Plug-in solar - Buying and installing

Before purchasing any equipment, make sure you have considered the following.

Purchasing your system

  • Use legal equipment: To be legally connected to the grid, the Plug-in  inverter must be registered on the Energy Networks Database. This link shows all systems that are currently approved
  • Kits or components: There is a bit of a debate at the moment around the use of kits (comprising inverter, panels, cables and mounting equipment) versus buying the individual components and individually. At this point only kits have been certified for connection to the grid. 
  • Pricing: Kit prices have gone through the roof since the approval of Plug-in solar in the UK. Roughly you should be looking for around £600-£800 per kwp of solar. So a system with two 500w panels would be in this range, whilst a one panels system would be around half this
  • Use a reputable retailer: There's going to be a flood of kits and components hitting the market, so make sure you buy from a reputable retailer. Watch out for unbranded imports or uncertified equipment
  • Check the warranty: most solar components will have at least a 10 year warranty

Location and Positioning

  • Sunlight exposure: Choose an unshaded spot ideally facing south (or east/west) that gets direct light for most of the day
  • Surface stability: Ensure the mounting surface (balcony railing, wall, or flat ground) can safely hold the weight of the panels and withstand heavy winds. Keep in mind that planning regulations restrict mounting panels on wooden surfaces 
  • Secure mounting: Make sure that the panels are securely mounted on the structure they are being attached too. If they are ground mounted, make sure that they are well weighed down 
  • Permissions: Renters or leaseholders may require to get written consent from landlords before mounting gear on exterior walls or shared balconies. If you are ground mounting, you will likely need planning 
  • Inverter location: Make sure the inverter is installed in a location that ideally is not in direct sunlight 

Safety and Connection

  • Check your existing wiring: If you are in any doubt about your households existing wiring (ie old wire based fuses, cobbled together wiring etc) get your household wiring professionally checked. 
  • Only one system: UK Regulations limit the installation to one system per household. Whilst some say it's ok to plug-in more, the limit is 1.
  • Power limits: Plug-in inverters are capped at an output of 800W. Whilst some suggest changing settings to exceed this limit, UK regulations require it to remain unchanged
  • Solar limits: the capacity of solar panels connected to the inverter cannot exceed 2000w, and if it is above 960w it is recommended to get professional assessment of the household electrics before installation
  • Circuit protection: The circuit that the Plug-in device is connected too should be protected with modern residual current protection (RCBO) 
  • Cable runs: Make sure the cables running from the panels to the inverter are secured and out of the way of anything that could result in damage. Running them along the ground is not a good idea if you have children or animals, or if you cut/strim the area where the cables may be.
  • Direct plugging: Plug the factory-supplied cable directly into a standard wall socket (ideally a weatherproof outdoor one). Never use extension leads, multi-way adapters, or cable reels
  • Network notification: Notify your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that you have a solar system installed. If this is your only system that will require a G98 notification
If you've reached this point, you'll likely have a system installed and generating. Make sure you do a few tests to see it is operating correctly. 

  1. Switch on the kettle and check your smart meter - if the sun's out there should be less than 3kw coming from the grid
  2. If there’s an app for tracking usage, make sure it shows the system is generating and how much it is contributing to your household consumption 
  3. If you have a smart meter, check that it is recording some export as just about any system will export something

It will also help in future if you 

  1. Create a schematic of your system
  2. Note the individual component serial numbers
  3. Locate Warranty details/registration and make sure you register your kit with the manufacturer to ensure warranty is valid (and in some cases extended)
  4. Make a note of User ids & passwords for devices, websites and apps 

Getting paid to export solar excess 

As mentioned previously, Plug-in solar does not immediately meet the requirements that allow you to be paid for your export. Generally this needs a professionally installed and MCS certified system.

However, Octopus provide the option to request them to review a non-MCS certified system to see if it meets their requirements. This costs £250 and is not guaranteed, however some will find that the level of export over the life of their system makes it an option 

Now the fun begins 

Welcome to the world of smart meter watching; weather watching; sun's out excited; clouds and rain sad; switching everything off; spreadsheet tracking; and occasionally smug (but not too smug) world of solar & battery.

There is a help group if you feel the addiction is overwhelming, or if your partner, family, work colleagues or neighbours start to walk away when any sentence contains the words "solar" or "battery". If you don't know what I mean you soon will 😂🤣😅

If you don't know what I mean you soon will 🙈🙊🙉


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One final note

If this blog has helped and you go on too installing a Plug-in system, please let me know by leaving a comment and sharing this page as I really like to know I've been able to help. 

Also if you're considering a move to Octopus to get paid for export or charge your batteries in the darker months (when they become legal 😁), please consider using my referral link below (click on the Octopus) as it will give each of us £50 off our Octopus bill.



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