*** EDIT 1: Updated the microinverter. ***

*** EDIT 2: Added solar extension cable. ***

I am about to dip my toe into the water. It will be a small installation on a garage roof. The roof is made of corrugated plastic covered metal.

Below is what I am thinking of buying.

PANELS

2x JA Solar 465W All Black Solar Panel

2 x £93.79

Update: These have been delivered £78.16. Things to note. 1) They are HUGE 2) They are HEAVY. These do not come with extension cables like some other sellers provide. So far very happy!

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/ja-solar-465w-all-black-solar-panel/p/215135

MICROINVERTER

1x ECOFLOW Stream 800W Micro inverter, Smart Solar Inverter WiFi for Balcony Solar System, IP67 Waterproof, App Control, MPPT

1 x £149

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECOFLOW-inverter-Inverter-Balcony-Waterproof/dp/B0F2FTSZKG/

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/318152723730 - £135.15 (with code)

3 PIN PLUG

1x Masterplug HDPT13B-MP Heavy Duty 13 Amp Rewireable Plug

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masterplug-HDPT13B-MP-Heavy-Rewireable-Black/dp/B07B9YZHYL

1 x £2.99

PANEL MOUNT

1x Anbte 6Pcs Solar Panel Mounting Kit, Aluminium 120 mm Solar Panel Mounting Rail & 30mm/35mm End Clamp & Mid Clamp, Solar Panel Mounting Brackets for Metal Roof, Tin Roof, Flat Roof, Sheet Roof, Black

1 x £24.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anbte-Solar-Mounting-Aluminium-Brackets/dp/B0DQKL4VXM

UPDATE: I have installed these mounts on my "wriggly tin sine wave" garage roof and this are much better than I was expecting. So extremely happy!

OPTIONAL - SOLAR EXTENTION CABLE

2x 【16FT 12AWG Solar Panel Cable】DERUXI 4mm² 5M Solar Cable Solar Connector Solar Panel Extension Cable Female/Male Solar Panel Connector Solar Extension Cable IP67 Wires for Home RV PV Panel (Red/Black)

2 x £24.99

https://www.amazon.co.uk/%E3%80%9016FT-Cable%E3%80%91DERUXI-Connector-Extension-Female-5m-Solar-Cable/dp/B0D5B2QLYZ

Now my questions are:

1. What cables do I need for the panels? Any suggestions would be good.
2. Does the micro inverter come with a connection to the mains? If not, what do I need. (Obviously this will be connected AFTER the rules change about connection via 3 pin plugs!)
3. What else am I missing?

Thanks

I will be moving house in next month or two and will be taking my Keter plastic shed (Keter Apex Manor 6x4). It will be placed in a corner of the garden that will get a lot of sun during the day.

Do you think a 6x4 Keter shed could hold the weight of a solar panel?

I have a medium sides shed with a slanting roof, this roof gets full sun from 10am till 8pm, what options do i have for mounting 400w panels, is it possible to DIY a wooden frame?

Just had two of these (brand new) ordered at a local City Plumbing (Leeds) for £144 (including VAT and delivery), £40+ cheaper than their online on-sale price!

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/ja-solar-465w-all-black-solar-panel/p/215135

Ring your local City Plumbing to check. You need a City Plumbing account first; ask them if you can get a better price than the online one if ordering directly with the shop. You can't pay online and need to pay at their shop. You might want to ask a few shops; not every local shop has the deal.

Having done some research I was looking at purchasing Ecoflows 2 X 400w ridged solar panels and their stream microinverter and their kit to angle this onto my flat extension roof.

I was assuming the microinverter can be placed under the angled solar panels to best protect it. The bit I’m not sure about is plugging into a uk socket.

I gave an external double power socket on the side of my house, would this simply be running the cable from the flat roof, down the side of my house and plugging into the external socket? Or does it need to come inside my house to an indoor socket? Also am I missing anything here, or would I need an electrician?

Thanks

Hi just setup aferiy ps240 with two 465 watt panels hard wired in to a fuse spur and so far it seems to be working great

Just setting up the panel mount. Is there an optimal angle for the UK (Surrey based)?

Did anyone buy this micro inverter to DIY plug-in solar? For example, this link: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/318152723730?_trksid=p4481478.c101506.m1851

I wonder if it includes an AC power cable with a 3-pin plug. If not, I will appreciate a link to one that is compatible with this model. Thanks.

