Plug Solar appears to be arriving via certification, not a new plug standard.

always_learning22

One interesting observation from following the UK's plug-in solar journey over the last few months:

A lot of electricians and standards specialists argued that the UK didn't actually need to rewrite BS 1363 from scratch to reach the same destination as Germany.

Their view was that a workable route already existed:

• Create a dedicated product certification standard for plug-in solar.
• Add a targeted exception within the wiring regulations.
• Allow certified products to connect via suitable existing domestic circuits rather than redesigning the entire UK plug and socket system.

Looking at where we are now, that seems remarkably close to the path that's been taken.

BS 7671 Amendment 4 introduced the targeted changes within Section 712, while the forthcoming BSI plug-in solar product standard (expected July 2026) appears set to provide the product certification framework.

In other words, instead of changing the entire UK socket system, the UK seems to be adapting the rules around a specific, certified class of products.

It's an interesting example of how regulation sometimes evolves: not by replacing established standards, but by creating a controlled exception supported by rigorous product certification.

Do people think this was always the most likely outcome, or were there realistic alternatives that the industry seriously considered?

Qyburn

BS 7671 Amendment 4 introduced the targeted changes within Section 712

Are you able to quote the actual changes in Amendment 4?

tfhnota

Latest efix youtube video shows some testing of inverter to see if it blows up the fuse-box or stays live, and interesting combo 800W plug-in inverter and battery, waiting in the wings for UK certification but from 400 Euro in Germany, also can work as a standalone powerbank. Easiest and cheapest would be to just accept the German certification standards, which would help keep the pricing down to European standards rather than add on vast costs as is often the British way.

sheenas

I saw that efixx a well respected electricidal trade channel. It seams the regulatory standards need updating rather than there being a technical issue.

This means some well respected German brands seem to be waiting for this to happen before launching in the UK.

Heedtheadvice

The BS amendment 4 to 7671 was published 15 April 2026 and becomes mandatory October.

I have not purchased or seen it but it is available so an extract might be of use. The draft information ( 2025) covers a variety of electrical areas including BESS and generation systems being on the supply side. As far as I am aware it dies not cover Plug on solar although there is a BS for it's certification due to be published in July ( as mentioned above by AL22).

There has been no recent info regarding G98 ( for the connection of low limited power generating equipment to the grid network) although it has been mentioned in a March Gov press release:

"The government will work with the Energy Networks Association, DNOs and Ofgem to update the G98 distribution code and wiring regulations BS 7671 to
allow UK households to connect <800W plug-in solar panels to domestic
mains sockets, without the need for an electrician and with tailored
safety standards.  "

I expect that manufacturers are privy to the certification needs to get advanced productions of compliant units.

lohr500

@Heedtheadvice

Short of adding an embedded type A RCD plug to the inverter mains cable, I'm not sure what the manufacturers could do to the inverter to help prevent any issues with the house wiring setup, over and above the existing European compliance requirements.

I guess a Type A RCD on the inverter feed to the mains socket would at least eliminate one of the stated risks associated with older RCD's in that it would trip if it detected any DC leaking from the inverter. However, even this isn't gong to solve the other stated issue of older omni-directional consumer unit RCDs potentially failing if any excess generation flows back to the grid.

If they have to design a whole new version of the existing European standard PIS inverter which can detect excess generation flowing back to the grid and throttle back generation, then my money says the whole concept will become too expensive. Presumably to achieve this it would need some form of CT clamp on the main meter feed and either a wi-fi or hard wired connection back to the inverter to achieve this.

tfhnota

Presumably DC leakage is already covered by the Euro standards, given some of the dodgy wiring in some of these countries, although it would be easy to class UK consumer unit design as flawed.

Heedtheadvice

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82022116#Comment_82022116

Well how about fitting a type B rcd....if not already fitted.

It is interesting that most info about rcd types is aimed at loads when feeding from a consumer unit to circuit loads. Type B copes with a multiple type of waveforms ( encompasses those covered by types AC, A, and F) that include PV generation and DC. if say a type AC is fitted in a consumer unit there is the potential for that not to trip but the source of DC ( solar PV under a fault condition ) to trip with a B to ensure safety. In this case it would be isolating a generator rather than load.

I hate to think of ( irrespective of PV ) those properties with old circuit trips based upon voltage or those with no trip at all.

Qyburn

The trouble with relying on any downstream RCD is that small amounts of DC leakage, insufficient to trip your dedicated Type A/F/B, may still blind an upstream AC RCD preventing that from tripping at its correct threshold in the case of aan actual fault.

Note even perfect export limitation wouldn't always prevent power passing the wrong way through an upstream RCD, for example installations with commonly fitted "17th edition" dual RCD board.