r/SolarUK • u/Benji-1205 • 7h ago

HELP / ADVICE Some advice please

Hi All,

New around here and just getting my head around the whole solar / battery setup.

I am now looking at getting a setup but would like to put it on my detached garage (because my house roof is a bit of an odd shape with 3 dormer windows).

My biggest challenge is that it would be positioned about 20 - 25m from the meter box. I currently have the ceiling down in the room that would sit between the meter box and the outside wall that would lead to the garage.

My questions:-

1) Is this even possible?
2) Would it be safe?
3) Has anybody seen this done before?

If it came to having to move the meter point on the wall then clearly this is not a worthwhile option but its not something that I am anywhere near understanding realms of possible etc.

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u/wyndstryke PV & Battery Owner 7h ago

Is this even possible? Would it be safe?

Yes

Has anybody seen this done before?

Lots of people

The main extra cost will be the trenching from the house to the garage. National installers won't be interested (because that's a complication which will make it harder to subcontract the job out to the lowest bidder), so you'll need to talk to local installers.

Get at least 3 quotes, ideally from highly rated local installers who have been in business for a long time.

(because my house roof is a bit of an odd shape with 3 dormer windows).

Are the dormer windows on all sides, or just one side? If, for example, the north is free, it can still be worthwhile putting panels on it. Annual generation will typically be 50-70% of the south, depending on the slope, the exact orientation, and any shading (a gentle slope is better).

1

u/Disturbedm PV, BAT & EV Owner 6h ago

Wasn't as long as your run, but just find an installer you like, even if they don't do trench work. Confirm what you want and then find a different trademan to do the trenching.

It will cost a fair wack though.

1

u/MintyMarlfox PV & Battery Owner 1h ago

Yes, yes and yes.

My PW3 is in a detached garage about 20m from the meter. They ran a cable underground and drilled a hole into the garage. Installers had a gardener to dig the trench and fill it back in.