Has plug and play solar now been passed, I see adverts?

[denso13]

although I see nothing about one per household.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a60a03c47af652afa0c89f5/plug-in-solar-final-_interim-product-specification.pdf

"NOTE: While this specification permits one device per final circuit, GB network connection requirements also apply. As of publication, current network requirements Engineering Recommendation G98 Issue 2 Amendment 1 2026 restrict this to one device per household, which applies unless and until that is amended."

 

[ericmark]

although some questioned the practical difficulty of policing consumer installation and online or second-hand sales

The final IPS will include strengthened requirements to support safe consumer use, including clearer information on product scope, installation, circuit identification, mounting, Engineering Recommendation G98 notification requirements, prohibited uses, and circumstances where professional advice should be sought.
Additionally, the department will work with stakeholders to ensure that clear and easy to understand consumer guidance is available ahead of the regulations coming into force. This will support consumers, retailers, manufacturers and online marketplaces to understand the requirements and support the safe use of compliant plug-in solar devices.

All well and good, but that has not been included in the law, in fact I had a problem understanding some of it, maybe as it refers to other regulations as with "(3) In regulation 22(1), for sub-paragraph (c) substitute— " so it needs reading with 22(1) what ever that is.

Laws never seem to be in plain English, or for that matter Welsh, we have to read a special dictionary it seems! To my mind some this which is installed, is not temporary in any way, and plug in is clearly designed to be moved from home to home, in the same way as one's furniture, and so having an item which must be moved, unplugged etc. As with caravan sites where rules say one can only stay for 28 days, but hitch up and move to another plot and one can stay longer, when I used to caravan I found this a lot, on the canal seem to remember there was a distance requirement, but again as long as you are willing to move then one avoids some fees, or can use sites classed as temporary, so it seems if you unplug the solar every 28 days, then no G98, I am sure that was not the intension.

However, the law is about what can be put on sale, and it was made plain the instructions need to be very clear as to what needs to be done to install, and we are not as yet reading any instructions. I am sure they will say these instructions must be passed on with the equipment, but unless there is a provision in the equipment for storing the instructions, that is unlikely to happen.

I will admit temped to get one, between the centre and upper floor solar panels would catch the winter sun, even in the summer, at moment just 1.8 kW (10:30 am) as the panels catch the evening rather than morning sun. The hill other side of the valley means in Winter we get the sun late, so wall mounted solar would allow us to gain on the Winter sun, but

I'm far too old to even consider something that would render me 'worse off' for the next several years!

This also applies to me, and I think anyway I would gain more with another battery to what I would gain with solar. Off-peak is 00:30 to 05:30 so the morning side of the day, so it is during the evening when the battery is likely to run out, only in the winter, BST helps with that.

But we have seen loads of you-tube videos of people with solar already like myself trying out plug in solar, we would assume like myself, already have the second MPAN number, so they are paid for export, what we have not seen, is how it works on a virgin home, I looked at this thread by @EMLITE ECA2.z v1 and had hoped he would reply, but alas seems I have frightened him off.

 

[denso13]

However, the law is about what can be put on sale, and it was made plain the instructions need to be very clear as to what needs to be done to install, and we are not as yet reading any instructions.

The instructions will come with the product, this states what it must include, https://assets.publishing.service.g...olar-final-_interim-product-specification.pdf

 

[denso13]

so it seems if you unplug the solar every 28 days, then no G98,

Where do you get that from?

 

[martygturner]

This thread has degenerated in a I Fink not I know debacle much like the IET and PAS guidance - we fink so it must be true.

Why would the selling of any product be illegal unless it is proscribed in law, ie banned see

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ohibited-and-restricted-great-britain-imports

You will notice that electrical items do not appear. There is nothing banning the sale, only regulations that advise on their use.

 

[ericmark]

Where do you get that from?

You have to inform within 28 days, but unplugging and plugging back in would it seems reset the timer.

 

[denso13]

You have to inform within 28 days, but unplugging and plugging back in would it seems reset the timer

Not for plug in.

 

[ericmark]

The instructions will come with the product, this states what it must include, https://assets.publishing.service.g...olar-final-_interim-product-specification.pdf

Interesting link, with things like

Older types of RCBO circuit protection can be desensitised by products that leak DC current into the AC circuit. This includes products such as plug-in EV chargers, IT equipment, power supplies and plug-in solar systems. In order to test that the cumulative effect of a number of devices will not desensitise the consumer RCBO, the consumer should be instructed to test the RCBO periodically by pressing the test button on the RCBO unit when the plug-in solar unit is producing power.

But we have worked out, it is the pressing of the test button when there is a reverse flow, which causes the RCBO to burn out.

• A plug-in solar device connected to a socket in the bedroom and another device connected to a socket in the kitchen is acceptable if these sockets are on different circuits (i.e., they do not switch off together);
• Two plug‑in solar devices connected to sockets in the same room or area is not permitted if those sockets are on the same circuit (i.e. they switch off together);
• A plug-in solar device connected to a spur circuit supplying fixed equipment such as an electric cooker or boiler is not permitted;
• A plug-in solar device connected to a circuit used for lighting is not permitted.

1) So allowed multi-units per household. Bur it also says

Clearly state that only one plug-in solar device of up to 800 VA shall be installed per household circuit; "NOTE: While this specification permits one device per final circuit, GB network connection requirements may restrict this until corresponding amendments to Engineering Recommendation G98 are implemented"

Note per household circuit not per household.
2) The spur, could a non electrician know the difference between a spur and a radial?
3) I don't have a single ring final which does not supply a reading lamps, standard lamp, or other lighting device, not says "circuit used for lighting" not "lighting circuit".

Clear information on current registration and deregistration obligations with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO), including provision of a QR code directing consumers to the relevant guidance and registration process;

That I assume is the G98 bit?

I have not as yet read the new G98 so not sure if required or not, however, without it, you can't be paid for export, so with no battery, it would make sense to complete.

I never did my own G99, so I have never read the rules about deregistration, it would be interesting to see an example of an instruction set.

Of my 14 RCBOs just 2 are bidirectional, and of all the sockets in my house, just 2 double sockets could never have plug in solar plugged in, the rest I could change the RCBO easy enough, and there is nothing I have seen to warn plug in solar users, not to use those 4 socket outlets, be it a spur, radial or ring final all other sockets would not really have a problem, just 4, so will not say straight away, which 4 sockets and one FCU should never have solar plugged into them?

 

[JohnW2]

Why would the selling of any product be illegal unless it is proscribed in law, ie banned see
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ohibited-and-restricted-great-britain-imports
You will notice that electrical items do not appear. There is nothing banning the sale, only regulations that advise on their use.

There are plenty of electrical items which are 'banned from sale' in the UK by some regs/legislation or another.

As for the document you link to ...

(a) it's only about 'importing', so would not apply to products manufactured in UK​

​

(b) the long list is of things which can't be imported into UK without a special/specific import licence, not things whose import is banned​

​

(c) it says that the list (even if it were relevant) is 'not exhaustive'​