Depth for buried DC cables

[Mr Punter]

11 minutes ago, Beelbeebub said:

you get no points for batteries.

 

If that is the case, make no provision for them.  Do not suggest to tenants that they are authorised to install batteries.  A world of liability for you.

[-rick-]

So these properties are all owned by a single person with no plan to sell separately? If you wish to preserve an easy option to sell separately it sounds a fair bit more complex than otherwise.

 

If operating as a pooled resource there may be options to get more efficiency out of the system. (Multi-tenant inverters exist, someone posted a link here recently).

[Beelbeebub]

2 hours ago, -rick- said:

So these properties are all owned by a single person with no plan to sell separately? If you wish to preserve an easy option to sell separately it sounds a fair bit more complex than otherwise.

 

If operating as a pooled resource there may be options to get more efficiency out of the system. (Multi-tenant inverters exist, someone posted a link here recently).

Yes, no plans to sell.

 

I've looked at the multi tenant systems (solshare or something). They are pretty pricey (5-10k) and have 15 outputs (5 x 3phases) so make the most sense in blocks of flats.

 

2 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

 

If that is the case, make no provision for them.  Do not suggest to tenants that they are authorised to install batteries.  A world of liability for you.

That is the most hard nosed approach but the benefit to the tenants is much more limited - especially with lower export rates.

[JohnMo]

22 minutes ago, Beelbeebub said:

especially with lower export rates

If MCS or octopus approved why not higher export rates, they are not limited to 3-4p kWh.

[JohnMo]

3 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

 

If that is the case, make no provision for them.  Do not suggest to tenants that they are authorised to install batteries.  A world of liability for you.

You don't need to, plug in batteries are almost here, if they want batteries they will have them like it or not.

[Beelbeebub]

22 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

If MCS or octopus approved why not higher export rates, they are not limited to 3-4p kWh.

I was thinking of the higher rates!

 

They were 15p, now 12p

 

And I suspect they will keep falling as solar generation gets more and more common.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/02/solar-powers-record-share-britain-electricity-july

 

 

[Roger440]

On 02/08/2026 at 09:38, Beelbeebub said:

In favour hybrid systems so the battery generally needs to be next to the inverter.

 

I

It does? That is info that has passed my by.

 

Im unclear why the battery would know or care if the inverter is 5 or 100m away?

 

Whilst theres no batteries in my immediate future, longer term its likely.

[Beelbeebub]

51 minutes ago, Roger440 said:

It does? That is info that has passed my by.

 

Im unclear why the battery would know or care if the inverter is 5 or 100m away?

 

Whilst theres no batteries in my immediate future, longer term its likely.

Sorry I wasn't clear.

 

They don't normally need to be close though some of the sleek all in one type obviously do!

 

This was in the context of a long DC cable run from panels to inverter (and battery)

 

There was a suggestion about putting the inverter next to the panels and running the underground cable in AC.

 

If we used AC coupled batteries they could then be at the house connected via AC 

 

But a hybrid connects to the inverter over a DC line so if the batteries are to be at the house i'd need a DC line from the inverter by the panels to the house alongside the AC line from the inverter to the house!

 

Which defeats the object of putting the inverter by the panels (to avoid a buried DC cable) in the first place 😁

[Dillsue]

1 hour ago, Roger440 said:

It does? That is info that has passed my by.

 

Im unclear why the battery would know or care if the inverter is 5 or 100m away?

 

Whilst theres no batteries in my immediate future, longer term its likely.

The battery wouldn't care if the inverter is 5 or 100m away but your wallet would when you buy the connecting cable. Our battery comes with 50mm2 cables for a 1.5m run