Services and Pricing

Consultation Services

Whether you’re swapping an inverter or building a full nomadic rig, our consultations are straightforward and tailored to you. We’ll nail down your needs and budget, then map out the scope - no fluff, no wasted time or money. And to honor your investment, every dollar you spend on consultation gets deducted from your future design/installation costs with Solar Ark™.

Got a new idea later? No stress - we’re happy to adapt, whether it’s a minor tweak or a full 180° pivot.

Initial 60-min consultation - FREE for a limited time (typically $100)
- for all custom design projects
- Offered via Zoom, or in-person for local clients

General 30-min discussion - FREE for a limited time (typically $50)
- as-needed for follow-ups, detailed projects, or troubleshooting
- Offered via Zoom, phone call, or in-person for local clients

Emails, brief phone calls, questionnaires - Free!
- for the simpler things. Save us time, we’ll save you money

Ready to get started? Click the button below to get your project rolling with us!

Start Your Initial Questionnaire

Design and Installation Services

When it comes to serving you, we always focus on quality and safety first. We don’t slack on any of our jobs, and we never cut corners. But we don’t just keep our quality consistent - we keep our labor rate the same too, no matter the job. That means no overcharging, no undercharging. Always honest, transparent work delivered for your peace-of-mind.

All design and installation tasks are charged at a $100/hr billable rate.

Quick job? No worries - if your job is minor, we’ll focus on a $25/15 min billable rate instead.


Transparency - How We Build Trust

A non-negotiable value of ours? Transparency - in pricing, expectations, quality, and everything about us. The cost of every project is shared with the customer as an itemized budget, no hidden fees, no surprises. All expectations and deliverables are outlined in the scope of work, prepared during consultation before the design process begins. Every adjustment is discussed with the client before continuing work.

Transparency means no mistakes are hidden from the client. We don’t cut corners, and if something comes up during installation, we stay honest and true to our work. Transparency even reflects in our personality. We don’t wear a mask to cover up who we really are (except a COVID mask, as-needed). Unapologetically, uniquely transparent, always.

Our Core Values

Electrical Design and Installation Packages

We offer complete electrical design and installation packages, broken into four tiers based on size and complexity. Estimated pricing includes all parts, labor, and warranties for a complete, safe, and functional electrical system.

Tips for our services:

  • Want to save a bit of money? We’ll skip the materials markup if you source and deliver the components to the install site for us.

  • Don’t need it all at once? Consider a phased install to get only the essentials first, then add as you go. We’ll design the system to be fully modular so upgrading is easy down the road.

  • Have something already in mind? Create your own package, and we’ll adapt to your needs.

  • In the Southern AZ/NM area this winter? We’re offering a seasonal discount of 10% off labor costs when you book a complete design/install package with us.

Tier-1: Weekender Movable System

  • Maybe you’re new to camping with electricity. Maybe you just want a bit of power to charge your devices out at camp for the weekend. Or maybe you need the flexibility of a fully-removable and portable solar electrical system for use in any vehicle. Our movable system gives you the adaptability and advantage to choose when and where you deploy for a powered camp.

    Why go through us for products you can buy on Amazon? Because we provide the knowledge to make sure your equipment is sized correctly, and we provide the expertise for custom mounting and stowing of your equipment for your vehicle. Not only that, we provide a customized report and tutorial to help you understand your equipment and mounting system, how it works, and how to extend its life for maximum enjoyment. Combined with our 1-year warranty on all labor and workmanship, we do our part to give you the best value for the price.

  • Total Estimated Price:
    - $700-$2,750+

    Estimated Design Time:
    - 1-3 hours @ $100-300
    - includes electrical diagram and calculation report

    Estimated Installation Time:
    - 1-6 hours @ $100-$600
    - mounting, testing, wiring if applicable

    Estimated Components Price:
    - $450-$1,800+

    - 30-200Ah portable power station $200-$800+
    - 100-300W folding solar panel(s) $100-$400+
    - solar extension cables, adapters, mounting $25-$100+
    - Hardware, miscellaneous supplies $20-40

    - Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    - Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

    What You Also Get: Simple electrical diagram and calculation report, custom mounting/stowing option(s) tailored to your vehicle, demonstration of equipment and detailed tutorial, education and resources to learn more

Tier-2: Traveler Permanent System - The Solar Ark Special

  • This is our most basic permanent system - modular, scalable, and built for your budget. Designed for those extended weekends or weeklong excursions in the summer, this will get you farther than our movable system, without the hassle. Whether you’ve got a small van, a teardrop-style trailer, or a fancy truck topper that needs more than your car battery, this package is for you.

