphere) makes the biggest difference to performance.

How much does Silicon Solar cost?

Everything is sold as a one-off purchase. Kits and small panels are priced for hobby budgets, while sign lights and pump systems range from small consumer units to commercial kits. Bulk cell pricing is available on request. Our table above shows the figures we hold, and the store often runs coupon discounts.

Shipping, returns and support

The shipping page says orders ship by FedEx from the company's New York facility, with free standard shipping above a set order value in the continental US and a flat fee below it. Processing takes two to three days and delivery one to seven business days. Bulky items such as solar hot water collectors go by freight, and the team contacts you to confirm the freight cost before processing. International orders are quoted on request.

The returns page accepts items in new condition and original packaging within 30 days for a full refund minus shipping, with a restocking fee of at least 15 percent if an item comes back in less than resalable condition. Defective items must also be returned within 30 days. Custom systems are not refundable. Returns need an authorisation number, obtained by phone with your invoice number.

Is Silicon Solar reliable?

The company has a long history and a physical facility, and many customers report good experiences with its lights and pumps. However, its Trustpilot page is rated Poor, and several recent reviews describe out-of-stock items, slow updates and a wrong part sent. The Better Business Bureau profile shows the business is not BBB accredited. Taken together, it makes sense to confirm stock by phone or chat before ordering anything time-sensitive.

What could be better

  • Stock availability. Some DIY items, including loose cells, were out of stock, and customers report delays.
  • Communication. Several reviewers describe waiting for order updates.
  • Return costs. Shipping is deducted from refunds, and used items can attract a restocking fee.
  • Dated website. Some pages still mention pandemic-era delays, which makes it harder to judge current lead times.

Who should choose something else?

If you want to power a home, a cabin or a van, choose a full-size panel supplier or a portable solar brand elsewhere in our ranking. If you need loose cells urgently, check availability first or look at electronics suppliers. And if you only want a single solar garden light, a general home store may be quicker.

Bottom line: is Silicon Solar worth it?

Silicon Solar is worth a look for small, specialist solar needs: building a panel with students, powering a fountain or lighting a sign without running a cable. Its kits come with practical guidance, its lights and pumps earn praise from many buyers, and few shops still sell loose cells and soldering supplies for people who want to understand solar by building it. Check stock before you order, keep your invoice handy for returns, and look elsewhere for anything larger than a hobby project.

What other reviewers found

  • On EnergySage, Silicon Solar averages 4.6 out of 5 from a small number of reviews, with customers praising bright, long-lasting sign lights, quick shipping and helpful sales staff.
  • Trustpilot reviewers give a much lower overall score, citing out-of-stock parts, long waits for communication and an incorrect item, though one praises the solar pumps despite the delays.
  • Some Trustpilot complaints describe an Australian rebate scheme, which appears to concern a different business with a similar name rather than the New York shop; read individual reviews carefully.
  • The BBB lists the Bainbridge business as not accredited, without a published rating on that profile.

Where the reviewers agree and disagree

No major technology outlet has reviewed Silicon Solar's kits in depth, so the evidence comes from customers. Those customers broadly agree that the products themselves, particularly sign lights and fountain pumps, work well. Where they split is service: EnergySage reviewers describe prompt shipping and helpful staff, while recent Trustpilot reviewers describe stock gaps and slow replies. For a buyer, that suggests the products are sound but the ordering experience varies, so confirm availability and lead time before paying.

Frequently asked questions

Is Silicon Solar a legitimate company?

Silicon Solar is a long-established business with a facility and showroom in Bainbridge, New York, trading as Innovative Solar Solutions LLC. It says it has served more than 150,000 customers. Customer reviews are mixed, with praise for products and complaints about stock and communication, so confirm availability before you order.

Can I build my own solar panel with a Silicon Solar kit?

Yes. Its Build Your Own 12W kit includes 30 solar cells, tabbing, flux, a soldering iron and instructions, and a 45W DIY kit is also listed. The kits suit hobbyists and classrooms. Soldering involves heat and fumes, so work in a ventilated space and supervise students closely.

Does Silicon Solar sell home solar systems?

Silicon Solar mentions wholesale panel kits for larger projects, but its catalogue focuses on small panels, cells, kits, lights, pumps and chargers. For a home or rooftop system, a full-size equipment supplier or local installer is the better route, and any connection to household wiring should involve a licensed electrician.

What is Silicon Solar's return policy?

Items in new condition and original packaging can be returned within 30 days for a full refund minus shipping. Items returned in less than resalable condition may carry a restocking fee of at least 15 percent. Custom systems are not refundable. You need an authorisation number, which the company issues by phone.

Where does Silicon Solar ship from?

Orders ship from the company's facility in upstate New York. Small orders go by FedEx, with free shipping above a set order value in the continental US, and bulky items go by freight at a quoted cost. International shipping is available on request through FedEx or freight options.

Sources