Responding to the roll out of plug-in solar panels, Luke Osborne, Technical Director at Electrical Safety First, said: "Plug-in solar panels send electricity in the opposite direction in your property’s wiring. Whilst many modern homes may be able to enjoy this technology safely, we still have concerns plug-in solar panels may damage older devices in people's homes which protect people from electric shock, known as RCDs. Because of this, it is our view that not every home will currently be suitable for plug-in solar. We urge households to ensure they have an RCD suitable for this technology and to consult a competent electrician if they are unsure if they have the right protections in place in their home."
ENDS
The charity's five points on households reducing their risk can be found below:
1. Not every home is currently suitable for plug-in solar
Given unresolved concerns about the potential impact of plug-in solar panels on certain RCDs, we recommend households have at least a Type A bidirectional RCD protecting circuits intended for use with plug-in solar panels. Until these concerns are addressed, homes with Type AC RCDs should not use plug-in solar systems without first upgrading to a minimum Type A bidirectional RCD on those circuits.
2. Have your electrics checked before you buy
Don't assume 'plug-in' means it's suitable for every home. Electrical Safety First recommends that households have their electrical installation assessed by a competent electrician registered with a competent persons scheme before purchasing or using a plug-in solar system, particularly in older properties or where the condition of the electrical installation and type of protective devices is unknown.
3. Never connect plug-in solar through extension leads or adapters
Plug-in solar systems should not be connected via extension leads, cable reels, multiway adaptors, travel adaptors or plug-in RCD adaptors. These accessories can overheat, become overloaded and create additional safety risks.
4. Buy from reputable retailers and avoid third-party sellers via online marketplaces
Given the size of these devices, it is likely many shoppers will seek to purchase them online. We urge shoppers to stick to reputable high street retailers and their online websites to ensure the device they are buying is safe and meets the new interim product specification. We advise households to avoid buying these devices from third-party sellers on online marketplaces, no matter how appealing this may be, as these platforms are currently not legally responsible for the safety of goods sold via their sites, exposing people to substandard versions that may put you and your home at risk.
5. One home, one device
Only one plug-in solar panel system is permitted per household. Installing multiple units could reduce the effectiveness of protective devices.
On background:
- A newly published guide to households on reducing their risk when considering plug-in solar can be found in full on the charity's website here: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/products-and-appliances/green-energy/plug-in
- The charity is concerned the reverse flow of electricity sent into a property wiring by plug-in solar may damage or 'burn out' older, type AC, RCD's. RCD's, known as residual current devices, are protective devices in homes that kick in rapidly in the event a person comes into contact with the electricity supply such as from drilling through a wire during DIY or by going over a cable with a lawn mower. If an RCD becomes damaged it may not operate when needed or as effectively as it should.
- The charity is urging households to ensure they have an RCD capable of handling the electricity flow of plug-in solar that will be fed into a home’s wiring in the opposite direction. The recommended minimum protection the charity is recommending households check they have is a Type A bidirectional RCD.
- Concerns were first outlined in a published report by the charity earlier this year. In response the Government published a safety study into the issue which the charity felt was too limited in its scope and did not fully assess the negative impact plug-in solar may have on older style RCDs in homes, devices that are designed to protect against electric shock. In light of this the charity has published its advice to households on reducing their risk when considering plug-in solar here: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/products-and-appliances/green-energy/plug-in