About us
Bringing Plug-In Solar to American Homes
CraftStrom makes complete plug-in solar systems that homeowners and renters can set up themselves. Our kits plug into a standard outlet, and Load Guard, our smart control device, keeps the system working with your home instead of against it. We design our own hardware and software and support our customers from the first question to years after setup.
Our company
Solar Made Simple, Safe and Smart
Traditional rooftop solar is a big project: contracts, roof work, installers and long approval processes. We believe many households should be able to start smaller. CraftStrom systems let you put solar on a balcony, patio, yard or flat roof and start using your own power the same day.
What makes our systems different is the technology behind them. Load Guard measures your home’s electricity use and manages solar output, our microinverters talk to each other over our own communications board and firmware, and the free CraftStrom app shows you what your system is doing. All of it is developed by our own engineering team.
We are headquartered in Houston, Texas, and work with homeowners, renters, policymakers and the press to help plug-in solar grow safely in the U.S.
Our history
From Germany to All 50 States
- 2017
We start working on plug-in solar: complete systems simple enough for anyone to set up.
- 2019
Our first plug-in solar systems launch in Germany, where balcony solar is already popular.
- 2020
CraftStrom is named a semifinalist in Round 3 of the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize and receives prize funding.
- 2021
Our microinverters receive ETL certification based on UL standards (UL 1741 and IEEE 1547), as well as FCC certification. In 2023, they also receive German VDE certification to the grid-connection standard VDE-AR-N 4105, tested by Intertek. We build our own communications board and firmware for secure device-to-device communication.
- 2022
CraftStrom presents at RE+, the international solar expo in the U.S.
- Today
We ship to customers in all 50 states, and our work is covered by The New York Times, AP, The Washington Post, CNN and PBS NewsHour.
More of our story is coming soon.
Our team
Management
The people leading CraftStrom.
Our team
Engineering Team
The engineers behind our software, app and embedded systems, including the communications technology inside every CraftStrom device.
Questions? Talk to Our Team.
We are happy to help you choose the right system or answer anything about plug-in solar.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it work with my outlet and circuit?
Most homes use a standard outdoor or indoor outlet on a circuit without heavy loads. Load Guard watches your home's use and turns output down to stay within the safe circuit limit. Run our 5-point outlet check before you buy.
Will it save enough to be worth it?
Tell us your bill and we'll show three numbers: conservative, typical and best-case. Savings come from using the power at home during the day.
Where can I put it?
Anywhere with 4+ hours of direct sun near an outlet: balcony, fence, deck, porch, shed or yard. The kit finder asks about your spot and cable run.
Will it run my house in an outage?
Solar alone lowers your bill but doesn't power your home when the grid is down. Add a battery kit to keep essentials like the fridge, lights and Wi-Fi running.
Is it allowed where I live?
Yes. CraftStrom works in all 50 states. Load Guard keeps every watt in your home, so nothing flows back to the grid.
What happens to extra power?
Your home uses solar first. If you're making more than you use, Load Guard turns the panels down, or a battery stores it for later.
What will I pay and when will it arrive?
See your full price, shipping and delivery window before checkout. No surprise accessories.
Can I take it with me?
Yes. It unplugs and moves with you, and it works in all 50 states.
Can I trust the equipment?
UL-certified inverters, NEC compliant, tested by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and NREL, with warranties of up to 20 years.
What if I get stuck?
Our Houston team can walk you through Load Guard setup or Wi-Fi by appointment, and our FAQ covers the rest. Call (832) 850-3832.
More questions? Call (832) 850-3832 or email us.
