BotusBuild

We have a sloping ceiling in our open plan living area. Over the kitchen island we have 3 pendant lights that hang down. Each cable is about 1m. At each end of the cable there is a "grommet" on the fitting (i.e. at the ceiling rose, and the light "socket") that has a plastic grommet screw that holds the cable - these take the strain of the weight than the cable screws inside the fittings.

Hi Mark, That was me, which i corrected with the reference to the Carwow article. But that charger you mention sounds interesting. If it does turn out to work with non-V2H cars that could be a boost to this option.

One of the AI responses stated that an RCD was required. More research required on that point, and its something that I would require the charger installer to specify.

I should have known that as another member who has the same car prompted me to investigate this idea. Update on compatible cars and chargers. I found this article this morning. Far more cars and some info on which chargers https://www.carwow.co.uk/editorial/going-electric/ev-charging/what-is-bidirectional-charging

Bidirectional Charger Availability in the UK Bidirectional chargers are expected to become available in the UK during 2026, with the first commercial launches expected in the second half of the year. However, availability will be gradual and limited initially. Nissan's 2026 Launch Nissan has announced it will launch affordable bidirectional charging on selected electric vehicles starting in 2026, with the UK as the first market. This is significant because Nissan has already achieved G99 Grid code certification with an AC-based solution, which is required to supply electricity to the UK national energy grid. The company aims to price its AC bidirectional charger comparably to a standard mono-directional charger available today, making it more accessible than previous estimates. Other Manufacturers Enphase Energy has announced its IQ Bidirectional EV Charger will be available globally in the second half of 2026. This DC-based charger delivers up to 11.5 kilowatts of bidirectional power and includes features like "black start" backup capability for powering homes during outages. Current Barriers in the UK Despite the promising timeline, the UK still faces regulatory and technical challenges. Current smart charging legislation doesn't fully accommodate bidirectional charging yet, and there are complications around: Standardisation of communication protocols between chargers and vehicles Tax and regulatory implications for selling electricity back to the grid Integration with existing electricity grid infrastructure The bottom line: While chargers are coming to market in 2026, widespread availability will likely take time. Early adopters may see options from Nissan and other manufacturers, but it will be a gradual rollout rather than an immediate, universal availability.

That didn't take long Explore More What are the minimum battery levels required for V2H operation? The minimum battery levels required for V2H operation vary by vehicle and charger, but most systems allow you to set a minimum state of charge to prevent draining the battery too low. Typically, you can set this between 20% and 30% to ensure you have enough power for driving. Check your specific EV and charger's manual for exact settings.

Sort of .... In case anyone was wondering, as I was, the following 5 vehicles support Vehicle to Home (V2H):- Hyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Kia EV9 Nissan Leaf Cupra Born You do need a bi-directional charger as well. With most car batteries seeming to have more capacity than your standard home solar batteries, and if you are considering one of the above cars anyway, then a bi-directional should be a no brainer decision IMHO. Except, they do not yet appear to be available in the UK 😞 - see later post. Further investigation required to see if there is an auto cut off feature for when the battery gets down to a preset level, say 20%.

I think so, especially if @Nickfromwales has done something close to what I have described 😀

Our soil pipes are in the compacted type 803 and sand blinding. A 1m length close to one of the stack foots comes up about 20-30mm into the 250mm insulation.

Ours is mounted on an offcut of 2x6 that has multiple fixings into our ICF external walls. Located in the plant room.

We did the same as the last two posters. Standard buildings and contents insurance, no completion cert yet

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It's a garage - I don't think this is of much concern in this situation 🙂

All the buildhubbers who are classic car owners are now gnashing their teeth (incl me) 🙂

FYI - It is not unheard of for sloping roof trusses needing to be strengthened when PV panels are fitted, so based on @TedM's findings I would be looking to add extra wood to the existing timbers. A friendly SE's input would not go amiss in this situation, especially as you are talking about ballast systems