Plug in solar, what do you think?

[ebee]

A final circuit is a final circuit if it serves points of utilisation.
If you use an FCU on say a spur then that itself is a final circuit after its fuse (but it could feed a lower value fuse to yet another final circuit.
The Ring Final Circuit or Radial Final Circuit is also the distribution circuit for the FCU too.
Good innit?

Ho, and you might have a Ring Main in the street and you might have another type of Ring Main at a Distrubution point such as a power station, where sections can be locked off and the remaider used as a Radial.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I agree with @ebee it is not PC (politically correct) to refer to a military PC (police constable) as a MP without first saying what it means. I know we do forget that when talking about narrow boats, a RCD is the recreational craft directive, and not an electrical device, and in the main when we talk about a boiler, we don't actually want it to boil water. Even when it does, when it changes steam to super heated steam, is that still a boiler?

However, when we are discussing a fairly confined bit of tech, then what is under discussion will be fairly obvious, even if the short form of initials are used. When discussing smart meters, IHD, can only possibly mean an In Home Display.

 

[JohnW2]

However, when we are discussing a fairly confined bit of tech, then what is under discussion will be fairly obvious, even if the short form of initials are used. When discussing smart meters, IHD, can only possibly mean an In Home Display.

True, and we all do it, all the time, nearly always with no risk of ambiguity or uncertainty.

However, "RFC" is a different, and unusual, kettle of fish since, within exactly the same context, it could no less 'obviously' mean "Radial Final Circuit" than "Ring Final Circuit" - so one can only know what is (probably!) meant if one is aware of the common 'convention'!

 

[ebee]

Well I had no idea what IHD might mean, why should I? that is my objection.
As an Electrician on an Electrical Forum I usually know what most things mean or are intended to mean even if the wrong terms or names might be used.
I am aware that folk often use the word Spur to mean an FCU (switched or not) etc etc but IHD no not me and others I think, we even know what people mean when they say Bulb even if we joke with them that Bulbs grow in gardens and lamps go in lampholders.
A few common things used correctly or incorrectly we can get by with but a lot of things are not quickly obvious to many, IHD is one of them I think.
Now I know what was meant in this context I might well recognise it if used again.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I am aware that folk often use the word Spur to mean an FCU (switched or not) etc etc but IHD no not me and others I think, we even know what people mean when they say Bulb even if we joke with them that Bulbs grow in gardens and lamps go in lampholders.
A few common things used correctly or incorrectly we can get by with but a lot of things are not quickly obvious to many, IHD is one of them I think.

Almost every customer with a smart meter, will be aware of what a IHD is. I am surprised that someone 'in the trade' might not know, when the IHD was mentioned in the same sentence as the smart meter.

 

[ericmark]

Only in the last year did I know what in home display was. And smart meters have been out a long time. The same applies to SOC, once I realised it was state of charge, it seemed so obvious, but it took some time to work it out.

 

[ebee]

Almost every customer with a smart meter, will be aware of what a IHD is. I am surprised that someone 'in the trade' might not know, when the IHD was mentioned in the same sentence as the smart meter.

Well I effectively stopped being an Electrician a few years back, I was going to continue past state retirement age but due to certain physical problems I was prevented so wouund down to almost zero.
I was aware of smart meters before that but never interested myself and have never had one.
As yet I have not had a smart meter, so why on earth would I be aware of the so-called benefits of smart meters or any displays that go with them, it is just a display. so IHD would mean absolutely nothing to me unless someone specifically tells me what it is called.

I could ask you what the thirteenth letter in the Chinese Alphabet is, would you know the answer? yet about a quarter of the worlds population know the answer so why not you or me?

 

[JohnD]

I have a thing I call an electricity monitor.

It does have a display, and it is in my house.

 

[JohnD]

Only in the last year did I know what in home display was. And smart meters have been out a long time. The same applies to SOC, once I realised it was state of charge, it seemed so obvious, but it took some time to work it out.

Suzuki Owners Club.

 

[ericmark]

No good for me, can't spell Suzuki. 1:30 pm and today exported 10.4 kWh. Looking at same time last year, also seeing all but two days in March export, up to 23.9 kWh and back then not being paid for export. Solar production up to 31.5 kWh.

2024 was not so good, but that's the problem. Solar changes and payment changes, so we are taking a gamble.

I look at my IHD set to history and months, and it shows a marked increase on electric used since May last year, reason is before May I was not charging batteries overnight, so the whole display shows an unrepresentative use, the phone app is better, but if I had not taken a screenshot, these reading would have been lost. As soon as I moved BG to Octopus the BG app stopped working. They do show what the second battery did, and how much of what we pay is standing charge.

 

[ericmark]

The subject also discussed in another forum. I have concluded that balcony solar can save around £100 - £200 a year, but it may cause damage to the balcony in high winds, and clearly you need a balcony.

As to battery, plug in limited to 800 watt, where professionally fitted one can cover at reasonable cost, all but the shower, so the pro version can save around £510 per year using the load from my own house. So really no contest, the pro version far better. And once a pro installed inverter is used for battery storage, easy if you want to add solar be it on a balcony shed or what ever.

So I would say plug in solar and/or battery simply not worth it, even if it can work safely.

