How to Set Up and Manage Your Hardware Preferences in OpenSolar

Summary:

Setting up your hardware preferences ensures that your sales and design teams can quickly and consistently build accurate systems using pre-approved equipment. OpenSolar makes this easy through the Design & Hardware section in the Control Zone.

This guide covers how to activate, customize, and price your hardware components—Modules, Inverters, Batteries, and Other Components—so they’re ready for use in Studio.

Table Of Contents:

• Why Hardware Preferences Matter
• How to Access & Manage Preferred Equipment
  • Add New Hardware
  • Remove or Archive Hardware
• Adding Pricing to Hardware Components
  • How to Add Pricing
  • Pricing Options Explained
• Missing a Component? We Can Help!

Why Hardware Preferences Matter:

When designing a system in Studio, team members will only be able to select from the Active Equipment List—a curated list of modules, inverters, and batteries you've pre-approved. This setup:

• Streamlines the design process

• Ensures brand and pricing consistency

• Reduces the chance of selecting incorrect hardware

 Note: While non-admin users can browse the full equipment database, they can only use Active Equipment in designs.

How to Access & Manage Preferred Equipment:

To manage any hardware category:

1. Go to the Control Zone (top-left of the app)

2. Click Design & Hardware

3. Select the component category: Modules, Inverters, Batteries, or Other Components

For each category, you’ll see your current Active List of components.

Add New Hardware

1. Click Add from Database

2. Use the search bar to find the component by manufacturer or model code

3. Select the correct item from the results

4. Review the specifications

5. Click Save to add it to your active list

Repeat this process for each type of hardware your team uses.

Remove or Archive Hardware

• To remove a component: Click the trash bin icon next to the item.

• If the item was already used in a project, deletion isn’t allowed. Instead:

  • Click the edit pencil

  • Toggle on the Archive switch

  • Save changes

Archived items are hidden from Studio but remain in historical records.

Adding Pricing to Hardware Components:

You can configure pricing for each component, which automatically applies during system design. This helps calculate project price, cost, and margins accurately.

• Price - How much the customer will pay for the system
• Cost - How much your organization pays for the system
• Margin - The difference between the cost and price. 

How to Add Pricing:

• Go to Design & Hardware in the Control Zone

• Select the relevant hardware category

• Click the Edit pencil next to a component

• Scroll to the pricing section

Pricing Options Explained:

Missing a Component? We Can Help!

If a hardware item is not available in our database:

Send us a ticket with the specification sheet, and our team will upload it for you.

Next: Pricing and Payments Options