CurlyParakeet 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦1d ago

I have a question about plug in solar panels 🙋‍♀️

Looking the ones available in Europe, the idea seems to be solar panels -> micro inverter-> plug into wall.

I feel like I’m missing something fundamental about household circuits. Why / how does plugging a power source into a normal plug socket work? And second question, would it work the same in the UK?

#solar #fediAsk #question

Show threadKeith1d ago
@CurlyParakeet It sends electricity through your ring main and your appliances use that before they start drawing from the grid apparently. My question is, if this is possible, which it seems to be, then why only now?
Show threadSeanBurlington 🌈 🕊️1d ago

@keefeglise @CurlyParakeet

Either "for safety reasons" or "because of industry lobbying" depending what you believe

Show threadKeith1d ago
@sean @CurlyParakeet I'm probably more comfortable with if it's the latter!
Show threadChloé Raccoon1d ago
@keefeglise @sean @CurlyParakeet @PetraPhoenix Also limitations: I have a 5.1kW array connected to a 3.85kW inverter.
A socket can handle 3.1kW.
Show threadCurlyParakeet 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦1d ago

@chloeraccoon

That’s much more than I expected!

Show threadChloé Raccoon

@CurlyParakeet BS1363 (ie: the UK socket/plug) is rated to run at 240V@13A, which is 3120W/3.1kW.
It's _safety_ rating is 250V@15A, or 3750watts/3.7kW.
So even in "normal" use, it can carry a lot of power, and there's still quite a large safety margin built in.

So for a smaller array, there is no different electrically from an array/inverter being wired in or plugged in.
That mine goes in via it's own breaker into the distribution board is more a requirement of how high the peak power is.
Now, legal allowances of what you are allowed to do may be different to the electrical spec!

Mar 27 at 5:35pmWeb