I’m currently in the middle of reviewing the Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 Pro: an integrated battery and inverter. Due to current UK laws, this device can’t currently be self-installed, as it contains a battery, although that looks set to change in the future.
Even so, the Solarbank 4 Pro is a good indicator of the types of systems that will be available, most likely from next year.
As I’ve already got a full roof-mounted solar system, I had the Solarbank 4 Pro installed with four solar panels on the roof of my garden office, as I wanted it to be indicative of the kind of installation that you might carry out by yourself.
Having the system professionally installed in that location has taught me a few things about plug-in solar, and has made me think that pro installation is the better option, at least for some components. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Panel placement is key
With professionally installed solar panels, you get a quote that shows how much solar power you’re likely to generate based on the number and type of panels, and their position. That helps you make sensible decisions and confirms whether or not your solar panels are in the right place.
After that, it’s important to get the solar panels aligned correctly to get the maximum amount of sunshine. Trying to get solar panels installed correctly on a flat roof or in a garden isn’t particularly easy, particularly if you want the best solar capture. I’m much happier that someone with knowledge installed my panels properly.
To maximise solar generation, I’d seriously consider having it all done properly, with the panels correctly aligned. And, for any installation, you want to make sure that high winds won’t move your panels.
It could be different if you’ve got a balcony that gets a good amount of sunlight, and you want to attach a couple of lightweight panels. That should be an easier job with not much to think about, bar making sure that your lease allows you to do such a job and that you’re confident that you can secure the panels.
Think about isolation
When there’s sunlight, solar panels output power. With a professional installation, you’ll have cut-off switches installed. These allow you to isolate the panels and inverter/battery, so you can effectively shut the power off in an emergency or because you want to work on the system, such as installing an additional battery.
A professional installation will also ensure your wiring is correct and protected. If you do it yourself, you’ll likely end up with no cut-off switches, so the cables from the panels will be permanently live.
You’ll need a smart meter
To monitor your home load so your system can automatically load balance (that is, the battery can charge when there’s excess solar, and feed in power when demand requires it), you need a smart meter. This monitors your home load and, in my case, the solar generation from the roof-mounted system. With the smart meter, my Solarbank 4 Pro charges itself when there’s enough solar power, and the battery feeds in up to 2500W when the house is using a lot of power.
Fitting the smart meter in required a bit of shifting around of the consumer unit, something that I would not be comfortable doing. At the least, you’ll want an electrician for this part.
DIY is still an option
All of this isn’t to say that you can’t self-install solar, but it’s not just as simple as plugging in a few panels and off you go. If you’re not sure how much sunlight you’ll get, where you can install panels, how many you can install, how much power you’ll generate, and if your wiring is up to it, then get a professional on the case to do it right.
If you get a system properly installed, the results can be impressive. Before I had the Solarbank 4 Pro installed, when I last went on holiday in August when there was a lot of sunlight, a solar-only installation meant that I used around 28kWh of power in a week with the house empty.
Going away at the end of October, with fewer hours of sunlight (although some sunny days), my power consumption for the week was just over 14kWh. That’s almost half the power consumption during a period with shorter daylight hours.