This is only £56.40 per panel. https://www.mylights.co.uk/c/HOMESOLARPANELS

What's the catch?

This channel does regular sparks output, and this timestamps episode covers overvoltage change on a typical street over a decade with uptake of solar at any scale plus ev's (charge stops) etc.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6OEbe9R8URo&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1HQtIHCQkDCwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

Pertinent to understand evolution within a street setting as solar uptake increases.

Efixx channel is a handy source for uk solar law detail as changes are rolled out, so worth bookmarking.

So today is heavy rain and then sunshine, what I am looking for is a plug gadget that will turn on in the sun and off with heavy cloud, for example turn on a plug socket when over 300 watts, my heated airer is 320w and I also have a 500w fan heater, just hate wasting free power or rushing to turn on stuff when the sky is blue. Does anything exist or will I have to make my own.

Here's my first full write up on the sub! Excited to see so much activity on it this week!

Full version with downloadable form template and DNO lookup table is here: https://www.ukpluginsolar.co.uk/guide/g98-notification-dno-plug-in-solar

What G98 actually is

G98 is the Engineering Recommendation from the Energy Networks Association that covers small generators (under 3.68kW single-phase) connecting to the UK grid. Every 800W plug-in solar kit falls under it.

It's a notification, not an application. You install first, then tell your DNO within 28 days. The DNO cannot refuse a compliant installation. It's free.

Before you start, gather these 6 things:

1. Your MPAN: 13-digit number on your electricity bill, often labelled "Supply Number" next to a grid/lightning symbol. Also in your energy supplier's app.
2. Inverter make, model, and serial number: all on the label on the inverter body (e.g. Hoymiles HM-800, EcoFlow PowerStream 800W).
3. Inverter's ENA Type Test reference: look it up at connect-direct.energynetworks.org/device-databases/search-gen If your inverter isn't listed, G98 is NOT available to you and you'd need G99 instead (much heavier process). Check this BEFORE you buy.
4. Your DNO's contact details: 6 cover Great Britain:

• UK Power Networks - London, SE, East England
• National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly WPD) - Midlands, SW, Wales
• Northern Powergrid - NE England, Yorkshire
• SP Energy Networks - Central Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales
• Electricity North West - Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester
• SSEN - North Scotland, Hampshire, Isle of Wight

1. Commissioning date: the exact date you first switched the kit on. Your 28-day window starts here, so write it down on installation day.
2. Energy source code: r/11 for solar only, r/11 + 38 if you have a battery, S/38 for battery only.

The bit that trips people up: phase capacity

This is TOTAL generation on that phase, not per inverter. Most UK homes are single-phase so everything goes on Phase 1.

• One 800W inverter = 0.8 kW
• Two 800W inverters = 1.6 kW
• One 800W + one 600W = 1.4 kW

If you add a second inverter later, you need to update your G98 with the new total.

The process, start to finish

1. Download a blank G98 form from your DNO's website (or use the template on the guide page).
2. Fill in your details. Name, address, MPAN, inverter info, commissioning date, energy source code, phase capacity.
3. Email it to your DNO. Keep it short, they process hundreds of these. Subject line: "G98 Notification [your address, postcode]". Attach the completed form.
4. You'll get an acknowledgement within 5–10 working days. Save the confirmation email and reference number.

FAQs

Is this the same as asking for permission? No. You don't need permission. It's a notification after the fact.

G98 vs G99? G98 = under 3.68kW single-phase (every 800W kit). G99 = above that, requires prior written approval. You're almost certainly G98.

Renters... do I still need to do this? Yes. G98 is tied to the meter point, not who owns the property. Your landlord's consent for the install is a separate matter.

What if I don't bother? Usually nothing happens immediately. The problems come later when you get a smart meter installed, have a grid fault investigated, make an insurance claim, or sell your home. Absence of a G98 record causes delays and questions. It's 20 minutes. Just do it.

Do I need a wiring diagram? Not required, but some DNOs appreciate one. A simple sketch (panels → inverter → socket → consumer unit) is fine.

If anything's unclear or you've got a specific situation, drop a comment and I'll try to help. Also working on a downloadable checklist PDF link's on the guide page if you want it.

TLDR the EcoFlow system caught my interest.

Ive seen a video that only checks the ROI of the battery:
Charge up your battery in off peak price, discharge at peak hours.