I also looked at the adverts, and nothing tells me not allowed,

This was one I selected, and it seems to tell me I can just buy plug and play.

 

[ericmark]

Update

It also said plug-in panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies would be available in supermarkets in the coming months.

the whole article here here, 24 March 2026, 01:10 GMT

The government said it was working with major retailers like Lidl and Amazon to make plug-in solar available on the high street.
These DIY solar panels do not have upfront installation costs and are designed for balconies and small garden spaces.

It seems the debate is over?
eFIXX have now also added saying how

Energy secretary Ed Miliband throws industry authorities into chaos over his approval for plug-in domestic solar panels…

It seems the IET has raised concerns about escape routes etc. Headlines are Plug and Pray, do like that. It has pointed out how easy to overload. And asked what happens if you get two or more plugged into one extension lead, will they island?
I have looked at our ring final

and what could happen, remember some homes only have one ring final, but with the old BS546 15 amp socket, we would have multi-circuits and still likely 20 amp cable, with 15 amp fuse, so what is shown is unlikely to cause a problem simular to what is shown, the same applies with continental system, it could still happen, but less likely.

 

[martygturner]

Update

the whole article here here, 24 March 2026, 01:10 GMT

It seems the debate is over?
eFIXX have now also added saying how It seems the IET has raised concerns about escape routes etc. Headlines are Plug and Pray, do like that. It has pointed out how easy to overload. And asked what happens if you get two or more plugged into one extension lead, will they island?

No they will not island as they have the same anti island tech as any other grid tied inverter, they cannot feed each other - more IET dross.
What has an escape route got to do with IET ? answer nothing .

Here is the IET's actual response not the paraphrased one :
Mark Coles, head of technical regulations at the IET, said that because of the UK's ageing housing stock and "poorly maintained electrical installations" introducing plug-in solar could pose risks to homeowners.

"Before purchasing any off-the-shelf generation product, householders should have their electrical installation checked by a competent electrician. What may be safe in one home may pose a significant risk in another," he said.

Again more IET plop... if there needs to be a minimum standard ie 16th edition to be safe why not specify what is safe and there is the IET shambles again - OOH its could do all manner of harm... honest now its a plug , but hang on the IET were perfectly happy when these units where hardwired in via a FCU but now a plug in and your house will burn down...

Perhaps the IET could climb down of its horse and actually produce some guidance for the things, so homeowners can at least make informed decisions ... Only buy a unit that kills its feed in 0.4s upon disconection and internal RCD / RCBO, have an isolating main switch...

 

[ericmark]

Again more IET plop

OK, it seems we must read the instructions, before we buy plug and pray solar. So the advert

1000w 240v Home DIY Plug-In Solar Grid Kit Free Mount Garden / Patio / Roof UK

At £600, All G98/1 approved with no need for approved electrician to sign off.

As part of the UK approved Hoymiles installation manual and 2022 IET revisions, most homeowners already have several ring main socket circuits they rarely use besides the odd mobile phone charge, and can dedicate that to a plug in kit. The inverter has very sensitive built-in protection for short circuit and over-under voltage in any event. All that you require is the installation of a fused spur. This can be in an outbuilding or on the home itself. The inverter is then connected to it as it doubles up as an isolator. Wiring the inverter into the consumer unit MCB directly is obviously also an option if you know a qualified electrician.

Now I thought, in Wales, Part P regulations require building owners to notify the LABC for work done in special locations, that include kitchens, bathrooms, and the garden. But to be fair, it does say "All that you require is the installation of a fused spur." is this the get out clause, is that saying can't be plugged direct into a ring final?

The whole advert seemed very confusing, but it does seem to comply with G98/1 so assume OK?

Next advert says "Plus, it’s fully portable, making it ideal for renters who want to take their system when they move." which clearly means can use any socket. "ECOFLOW STREAM Balcony Solar System, 800W Micro Inverter, 2 × 450W PV Solar Panels, Smart Grid-Feed Inverter with Wi-Fi & App Control for Balcony, Garden, Roof & Vertical Walls" at least this one is limited to 800 watt. A bit cheaper £449.00 and having done my own maths the can save you £80 per year on energy costs seems reasonable. And 2 kWh per day, seems reasonable, it was given as 750 kWh/year so working at 9.3p/kWh. But this one does not say it complies with any regulations, or anything about any safety features.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF OTHER COMPANIES SELLING 'PLUG IN SOLAR' KITS, WITH THE FINAL CONNECTION BEING MADE BY PLUG AND SOCKET. THIS IS AGAINST THE UK'S IET REGULATIONS AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR USE IN THE HOME IN THIS MANNER. WE ENSURE OUR KITS USE G98 CERTIFIED PRODUCTS AND ABIDE BY ALL UK REGULATIONS.

further down the advert one minute it says it is plug and play, the next it says must comply with IET regs.

[6] Under G98 regulations, you must Commission your Plug In Solar Installation with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) with 28 days of completion of the installation. We provide ALL the G98 documentation required to commission your installation with your DNO, as well as step by step instructions on the process.

So it seems these adverts have not been re-written since the government announcement, so at it stands no one seems to have any idea what can and can't be fitted. Does this look like 800 watt?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

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