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Guidance for plug in solar for Electricians

Alan B

We are now a few days from plug in solar being legal. The likes of Martin Lewis is recommending people should ask an electrician to check their installation before plugging a solar system in.

I have seen various comments referring back to changes in the law and changes to the specification for a 13A plug.

But I haven't seen any guidance from IET, NAPIT or NICEIC for electricians stating under what conditions it's acceptable to plug one of these systems in.

Personally as it stands today based on what I have seen I would not be willing to say iny installation is acceptable unless it was a single socket on it's own circuit protected by a bidirectional type A RCBO. Which I am sure isn't what the government wants.

Have I missed something, is something in the pipline?

I know lots of people will just do it, but in those situations I am not responsible.

  • 0 in reply to John Peckham

    CE marked equipment is perfectly fine.

  • 0 in reply to Steve Nixon76

    Do CE marked plug in PV systems meet the UK specification?

  • 0 in reply to John Peckham

    The Competent Person's schemes only register "Enterprises",  

    ...
    If you want to find a competent electrician..

    Indeed, the man on the doorstep with the screwdriver and box of tools may be superb, or a total 'cowboy' , but I fear it was ever thus.

    There are some things to look out for like the horse droppings on the front lawn, the patterned leather boots and Stetson hat, but absence of  these is not a fully reliable indicator. Oddly I was thinking something like this last night enjoying a beer watching an old Porter Wagoner interview on a tribute to Dolly Parton programme on the telly. 

    Which begs the question where I should go to find a competent electrical and electronics engineer.... 

    Joking aside, it will be interesting to see what if anything other organisations recommend in due course.
    Very few devices seem to  have gained ENA approval to be plugged in, compared to the vast range on sale,  far more applicants seem to be failing, but its not clear on what parameter(s).

    I may hold off on buying something to play with home  until the dust settles and manufacturers learn what to make.
    M.

  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip

    That is part of the problem, CE parts are not necessarily OK, or at least they have not been tested to the UK interim standard, and if they were, they may or may not meet it - the no of devices that are models already sold in Europe that are failing to meet the UK registration requirements is significant. I suspect they are EMC failures rather than safety ,but it would be good to know.
    Mike

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    Argos have more or less the same, but its a 9 week delivery period, so they don't really exist in quantity yet.
    They are also about twice the price of the German equivalent.

    Mike.

  • 0

    The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (2026) have produced a product specification (Plug-in Solar Device Interim Product Specification Version 2.0, July 2026) which outlines the requirements for the PV panels and the respective electrical installation. It's probably a good starting place to have a review of that document.

  • 0

    In respect of the MC 4 Type plugs and sockets are connectors so should comply with BS EN 62852: 2015+A1 2020 or BS EN 62852 in accordance with 712. 526.10 for fixed installtions.

    As for marking if the item that needs marking is to small the indication of compliance can  go on a data sheet or packaging for the item in question.

    It is unlikely that CE marking would apply because that is the European standard and these plug in solar devices will need to comply with the DZNEZ interim standard.

    The ENA have issued an updated G98 standard that now includes plug in solar, I am waiting for my copy to be sent to  me. Not having seen the updated standard I am thinking these new plug in solar inverters will need to be type tested for compliance with the new G98?

    JP

  • 0 in reply to Spencer Walburn

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a60a03c47af652afa0c89f5/plug-in-solar-final-_interim-product-specification.pdf for those that haven't stumbled on it already.

       - Andy.

  • 0 in reply to John Peckham

    No need to wait The August version of the G98 and much other updated Dcode stuff can be downloaded by anyone right now. 
    Head over to https://www.ena-eng.org/ena-docs/index  and login, or if you dont have an account register, then login.
    Once logged in click on the Dcode header and add to basket as many free docs as you wish to read, My choices are highlighted here, yours may differ. 

    As those ones are free, when you head to ' view  basket' then confirm order and so on, they will be emailed to you  for free, after about a 5 min delay in my experience.  




    The new bit of G98 is mostly in the  annex. but odd references elsewhere 



    example.

    I suggest anyone interested takes a look at the actual document, there is a lot of misleading twaddle on some parts of the web at the moment.

    There is also a new "B2" form to be used to register new plug in systems, and a new unplugging form as well, the install form looks like the old B form, but removed the installer section and currently has a 'no more than one Plug-in Micro-generator is connected in my premises' clause, but I do wonder if that may well vanish or be replaced with 'per circuit'  in future updates to align with the DENZ guidance.

    rgds

    Mike.

  • 0 in reply to mapj1
    mapj1 said:
    They are also about twice the price of the German equivalent.

    Which easily covers the cost of a Schuko to BS 1363 adapter.

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