  • Total Estimated Price: $4,550-$7,850

    Tier-2 Basic - $4550-$6000
    Basic reputable brands (LiTime, BougeRV, Renogy), essential equipment only, less labor-intensive

    Tier-2 Premium - $6000-$7,850
    High-end brands (Rich Solar, Victron, Battleborn), power-focused, fully-customized

    Estimated Design Time: 1-2 days / 6-12 hours @ $600-1,200
    - detailed load analysis, electrical diagram, and calculation report

    Estimated Installation Time: 1-1.5 weeks / 30-45 hours @ $3,000-$4,500
    - custom mounting, wiring and safety, detailed testing, sealing and finishing

    Estimated Components Price: $900-2,100

    12/24V 50-100Ah (1280Wh Max) LiFePO4 Batteries ($175-$250)
    100-200W permanent solar panels ($80-$250)
    20-30A MPPT charge controller ($50-$100)
    700-1500W Inverter ($100-$250)
    30-60A DC Fuse Box ($10-$30)
    Wiring up to 100A, 1AWG ($100-$300)
    Bus Bars, Fuses, Mounting ($50-$200)
    solar extension cables, adapters ($50-$100)
    Hardware, miscellaneous supplies ($50-100)
    optional 100W folding solar panel ($100-$150, not included in estimate)
    optional 20A AC-DC battery charger ($50-$100, not included in estimate)
    optional Solar Armor™ (10% off, $630-$810 per panel (down from $700-$900), not included in estimate)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

    What You Also Get: Comprehensive electrical diagram and calculation report, custom mounting/stowing option(s) tailored to your vehicle, demonstration of equipment and detailed tutorial, education and resources to learn more

Tier-3: Nomadic Permanent System - The Premier for Lifestyle Camping

  • Our mid-tier permanent system is the minimum when it comes to chasing full sovereignty. This means generating enough electricity to get through the winter with an eco-friendly, minimalist style of life. Full-time van-lifers, mobile office geeks, overland enthusiasts, and crazy trailer nomads like myself, look no farther. We get it, in this day and age you need gadgets to be comfortable outside full-time. Electric fridge/freezers, Starlink, laptop and phone fast-chargers, TVs, fancy dimmable lighting, power tool chargers, maybe running a small electric heater or A/C unit for a couple hours a day. Whatever your vision may be, this is the package for you. Just don’t expect to run your A/C or heater all day long - that’s when you really need Tier-4.

    This system is designed for energy-conscious travelers like you - people who monitor usage and prioritize efficiency. It’ll handle your fridge, lights, and laptop without issue, but it’s not built for high-draw appliances like A/C or electric heating. If that’s your style, you’ll save thousands over time and enjoy a simpler, more reliable setup.

  • Total Estimated Price: $7,450-$16,900

    Tier-3 Basic - $7.5k-$12k
    Basic reputable brands (LiTime, BougeRV, Renogy), essential equipment only, less labor-intensive

    Tier-3 Premium - $12k-$17k
    High-end brands (Rich Solar, Victron, Battleborn), power-focused, fully-customized

    Estimated Design Time: 2-4 days / 12-24 hours @ $1,200-2,400
    - detailed load analysis, electrical diagram, and calculation report

    Estimated Installation Time: 1.5-3 weeks / 45-90 hours @ $4,500-$9,000
    - custom mounting, wiring and safety, detailed testing, sealing and finishing

    Estimated Components Price: $1,750-5,500

    12/24V 100-400Ah (5KWh Max) LiFePO4 Batteries ($250-$1500)
    200-600W permanent solar panels ($200-$600)
    30-60A MPPT charge controller ($125-$350)
    1500-3000W Inverter ($250-$600)
    60-100A DC Fuse Box ($20-$60)
    Wiring up to 150A, 1/0AWG ($200-$350)
    Bus Bars, Fuses, Mounting ($100-$250)
    solar extension cables, adapters, mounting ($100-$300)
    Hardware, miscellaneous supplies ($75-125)
    optional 100-200W folding solar panel ($100-$250, not included in estimate)
    optional 20-40A AC-DC battery charger ($100-200, not included in estimate)
    optional DC-DC battery charger ($100-150, not included in estimate)
    optional Solar Armor™ (20% off, $560-$720 per panel (down from $700-$900), not included in estimate)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: Travel fee waived for Tier-3

    What You Also Get: Comprehensive electrical diagram and calculation report, custom mounting/stowing option(s) tailored to your vehicle, demonstration of equipment and detailed tutorial, education and resources to learn more

