Solar system guides

Battery chemistry, BMS operation, charge cycles, round-trip efficiency, SoC vs DoD, AC/DC coupling, and why systems degrade over time. The technical foundation behind every battery fault.

What a current transformer does, why a backwards CT clamp causes battery not to charge, how to perform the kettle test, single vs three-phase, and when to call an engineer.

DC to AC conversion, MPPT tracking, anti-islanding protection, grid frequency response, and what happens inside the inverter when the grid voltage drops.

Where to position grid, generation, and EV CT clamps when your home has solar, a battery, and an EV charger. The three configurations, Henley block solution, and how to test your setup.

Why your system shuts down during a power cut even with a battery, what anti-islanding is, EPS vs UPS, how island mode works, and what you can realistically power from a battery.

What to check when your solar or battery system is being installed — roof penetrations, cable labelling, inverter location, commissioning tests, and the documentation you must receive. MCS 3002, 3012, BS 7671 referenced.

Why DNOs set export limits, what G98 and G99 require, how inverters enforce limits using CT clamp data, and what happens when the limit is misconfigured.

How SEG works, which tariffs are available, what your system needs to qualify, and how to check you're being paid the correct amount for your solar exports.

Settings resets, stalled updates, version incompatibility, and bricked hardware — what can go wrong when updating inverter or battery firmware, and how to recover.

Which grid connection standard applies to your system, how Fast Track G99 works, timelines, and what to do if DNO registration was never completed.

How data flows from your panels to your phone, what the key portal figures mean, why monitoring goes offline, and how to access it after buying a house with solar.

How Flux's three-period day works, whether it is worth switching, how to configure every major inverter brand, and what to do when the BST clock shift breaks your schedule.

Can you replace old panels with higher wattage modules and keep your Feed-in Tariff? Yes — Ofgem confirmed it. How payments are pro-rated, the step-by-step process, and when it makes financial sense.

Step-by-step shutdown and restart procedure for maintenance, emergencies, or roof work. AC and DC isolation sequence, battery shutdown, and brand-specific notes for all major inverters.

What fault codes mean, where to find them, how to read error logs, and when a code means you need an engineer vs when you can fix it yourself. All brands covered.

How to size battery capacity, solar array, and backup generator for a UK off-grid property. Load profiling, days of autonomy, seasonal irradiance, and common oversizing mistakes.

How LiFePO4 capacity drops in cold weather, low-temperature charge cutoffs, UK winter performance data, thermal management strategies, and how to prevent cold-temperature charging damage.

Generator sizing, auto-start SoC thresholds, AC input current limits, charge profile settings, runtime balance, and Victron MultiPlus AC coupling — for reliable off-grid operation year-round.