Solar Panels Query

[Lightspeed]

An Idea RS:

I can understand completely that you do not want to start playing with the expensive installation that your landlord has installed. It could land you in trouble for damaging the property, or worse, killed if you start touching high voltage elements when they are live.

If I were you, I'd invest a deep cycle 12v accumulator, and a 240v to 12v smart charger ( the sort sold in Halfords to attach to garaged cars that are used infrequently.) Leave that plugged into your 240v PV assisted mains supply and you'll have as much back=up power as you want to invest in.

But you want to be able to use the PV array post TU, yes? So at the same time as setting up the 12v accumulator and charger, get yourself one of the Maplins 13w solar briefcases. They are about £50 and come with charge controller and various wire connectors. 13w isn't going to be much help after TU, but right now its a low power solar array that you can play with to understand how it works without risk to life and limb. It can also be used to solar trickle charge the 12v accumulator of course. The point is that you can learn from it how to rig up solar panels. This knowledge will allow you, when the time comes to have already kitted up in order to re-wire some of the high power panels on your roof the deliver the power you need.