Portable solar is one of those skills that’s far easier to learn by watching than by reading, and YouTube has no shortage of people walking through it on camera. We’ve pulled together the five most-viewed videos on setting up a solar panel system and ranked them by actual view count.
What you’ll find across this list is mostly hands-on, beginner-friendly demonstrations: a couple of quick builds you can watch in under fifteen minutes, one half-hour deep-dive, and setups ranging from a modest 100-watt kit to a serious 10,000-watt off-grid system. Whatever scale you’re working at, one of these should match it.
1. DIY Solar Setup: Easy to Follow Step-by-Step Instructions
City Prepping · 3.8M views · 13:42 · 2022
The most-watched video on this list by a wide margin, City Prepping's 13-minute build promises plain language and no special tools, and the 3.8 million views suggest it delivers. A straightforward, narrated demonstration aimed squarely at people who have never touched solar gear before.
2. How To Build A Solar Setup: COMPLETE Step-by-Step, DIY Guide (12V, 2000W)
City Prepping · 2.2M views · 31:59 · 2023
The same channel's longer companion piece runs nearly 32 minutes and covers a 12V, 2000W build in more detail, including a wiring chart and a recommended reference book. If the first City Prepping video feels too quick, this is the version for viewers who want to understand each component as they go.
3. Solar Power for dummies, This system is easy!
OFF GRID with DOUG & STACY · 1.6M views · 11:40 · 2022
Off Grid with Doug & Stacy pitch this one at absolute novices, featuring a Renogy setup with a combiner box. At just under 12 minutes, it's a friendly, homestead-style demonstration rather than a technical lecture, well suited to someone who finds wiring talk intimidating.
4. 100 Watt Solar Panel Kit Setup for Beginners – Step-by-Step!
Footprint Hero with Alex Beale · 1.4M views · 16:19 · 2024
Footprint Hero's 16-minute walkthrough focuses on a basic 100-watt kit, listing every part used, including the battery and inverter options. A good pick for someone starting small, like a camping or backup-power setup, who wants to see a complete beginner-scale build from start to finish.
5. Offgrid Solar Beginner Crash Course: Build a 10,000W Solar System
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse · 1.3M views · 11:23 · 2025
Will Prowse is a well-known name in DIY solar, and here he compresses a full 10,000W off-grid system into an 11-minute crash course. It's the most ambitious build on this list, best for viewers who already grasp the basics and want to see what a large-scale setup looks like without sitting through an hour-long video.
Ranked by YouTube view count as of October 23, 2026. View counts move around, so the order here reflects the day this list was compiled. All videos belong to their respective creators – watching them here plays them directly from YouTube, so views and any ad revenue still go to the channel.
