Plug in solar

Qyburn

I sincerely hope that any approved plug in system will be tested for safety on any sort of otherwise compliant residential installation. I don't see how they could expect two pole final circuit breakers, bi-directional RCDs or other requirements that apply to current systems.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934952#Comment_81934952

Amazon & EcoFlow already sell them & have been doing so for months.

tfhnota

how recently have bidirectional circuit breakers been mandated for consumer units, or is that a new rule to come? I think it is the same for batteries if you want to feed back into the grid. Looks like they are only used for solar and battery installs, the new rules come in on the 15 April and it will be legal to sell plug-in solar for UK sockets if they meet the safety standards but it is not clear if you are allowed to actually plug them in if your fusebox does not have a bidirectional rcd, older boxes with mcbs do not have the problem but may not be allowed either - who knows. Most people will see something with a plug and whack it in regardless, I would guess. My consumer unit has a mixture of mcb's and rcd (not bidirectional) and a main switch (not rcd/rcb either) so in theory if I put it into the right circuit nothing can burn out.

Qyburn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81946544#Comment_81946544

Requirement for bi-directional RCD for solar and other embedded generation came in sometime between Summer 2024 and Spring 2025. The "bi-directional" bit applies only to RCDs. Specifically the circuitry that detects an imbalance which could otherwise be damaged if the circuit is energised from the load side after a trip.

MCBs and fuses are inherently bi-directional

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81946499#Comment_81946499

just because you can buy something in UK sadly doesnt make it legal to use it in the way many might.

think about e-scooters - still illegal on our roads - still sold by big name retailers with a warning for private land use only etc.

born_again

They are legal if hard wired in correctly by a approved person, I was just pointed tout that they have been on sale for months.

Qyburn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81947010#Comment_81947010

And declared to DNO.

tlcgrantham

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81947010#Comment_81947010

I am a tenant with no electrical knowledge. With my landlords permission could I legally buy a plug in Ecoflow 800w system now and have a qualified electrician install it? Please could anybody give an idea of costs and disadvantages of doing so?