Tier-4: Heavyweight Permanent System

  • With our heavyweight system, the sky is the limit (pun intended!). This is for the people that don’t want to count Amp-Hours, just good times and reliable power. If you’ve got the roof space, we’ve got you covered. We’re talking 10KWh battery banks, 1000W Solar Strings, and a beefy inverter for those household appliances like microwaves, A/C units, electric cooktops, and more. Forget the DIY competition, they’re not gonna touch these projects. This is where having a power systems engineering degree and electrician experience is a must. This kind of luxury doesn’t come cheap, unfortunately. At this point, we start focusing on payback periods to see when the investment pays for itself. Whether you’re a young rebel trying to combat the housing crisis in an RV or an older lad with some retirement savings to start killing, we’ll get you set up right.

  • Total Estimated Price: $16.6k-$31.5k+

    Estimated Design Time: 1-1.5 weeks / 30-45 hours @ $3,000-4,500
    - detailed load analysis, electrical diagram, and calculation report

    Estimated Installation Time: 3-4+ weeks / 90-120+ hours @ $9,000-$12,000
    - custom mounting, wiring and safety, detailed testing, sealing and finishing

    Estimated Components Price: $4600-$15k+

    24/48V 5-20KWh LiFePO4 Batteries ($1000-$5000+)
    600-2000W permanent solar panels ($600-$2500)
    40-80A MPPT charge controller ($200-$400+)
    3-6KW Inverter ($600-$1000+)
    100-200A DC Fuse Box ($60-$100)
    Wiring up to 175A, 2/0AWG ($300-$600)
    Bus Bars, Fuses, Mounting ($250-$500+)
    solar extension cables, adapters, mounting ($300-$600)
    Hardware, miscellaneous supplies ($150-200)
    optional 200-400W folding solar panel ($200-$500, not included in estimate)
    optional 60A+ AC-DC battery charger ($300+, not included in estimate)
    optional DC-DC battery charger ($150+, not included in estimate)
    optional Solar Armor™ (20% off, $560-$720 per panel (down from $700-$900), not included in estimate)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: Travel fee waived for Tier-4

    What You Also Get: Comprehensive electrical diagram and calculation report, custom mounting/stowing option(s) tailored to your vehicle, demonstration of equipment and detailed tutorial, education and resources to learn more

Example Projects (Coming Soon!)
Start My Custom Package

Let’s cover some FAQs about permanent systems.

  • A: Look, portable systems have their pros. They’re easy to use, they power the basics, and they don’t make your brain hurt. But if you’ve ever used these products, you know it just doesn’t cut it for long-term travelling. Setting up and tearing down 4+ portable panels (even in the rain) just to charge your power station from zero? Spending $1600 for a 200ah power station that can’t handle motorized A/C loads? Please guys, solar does not have to be this hard! Let’s look at the benefits to a permanently-mounted system. 200ah of battery plus a 1000W inverter, MPPT and wiring? Forget $1600, lets try $800. I’m not kidding! - you can half the price of a larger movable system by just sourcing independent parts and mounting them permanently. Plus, now you can charge your batteries while driving, your panels will last 25 years instead of 2-5, and the most you have to do is wipe off your solar panels and maybe tighten a few bolts every year. And let’s not forget about scalability or resale value of your rig either. So if it can be done, its almost always worth it! Got some deeper questions on permanent systems? Check out the FAQs by clicking the button below.

  • A: No worries, just carry a single fold-up panel, and you can plug it in to get the best of both worlds.

  • A: Because its a real, but curable curse. Rigid panels primarily fail mobile users for two reasons. The solar panel wasn’t mounted securely enough for rough terrain, or the frame itself wasn’t strong enough out of the factory. Our fix? Solar Armor™, used to fortify those panel frames before using one of our rugged mounting methods.

  • A: portable power stations are convenient, but that doesn’t mean permanent batteries can’t be. With a 20A battery charger, shore mount power plug, and extension cord, you can charge your batteries with any 120V plug, whether it be your home exterior outlet, a campsite electric hookup, or even that plug built into your truck bed!

