# How we pick products

> How Solar Examiner chooses the batteries, chargers, heat pumps and inverters in its buyer's guides, what we do and do not test, and how affiliate links fit in.

- URL: https://solarexaminer.com/how-we-pick/
- Site: Solar Examiner (https://solarexaminer.com/)


_Last updated: October 24, 2026._

Our buyer's guides are **research-based**. That is different from hands-on testing, and we want you to know which one you are reading.

## What we do

- **Start from the manufacturer's own documents.** We read spec sheets, datasheets and product pages for capacity, power, warranty terms and operating range. If a figure is not stated by the manufacturer, we do not fill it in from memory.
- **Check certifications where they are stated.** That means safety listings such as UL, efficiency labels such as ENERGY STAR, and industry specifications such as the NEEP cold-climate heat pump specification. If a certification is not confirmed in a source we could read, we say so.
- **Read warranty terms.** We report length and any throughput or cycle limit the manufacturer states.
- **Use published expert and marketplace analyses.** Where we cite ratings, scores or prices from another publication, we name it, link it and give its date. We do not average other people's scores into a number of our own.
- **Only include products sold in the US.** We favor products that are currently listed by the manufacturer or an authorized seller.
- **Date every price.** Prices are approximate, come from the source named next to them, and change quickly. We leave a price out when we cannot verify one.

## What we do not do

- **We do not claim hands-on testing.** Unless an article says "we tested," no one at Solar Examiner has physically tested the product. Our picks rest on specifications, certifications, warranties and published expert and owner reviews.
- **We do not invent figures.** No made-up specs, prices, ratings or review counts.
- **We do not guarantee savings or payback.** Where we show a calculation, we give the formula and the assumptions, and label it an illustration.

## Limits of owner reviews

Large owner-review samples for home batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps are scarce. Some review datasets rate the installer rather than the product. When that is the case we say so, and we treat the review evidence as weaker than the specifications.

## Affiliate links

Some buyer's guides contain affiliate links, marked `rel="sponsored nofollow"` and labeled at the top of the article. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions do not decide which products we include or how we rank them. Where a retailer link is not yet active, the button is a placeholder. Read the full [affiliate disclosure](/affiliate-disclosure/) and our [editorial policy](/editorial-policy/).

## Incentives and eligibility

Tax credits and rebates change often. We state the rule and its source date, and tell you to confirm your own eligibility with the IRS, your state energy office, your utility or a qualified tax professional. See the [disclaimer](/disclaimer/).

## Corrections

If a spec, price or claim in a guide is wrong, tell us through the [contact page](/contact/) and we will correct it. See [corrections](/corrections/).