Plug in solar

tfhnota

"The standard MC4 panel to inverter connectors are not secure and can be easily disconnected, and/or the cables could be cut through quickly." Probably why the inverters give out a DC shock when unplugged, should discourage thieves with bolt cutters.

My friend's mother was not amused when I laughed when she told me someone had stolen the back gates, rather than stealing anything from the house…

Scot_39

Some of the reviews for the invertors mention they can get pretty warm if not quite toasty - and recommend using stand offs - rather than simply mounting flat against wall etc to allow additional all around circulation (and ironically trying to avoid mounting in shade from direct mid day sun too).

Come to think of it one even mentioned had fitted a solar fan to theirs.

Putting in an enclosure - seems a little contrary.

QrizB

Another silly question - but are ground mounted solar panels, cables etc fairly secure from theft

They're less stealable than lawnmowers and bikes. About equal to picnic benches or mopeds.

If you live somewhere where you would expect things like this to be stolen from your garden, you could fit a ground anchor and chain it down.

zxzxzx

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82120854#Comment_82120854

…or buy cheap on Sale - Christmas Eve! :-)

StevieP21

Any news of cheap German kits on their way?

lohr500

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82121076#Comment_82121076

I just wonder if Lidl/Aldi are holding back for now.

Either because they are still working on getting their Euro 399 kits on the approved list.

Or they have decided there is no rush now because the peak solar generation season is over and it would be better to launch in the spring at really competitive pricing. They surely won't want the middle aisles cluttered up with bulky solar systems as our daylight hours reduce and the skies are full of clouds. Holding back also allows them to see what the competition are doing in terms of pricing/product offering.

Newbie_John

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82121098#Comment_82121098

I cant really inagine it at Aldi/Lidl in the middle aisle, maybe on their website etc.

Even one panel set is the size of a door and weights 20kg, not something you can easily put to your trolley or even a car..

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82120891#Comment_82120891

It was kind of prompted by a media article the other day with a photo of 2 ground solar panels sitting almost at the pavement edge with a driveway (not in say a sealed back garden) - within feet of the pavement and so easily accessible from road.

Which I just thought - well you wouldnt be able to leave anything valuable in that position - in case someone popped by with a van ….

Scot_39

Will retail actually have the kit as retail - most folk would struggle to shift the kit safely - even fitting it into a standard car might be troublesome - or for delivery.

The Argos UKSol pdfs and on its website say the kits come in one box - the ground mount version Argos lists as 70kg (well 70000g).

lohr500

They may offer the Euro style kits with lightweight flexible panels like the kit I linked to in an earlier post.

Total weight is quoted at 18Kg. Considerably less than the 5 person hot tub I bought from Aldi's middle aisle several years ago!! And I suspect less bulky.

Although the website does seem to indicate these are for delivery.

The advantage of those lightweight flexible panels would be less risk of serious injury if one or more did end up flying away in strong winds.

I suspect the downside will be the challenge of how to mount them. With a standard sized (circa 1.7m x 1.1M) solid roof solar panel there are lots of off-the-shelf mounting systems available already in the UK.

https://www.lidl.de/p/vale-gmbh-balkonkraftwerk-900wp-800w-flexible-solarmodule-full-black-wifi-inkl-befestigungsset/p100407732#searchTrackingMasterId=Product.100407732&searchTrackingTitle=Balkonkraftwerk+900Wp/800W,+flexible+Solarmodule,+Full+Black,+WiFi,+inkl.+Befestigungsset&searchTrackingPageSize=48&searchTrackingPage=1&searchTrackingEvent=click&searchTrackingId=Product.100407732&searchTrackingQuery=solar&searchTrackingOrigPos=1&searchTrackingPos=46&searchTrackingOrigPageSize=48&searchTrackingChannel=DE&list=search/solar