Step 5 of 6

Solar Panel Mounting and Wiring

Tick everything you need for a complete install. Panels, inverter and optional battery are already in your plan — this step covers the rest.

Roof mounting

The mounting system bears the structural load of your panels for 25+ years. Use a manufacturer's system designed for your tile type — do not improvise with generic hardware. K2 Systems and IronRidge are the most widely stocked in UK solar distributors and have kits sized for standard 10-panel arrays. Measure your rafter centres before ordering (usually 400 mm or 600 mm in UK homes).

DC wiring

Use H1Z2Z2-K (EN50618) rated 4 mm² or 6 mm² cable for all DC runs. Standard twin-and-earth or flex is not suitable — it lacks the UV stabilisation and DC voltage rating required. Use genuine Stäubli MC4 connectors; counterfeit MC4s from unnamed suppliers are a well-documented fire risk.

AC isolation and metering

BS 7671 requires a double-pole AC isolator between the inverter and the consumer unit. If you plan to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments, your energy supplier will require a MID-certified generation meter — fit it now rather than retrofitting later.

Roof mounting kit

IronRidge

XR100 Rail Kit (10-panel)

~£245

Heavy-duty aluminium rail system for 10 panels. Designed for high wind loads — suited for exposed sites.

Renusol

Console+ Kit (8-panel)

~£320

Flat-roof ballast mounting system for 8 panels. No roof penetrations — weighted in place.

K2 Systems

In-Roof System (8-panel)

~£380 (8-panel kit)

Integrated in-roof mounting — panels replace roof tiles rather than sitting on top. Cleaner finish, lower profile, and saves on tiles under the array.

Renusol

Console+ Flat Roof Kit (10-panel)

~£420 (10-panel kit)

Ballasted flat-roof mounting for 10 panels. No roof penetrations — gravity holds the system. Suitable for felt, asphalt, and EPDM flat roofs.

K2 Systems

BasicRail On-Roof Kit (10-panel)

~£195

K2 Systems on-roof rail kit for 10 panels. Aluminium rails on standard hook mounts for tile or slate roofs. German-engineered, stocked UK-wide.

Cables & accessories

Hager

32A AC Isolator (double pole)

£32

Double-pole 32A AC isolation switch for the inverter AC output. Required by BS 7671.

Midnite Solar

DC Circuit Breaker 20A (pair)

£24 (pair)

DC-rated circuit breakers for string overcurrent protection. Pair of 20A, DC-rated to 600V.

Prysmian

Solar DC Cable 6mm² (10m)

£28 per 10m

EN50618/H1Z2Z2-K rated 6mm² twin-core DC solar cable. UV-stabilised, rated to 1.8kV DC.

Stäubli

MC4 Solar Connectors (10 pairs)

£18 for 10 pairs

Genuine Stäubli MC4 connector pairs — the industry-standard DC solar connector. 10 pairs.

Elster

MID-Certified Generation Meter

£55

MID-certified single-phase generation meter. Required for Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) applications.

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