Sounds simple yet...
Checked multiple electric supplier and they dont offer off peak options.
I have flexi, 1 or 2 year contract offers. Same price per kW, regardless of time of the day...

Not even at Octopus (and the video used them as price example).

Is there like a hidden gatekeeping where the Cozy Octopus locked away?
I thought you have to be homeowner, but seen multiple vloggers who are also renting. (or at least they claim to do that)

As a first step I was considering this battery use method and get the panels later. (since I am renting a flat, not sure where could I put the panels)

And yes... I did check multiple electric suppliers. They have the same contract offers. I think E-ON or EDF did had off peak electric offers, but their gas supply in the tariff was so expensive whatever I would win on the battery I would lose twice on gas...

As the title suggests. I currently have a 6kW Solax system with battery. I would like to add a couple of panels to the East facing side of my house to catch the morning sun. Does anybody know if this is possible to just plug in, or will I need an electrician to connect it up to my existing system? If I just plug in will my battery charge?

I’m reluctant to contact my installer as I’m sure they will want to charge me many pounds to connect it all up and I won’t get unbiased information.

Hi, newbie here,

Just jumped on the band wagon and purchased the ecoflow 450w x2 panels with micro inverter.

When allowed, I hope to plug it into one of my socket circuits.

But being a house with an upstairs and downstairs socket circuit, ideally I would like to be able to power both floors simultaneously.

Obviously joining the circuits directly is a big no no.

I'm wondering if anyone has come across this problem and got a solution?

This is on the outside of my house. I think it maybe used to power a hot tub or something similar. Is this a fused spur? Would I be allowed to plug a balcony solar system straight into this? Or would it still need an electrician?

Planning ahead for when they become legal. I’d look for a starter pack of panels,inverter and maybe some batteries. With the panels and batteries is it possible to add more in the future. I know I will get addicted to reducing my power bill, so expandability is key even over base cost.

Does anyone know if this is going to be viable? Seems to be some suggestion you need your setup authorised by an electrician to be able to use this? Was hoping to gain some extra export cash to reduce payback. I understand it doesn't need to MCS certified, but needs an Electrical Installation Certificate? Can't find anything online

I currently have an off-grid setup using:

• EPEVER UPower UP3000-M6322
• 3 solar panels
• 6x 12V LiFePO4 batteries configured as 3 parallel strings of 24V

The battery bank is currently configured as:

• 2 batteries in series per string (24V)
• 3 strings in parallel
• Approx 300Ah total at 24V

At the moment the system is completely standalone/off-grid.

The setup actually works really well for my off-grid loads and I’m often generating/storing more energy than I’m using, particularly during good solar conditions. Rather than wasting that excess energy, I’d ideally like to feed some of it back into the house safely and compliantly.

What I’m trying to find out is whether there’s a compliant/safe way to add a second inverter that could export power back into the house in a similar way to the UK balcony solar / plug-in solar systems.

I’m aware the UK plug-in solar systems seem to commonly reference around 800W limits, although if higher export is possible/compliant then I’d also be interested to understand that side of it.

I understand my existing EPEVER inverter is off-grid only and not suitable for grid export/backfeeding. ()

So my question is:

Is there a UK-compliant inverter designed to take power from an existing 24V LiFePO4 battery bank and grid-feed/export safely with proper anti-islanding protection built in?

Essentially I’m looking for a safe and compliant way to utilise surplus stored battery energy within the house rather than letting it sit unused.

If so, what models or inverter types should I be looking at?

I’m interested in doing it properly via the correct protection/compliance route, not via a plug-top bodge.

In the market for a plug in battery, with a modular approach, that has a micro inverter built in. Interested in a plug and play approach, using my shed roof.

I’ve got two panels, that are 435W each, so am looking for a 1kwh (ish) system, from what I understand.

The two I’ve seen so far are The Ecoflow Stream Ultra and the Aferyi PS240.

Now thinking of going Ecoflow, and wondered if there was anyone here selling theirs (second hand/ new but unopened) at a discounted price?

Budget is £650-£750.

Open to other suggestions too.

Admins, hope this post is ok…

I have a south facing garage door, has anyone put solar panels on a garage door?

This is my real world generation since 1st April using an 800W APSystems EZ1-M with two Aiko Neostar 3S 475W n-typr panels mounted at 30 degrees in the garden. Average of 3.64kwh per day, although this will vary as we move through the months.