  • A: We only offer the best of the best to guarantee safety and quality. If its not safe or reliable, we’re not gonna use it. Zinc hardware, cheap zipties, and non-marine grade wire degrade rapidly when exposed to the elements. Even when used inside, zinc hardware will begin to rust from condensation, and cheap wire insulation will crack or fail, especially if exposed to UV rays for lengthy periods. Marine-grade tinned copper resists degradation well without increasing impedance, and UV-rated solar wire is a must for panel wiring. Wago connectors are convenient, but a solid crimp with solder and heat shrink is always more reliable, especially in high-ampacity settings. Lead-Acid batteries can spill, and their fumes require constant ventilation for safety. LiFePO4 (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) battery chemistries do cost more, but they don’t require any ventilation, they don’t spill, and they are safer and more stable than the Lithium-Polymer alternatives they use in electronics and even Teslas. We know what fails, but if you have specific material questions, let us know! We’ll let you know our thoughts.


Support Services

We don’t just do fresh design and installation work. We are also a mobile support crew for those with existing electrical systems. Whether you had it installed with us or someone else, we can help you with your next electrical project. Maybe its a repair or upgrade, maybe you need troubleshooting or mechanical support, or maybe you just want some more electrical knowledge through our electrical workshops. Whatever you have in mind, if we have the capabilities, we’ll get it done.

Solar Armor™ - Fortify your power

  • Rigid solar panels fresh out of the factory just aren’t built for rugged use. Despite being advertised for RV’s and van-lifers, the panel frames are typically made of 1/16” aluminum or similar. A frame this thin is not made to survive rough terrain, even if its just potholes on a forest road. The stresses and vibrations will cause the frame to shear and break loose at the points of connection. Just look at the damage it caused to my panels, after only 1.5 years of moderate use! And if you think it’ll be covered under manufacturer’s warranty, think again. Their unwillingness to replace my panels was proof enough for myself that RV solar panels are not made for true recreational use.

    Solar Armor™ is the cure, reinforcing that thin factory frame with aluminum that can take the heat. Using 1/8” aluminum angle cut to size, and bolting it with corner braces removes the major flexing which tends to break these panel frames over time. And if you want a bit of extra shock resistance, our heavyweight armor uses well-known adhesives to bond the framing and dampen those vibrations.

  • Raising The Mobile Solar Standard

    Total Estimated Price:$700 per panel

    Estimated Installation Time: 4 hours @ $400

    Estimated Components Price: $250

    Aluminum angle ($110 per 16ft)
    Stainless Steel Corner Brace ($25 for 4)
    Stainless Steel Bolting hardware ($50 for 25 nuts, bolts, washers)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

  • Solar For The Most Extreme Terrain

    Total Estimated Price:$965 per panel

    Estimated Installation Time: 6 hours @ $600

    Estimated Components Price: $315

    Aluminum angle ($110 per 16ft)
    Stainless Steel Corner Brace ($25 for 4)
    Stainless Steel Flat Corner Brace ($20 for 4)
    Stainless Steel Bolting hardware ($70 for 35 nuts, bolts, washers)
    Sikaflex and butyl tape ($10)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

Solar Audit - Evaluate your electricity

FREE to Quartzsite locals for a limited time - limit of 3 free audits per week

  • Most installers will sell you too little or too much power. If you’re only using 100Ah/day but they sell you 200ah of battery and 400W of solar, you’re wasting $1,000+ on stuff you don’t need. Or worse, they don’t sell you enough and your batteries die frequently. This is a common problem in the nomadic community.

    We’ll show you exactly what you need - no more, no less. We’re offering solar audits to analyze your power demands and rebalance your system. No obligation, just smarter solar.

  • Our hour-long Solar Audits are FREE for Quartzsite locals during the 2025-2026 winter season. Verify your power with us, and see what good engineering design can save you this winter.

    Limit of 3 free audits per week - reach out via phone/email before they’re gone!

    $300/audit after limit is reached.

Lighting and Controls - Electricity you can see!

  • When it comes to your rig, you want electricity that looks good. Most trailers, RVs, and vans come with subpar lighting, slapped on by someone who doesn’t know good quality lighting. With Solar Ark, you’re getting the experience of a commercial lighting designer. We know that color temperature, lumen output, and CRI (Color Rendering Index) are all important for ensuring the best quality lighting for your eyes. Don’t use blue-white lighting with a cheap clear plastic housing - your eyes will hate you after just an hour. Go with warm, dimmable diffused lighting that looks and feels like campfire ambience. Whether you’re looking for interior or exterior lighting and controls, we’ve got you covered.

