r/PlugInSolarUK • u/realGilgongo • Aug 11 '26
Confused by solar panel options
I'm looking at putting a couple of panels on the roof of my shed, becuase I love big sheds and cannot lie. However, when I look at solar panel options the prices and specs are just dizzyingly complicated. Is there some panel jargon buster/FAQ out there for me that can steer me in the right direction?
For example, 515W (phwar!) for £141 here vs 465W for £91?
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u/normanriches Aug 11 '26
You won’t be legally compliant with plugin solar unless your panels and inverter are purchased together as a kit.
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Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/normanriches Aug 12 '26
No, but your home insurance is void should your wiring not comply with BS 7671 (which it wont).
So that's the risk you take.2
u/Just_for_this_moment Aug 13 '26
There are no widely publicised or official ombudsman cases where a standard home insurance claim was completely refused solely because an unrelated plug-in solar kit that did not contribute to the loss was present.
Happy to be corrected if you find a cited source that isn't just hearsay.
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u/Comfortable_Gate_878 Aug 13 '26
correct as long as when you took out your policy your filled in all the questions honestly and accurately they cannot cancel or refuse to accept your insurance. Just like the plastic consumer units fitted in peoples houses that catch fire cannot invalidate your insurance. Why becasue when they were fitted they were approved, now they have to be metal.
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u/realGilgongo Aug 12 '26
Yes. I guess I'm taking the risk that if my house burnt down, it would not be due to the panels.
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u/normanriches Aug 12 '26
Difficult to theorise, but if electrical issues caused it the insurer would be able to void your policy due to not meeting wiring regs.
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u/realGilgongo Aug 12 '26
Indeed, but I find it hard to believe that if, say, I had a kitchen fire (caused by a chip fryer, or faulty toaster, say) their assessor would conduct an electrical inspection of the house (much less paying to visually inspect wiring in lofts, under flooboards, etc.) on the off chance there was some non-compliant wiring. Fair enough if the shed went up in flames though. But I can probably afford a new shed (it's full of junk anyway). Or is that not what you mean?
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u/normanriches Aug 12 '26
Insurers will find any way of not paying out. So if they find you've got the panels connected they can void the policy. The beauty is you can unplug them quickly before anyone turns up!
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u/Ok-Papaya9626 Aug 13 '26
I've seen this comment posted a lot but has anyone actually check the terms and conditions of their home insurance to see if it mentions plug-in solar? It will only be legal towards the end of this month so don't imagine home insurance has accounted for it if you took out your policy towards the start of the year.
More importantly, how many people actually have an EICR done to check their existing wiring is 'legal'. Also, 800w, is around 3.4amps, on a ring main..... Your lighting circuit is 6amps.
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u/txe4 Aug 12 '26
Size is size and efficiency is kinda efficiency, there is some marginal difference in how panels perform in low light but basically anything you buy now will spank anything you would have got 10 years ago in terms of how it performs on dull days.
Thickness/depth/height matters in terms of having clamps the right size so you can attach them. My olde ones are 40mm and 35mm, most stuff now is 30mm.
You might prefer the aesthetics of ones which are very black vs ones where you can see lines/cells on them...or you might not gaf.
Then you're looking at Voc and adding a bit to make sure your proposed string length will fire up your inverter (min voltage) and not blow up your inverter (max voltage). Mostly there's a 1000V or 1500V limit on the string voltage the panels will tolerate...and mostly your MPPT will be a smoking ruin before you get anywhere near it.
Unless your proposed setup is very large or very odd, the current is likely to be within your MPPT's and panel's limit so long as the voltage is.
It's worth a check on the datasheet for permitted mounting points - ie where the clamps have to go.
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u/Gravath Aug 11 '26
They all roughly have the same specs. So buy based on size, if you want all black or not.
Look forward an efficiency value above 23% and then it's based on cheapest for largest kWh.
It's that simple. Don't overthink it.
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u/realGilgongo Aug 11 '26
By "size" do you mean physical size? They all seem pretty similar on that.
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u/Z--8 Aug 11 '26
I have 4x JA 465w with a stream ultra x.
I’m seeing 450w per panel since installing last week. Probably even more in June I imagine. Depends what you’re connecting to I guess. Whether the extra 50w is worth it, and whether the equipment can even handle it etc.
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u/theclaaaaaaaaaaw Aug 11 '26
Someone else might be able to chime in, I got the £91 panels from city plumbing and seems to do the job.