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Solar · Fitting

What electrical protection comes with a solar system?

Short answer

Expect DC isolation for the panels, an AC isolator and a dedicated circuit at the consumer unit, clear labels, and a generation meter you can read without tools. MCS says surge protection must be fitted unless you accept the risk, and any arc-fault detection in the inverter must be switched on.

Last checked 24 September 2026 · 2 sources

In more detail

  • MIS 3002 5.3.3 SPD; 5.6.7 AFD; 5.7 metering and 48-hour fault notification; BS 7671 Section 712.
  • BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 published 15 April 2026; previous edition withdrawn ~15 October 2026; new battery chapter.

The facts, dated

  1. 01
    BS 7671 Amendment 4 publication date — 2026-04-15

    standard · UK · checked 24 September 2026 · IET

  2. 02
    AC voltage drop of about 1% considered practicable for most domestic installs — 1 %

    standard · UK · checked 24 September 2026 · MCS

Sources

Last checked: 24 September 2026