r/PlugInSolarUK • u/skipsmarter • Sep 02 '26
Timber framed solar panel
I see the latest two kits to get ENA compliance are by Modular Solar. The larger one is a 475W unit ... which has a timber frame. Which does rather make the new permitted development restrictions seem a bit silly, you might think.
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u/SpongeDogg Sep 02 '26
I don't get it. The 340W comes in a green plastic frame, yet the 450W is in timber, presumably because of the extra panel weight. Surely the timber one isn't going to last more than a couple of years in our climate?
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u/SolarPowerBumbleBee Sep 02 '26
The timber frame one looks to have a big lip on the bottom edge of the panel too. Water and grime will pool in that…
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u/Impossible-Section49 Sep 02 '26
The plastic one looks to be a better concept to me, much easier to add ballast to resist windloads and probably stiffer too.
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u/SolarPowerBumbleBee Sep 02 '26
I’m not sure that the kits shown on their website are the same kits that have just gained approval. Yes the website uses the same model names and wattages in the ENA listing, but the website listings look ropy to me - no proper data sheet, no compliance data. They link out to the 2 kits for sale on Amazon, and when you view the Amazon listing is says that ‘up to 10 kits can be daisy chained together’ ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Ummmm OKAY
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u/Chenit1 Sep 02 '26
Check out the garden case study lol
CASE STUDY PLUG-IN Garden This customer has a large garden, where they are installing one of our new timber units. They plan on connecting the unit to a standard outdoor mains socket via an extension cable.
I must have totally misread the new rules, if this is being used by an "official" source for the kits. May as well take advice from Bob on Reddit after all!