MSE guide: plug-in solar panels

prowla

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82113803#Comment_82113803

Mains cables are not directional: an item using power doesn't care where it came from and the cable doesn't know; an item consuming power hasn't got the faintest inkling as to where it came from, be it one source, the other, or an amalgamation of the two.

The power running through the cable is defined by the current draw of the consuming appliances, not of the generating sources; whether there is one (the grid) or two (add-on solar) there is no difference to the consumption and no difference to what flows along the wiring (ie. the current).

eddddy

Reed_Richards said

Is there any legal prohibition of a leaseholder freeholder applying unreasonable conditions on a lessee or can the leaseholder freeholder do whatever they think fit?

I guess you man "freeholder (a.k.a. Landlord) applying unreasonable conditions on a lessee (a.k.a leaseholder)"

The general principle is that a prospective leaseholder/lessee should read the lease before buying the flat.

If the prospective leaseholder/lessee feels that the conditions in the lease are unreasonable, they shouldn't buy the property.

But generally, freeholders want to sell properties as easily as possible for the most money possible - so they are likely to avoid putting unreasonable conditions in the lease, as that would deter buyers.

Ectophile said

The trick is - don't ask! If you don't ask, they can't say no. Unless the lease was drawn up in the last few years, it won't even mention solar panels. Just avoid attaching the panels in a way that would be against the lease.

If it's a block of flats, typically the external walls and roof will not belong to the leaseholder - they would belong to the freeholder.

Obviously, you can't fix your solar panels to other people's property (unless they agree).

If it's a house, the lease will often prohibit attaching things to the external walls / roof of the property, or doing anything that changes the external appearance of the property.

But maybe panels in the garden would be ok.

Qyburn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82113414#Comment_82113414

You comments might be taken more seriously if you give some actual figures. Can you give an example of a particular block, number of flats vs capacity of the incoming supply?

QrizB

Happy plug-in solar day!

Here is a link to (what seem to be) the first two UK approved plug-in solar panel kits. Both from UKSOL, a company based in Sheffield and assembled there (presumably from mostly Chinese parts, although I see the mounting frame is designed and made here).

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/c/product/renewables/solar-pv/plug-in-solar-pv/c/1870010/

Both are freestanding ground-mount kits that could be placed on eg. a patio or balcony.

The single-panel 460W kit is £671, while the dual-panel 890W kit is £952.

Not as cheap as I'd hoped but these are complete installation kits - you don't need to buy anything else. With some other kits you need to add cables, brackets and so on.

paul991

octopus are advertising £450 for single panel kits and £650 for 2 panel kits . inc delivery.

Everything you need to know about plug-in solar panels | Octopus Energy

edwhow

Best consult this document first from Electrical Safety First explaining your home circuit and whether it will accept electricity generation:

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/media/50yc1myn/plug-in-solar-consumer-guide.pdf

paul991

nice to see a clear and simple explanation.The good side of all this is it will make some people think and check about their household wiring .Hard to believe some houses still rely on 1970 ,s rewirable fuses

Netexporter

Shocking! (potentially)

Ectophile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82116943#Comment_82116943

No it won't, because people won't ask an electrician. People will just buy a plug in solar system and then plug it in. And it will work.

The YouTube channel eFixx tried doing everything wrong to see what happened. They connected two plug in solar systems to a single extension cord, plugged into a circuit with the wrong sort of RCD. Absolutely nothing went wrong. They deliberately tripped the RCD with a socket tester, and it worked fine.

Qyburn

The standard requires the inverter to output less than 5mA DC leakage current. If that's still too high for type AC RCDs then in my opinion the standard should have been made tighter. It's not realistic to expect purchasers of a plug in product to check that sort of detail.