Guide

How to install plug-in solar

A compliant plug-in solar kit takes 1–3 hours to fit, mostly depending on the mounting. The electrical side is simple when the kit is designed properly. The safety rules still matter, because BS 7671 Amendment 4 is not a suggestion.

Before anything else: only a compliant kit can be installed

From 27 August 2026, only devices listed as Compliant on the ENA Connect Direct register can be plugged into the grid in Great Britain. Check your exact model on the register before you start, and again before you buy if you have not already. A self-assembled combination of parts is not a registered device — component certifications do not add up to a certified kit. See our compliant kits guide.

1–3 hrs

typical install time

13 A

normal plug-in socket

28 days

to notify your network

Before you start

  • Check the panel location gets direct sun for most of the day. South-facing is best; east or west works with lower output.
  • Check whether the consumer unit has a spare way if you plan to use a dedicated breaker, which is better than a 13 A socket for a permanent fit.
  • Verify the kit is listed as Compliant on the ENA Connect Direct register. The retailer should list it; the register is the source of truth.
  • Check you have permission if you rent, lease, or share a freehold.
  • Use proper access equipment for roof work above ground level.

Step-by-step installation

  1. Mount the panels.Use the kit's brackets to secure the panels to a balcony rail, ground frame, or roof hook. Aim for 30–40° tilt facing south. Make sure the mounting can take wind load; panels make poor sails, but only after they have tried being sails.
  2. Route the cable. Keep the run from panels to inverter as short as the kit allows, secured clear of walkways.
  3. Plug in. Connect the inverter to a socket on a ring circuit close to the consumer unit. Avoid extension leads.
  4. Fit the label.Put the supplied warning label at the consumer unit saying an embedded generator is connected. This is a BS 7671 requirement, and the kit ships with the label.
  5. Energise and check.The microinverter should synchronise with the grid within 60 seconds. Check the status light or app to confirm generation.
  6. Notify your electricity network within 28 days. Generate the G98 form at pluginsolarform.co.uk/g98 and send it by the checked email or portal route for your confirmed network.
  7. Register for SEG if you want export payments. Apply to a SEG-licensed supplier. See our SEG registration walkthrough.

Safety checklist

  • Do not exceed 800 VA or 16 A per phase.
  • Do not put more than one inverter on a single ring circuit without asking a qualified electrician.
  • Use an inverter with anti-islanding protection (all G98 type-tested inverters have this).
  • Keep DC connectors clean and dry — never disconnect MC4 connectors under load.
  • If the wiring is not obvious to you, bring in a Part P registered electrician.

For the fuller safety pass, use the plug-in solar safety checklist alongside the steps here.

Installation FAQs

Do I need an electrician to install plug-in solar?

Not for a normal 13 A plug-in kit. If you want the inverter wired through a dedicated consumer-unit breaker, get a qualified electrician involved. Same if the job puts you on a roof. You can self-certify a plug-in kit under Amendment 4, but only if you actually understand what you are signing off.

Can I plug solar into any socket?

Technically, yes. In practice, use a socket on a ring circuit close to the consumer unit, because long cable runs are not your friend. Do not use a radial circuit rated below 16 A. Avoid long extension leads. Amendment 4 recommends labelling the socket or breaker as a generation connection point.

Do I need a smart meter for plug-in solar?

Only if you want SEGexport payments. Without a SEG-capable smart meter, the system still works and still saves money on power you use at home. You just won't be paid for exported units. Most UK smart meters installed since 2021 are SEG-compatible, but ask your supplier to confirm.

What happens if I exceed 800 VA?

Systems above 800 VA, or 16 A per phase, fall under G99. That means prior network approval before you connect. Connecting a G99-scale system without approval breaches the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations. For the comparison, see the G99 vs G98 guide. If you want more than 800 VA, consider a conventional MCS-certified installation.

Can I take plug-in solar with me if I move house?

Yes. That is one of the better arguments for it. You can unplug the inverter, detach the panels, and reinstall at a new address. You will need a new G98 notification for the new address, and you may need to update SEG registration if the supplier or tariff changes.

Fitted it? Now the paperwork.

You have 28 days from switching on to notify your electricity network. The G98 generator takes about five minutes and it all runs in your browser.

Generate your G98 form →