Plug in solar

Newbie_John

Whole day if anyone is interested, no big clouds, one panel has some building shadow early and then at about 19:30 sun hides behind the forest hence bigger drop:

wakeupalarm

Generation between 16-19 is what I am interested in.

Are those with 4 panels systems seeing roughly double the generation figures of those above from Newbie_John during the key 16-19 time slot?

Newbie_John

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82095052#Comment_82095052

You can see my double panels match exactly (yellow and orange) so yes 4 panels would double that again if sinilar conditions - angle, no shadows etc.

But then there are two aspects - if you go for battery option - south is better as you can store it, if you dont choose battery then SW or W (SW peak is at 15:00 in summer, W at 17:00 but lower peak). Other bits to consider max inverter output 800W, space needed for 4 (each panel is 120x200cm and weights 20kg) and also clouds - if there are random clouds the chart looks very much like that middle bit - full of spikes and drops - so not reliable to not draw anything from grid.

QrizB

Whole day if anyone is interested

I am interested, and thank you for sharing!

Generation between 16-19 is what I am interested in.

Note the equinox (when the sun sets at 1800 GMT / 1900 BST) is the 22nd of September, roughly 6 weeks from now. And by the time winter comes around, even on a clear day the sun will have effectively set in much of the UK by 1600.

Here are forecast sunrise and set times for Manchester in November, for example.

Are those with 4 panels systems seeing roughly double the generation figures …

I'm making 8-9 kWh on a good day from my EcoFlow system, which is roughly double Newbie_John's daily total.

… during the key 16-19 time slot?

My EcoFlow panels aren't optimised for that time of day; they're in the shade of trees by 1600 or so.

lohr500

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094936#Comment_82094936

Welcome onboard!!!

TroubledTarts

Just been reading a post that soon we won't be allowed to hand panels on fences, pergola and maybe even sheds??

Taken from Reddit

It looks like when plug-in solar is legalised at the end of this month (27th August), plug-in solar arrays in England cannot be fixed to a wooden wall, balcony, fence, gate or enclosure, or to any timber-clad part of buildings, under permitted development rights (i.e. without getting planning permission).

Likely to catch quite a few people out!

"3. In Class A, in paragraph A.1 (development not permitted)—

(d)after sub-paragraph (e), insert—

“(f)in the case of plug-in solar, where any part of the plug-in solar would be installed on a wooden wall, balcony or enclosure or on any part of the exterior of a block of flats which is clad in timber.”

kipsterno1

^

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/896/made

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82095396#Comment_82095396

That pretty much rules it out for many households. I expect people will just go ahead regardless or obliviously and the authorities will end up turning a blind eye due to lack of resources.

lohr500

I guess the legislation does make sense given the flimsy nature of many sheds, panel fences, etc.
And the remote chance of a fire developing if fastened to wooden cladded buildings.

Having manhandled my two 400W panels into position, I can imagine what the effect of a strong wind would be on a 2m x 1m flat panel mounted to a flimsy support. It's not going to end well.

But yes, even if the detail is supplied with the instructions, most people will just ignore it anyway!!!

Newbie_John

So this will only apply to plug-ins, which only allow the all-in approved systems which currently dont exist.

None of that applies if you charge a battery or have your system wired to mains. Or if your solar isnt connected at all.

It really does create a grey area.