  • Total Estimated Price: $355

    Estimated Installation Time: 2 hours @ $200

    Estimated Components Price: $105

    4 Recessed Puck Lights and dimmer combo ($40)
    18AWG 3/C Wiring ($20 for 30ft)
    Connectors and mounting hardware ($20)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

  • Total Estimated Price: $490

    Estimated Installation Time: 3 hours @ $300

    Estimated Components Price: $140

    2 small LED Floodlights ($20)
    Lamin-x yellow or orange film ($15)
    3-gang rocker switch panel with USB & 12v ports ($15)
    USB port 83W PD Upgrade ($15)
    16AWG 2/C Wiring ($20 for 30ft)
    Connectors, hardware, sealant ($20)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

Wiring and Component Upgrades - Modulate your system

  • Electrical demand tends to grow over time. Maybe you started with a 1000W inverter, but you just bought a fancy 1200W hotplate. Or maybe you’ve added too many loads to your fuse box, blowing the main fuse. We’ve got the tools and knowledge to upgrade your system, whether it be another battery, a larger inverter, or just some beefier wiring.

  • Total Estimated Price: $1440

    Estimated Installation Time: 7 hours @ $700

    Estimated Components Price: $690

    2000W Inverter ($320)
    2AWG 2/C Wiring - 24V system ($72 for 15ft)
    2AWG copper lugs ($20)
    150A Class-T battery fuse ($25)
    100A Inverter DC Circuit Breaker ($25)
    2x 75A battery terminal fuses ($35)
    Connectors, heat shrink, hardware ($20)

    Components Markup @ 25% (applied pre-tax, covers sourcing, delivery, and related fees)
    Estimated Sales Tax @ 8% (state-dependent, pass-through cost, included in estimate)

    Travel: $50 flat fee

Electrical Troubleshooting and Repairs - Fix your rig

  • Having some troubles with your electrical system? We’re here to help. We offer quick fuse replacements, wire tracing, troubleshooting, and repair, component diagnostics and replacement, and anything in-between.

    Let’s also cover a few nuances:

    • We will not disassemble inverters, MPPTs, or other equipment for electronics diagnostics

    • We will not touch factory vehicle wiring or any aftermarket systems hardwired to such wiring

    • We will jump-start vehicles if safe to do so

  • Is something not working with your electrical system but you’re not sure why? Our diagnostics service will find the root cause, provide a written diagnostics summary, and suggest repairs to get your system running smoothly. We’ll handle each problem one by one, to keep us organized and keep you informed.

    • There is a minimum $50 fee to cover the first half hour of diagnostics.

    • Additional labor is billed at a rate of $100/hr, billed in 15-minute increments.

      • Example: A 45 minute diagnostics exam will cost $50 for the first 30 minutes, plus $25 for the last 15, for a total of $75.

    Having a complete system meltdown (hopefully not literally)? We’ll diagnose everything to get your unique situation figured out.

    • There is a minimum $250 fee to cover the first 2.5 hours of diagnostics.

    • A deposit of $125 is due upfront, prior to examination.

    • Additional labor is billed at a rate of $100/hr, billed in 15-minute increments.

Mechanical and Misc. Upgrades - Enhance your mobility

  • We don’t limit our work to purely electrical services. It doesn’t take any more equipment or brainpower to install your new batwing awning or to repaint those rusting crossbars. If you want us to help with a similar project, let us know. If we’ve got the tools and expertise, we’ll get it done.

Electrical Workshops and Mentorship - Develop Electrical Independence

  • Electricity should be respected, not feared. We believe everyone should know how to work with electricity - even if it’s just swapping out a bad circuit breaker. It saves us time, saves you money, and helps us all be a little more independent from the power grid.

    We offer workshops and one-on-one mentorship to help others achieve the goal of electrical independence. Whether it’s a hands-on workshop on inverter design and installation, a deep dive into battery bank maintenance, or learning by doing while we upgrade your rig, we’re here to teach. Our goal isn’t just to fix your system - it’s to give you the confidence and skills to understand, maintain, and even expand it yourself.

    No experience? No problem. We’ll meet you where you’re at and help you grow. Because when you know how to handle your own power, you’re not just a client - you’re part of the solution.

  • Electrical Workshops:

    Click Here to check out our FREE workshop resources.

    One-On-One Electrical Mentorship:

    Want to learn by doing? We offer hands-on mentorship during your installation, where we’ll:

    • Walk you through each step of the process live.

    • Answer your questions in real time.

    • Give you practical, hands-on experience (if you’re ready to dive in).

    How It Works: Mentorship is billed at $20/hour above our standard rate, up to a max of $200 extra per project. After 10 hours of mentorship, the rest is on us - because we believe in empowering you to handle your system with confidence.

    Note: Teaching takes time, so mentorship may extend the project timeline.