Installing a PureDrive PureStorage home battery: what the job involves

Video reference. "THE EASIEST HOME BATTERY TO INSTALL! || Puredrive Energy - Purestorage-II AC 10kWh" is from the Puredrive Energy YouTube channel. The video walks through a real UK installation of the PureStorage-II 10 kWh unit, showing the AC wiring, CT clamp fitting, and commissioning steps from a UK installer's perspective.

1. Assessing the consumer unit and available supply capacity

Before ordering the unit, the installer visits the property to check whether the consumer unit has a spare way for the new circuit. A clamp meter reading on the main tails during a busy early evening gives a realistic picture of peak import load. The cut-out fuse rating and the capacity of the supply cable from the meter are also checked: a 100A single-phase supply has plenty of headroom for a PureStorage-II on most domestic properties, but the calculation still needs to be done.

The installer also confirms the earthing arrangement. Most UK homes use PME (TN-C-S). The PureStorage-II is an AC-coupled inverter battery: it does not require a Type B RCD in the way an EV charger does, so on a board that already has full RCD protection a standard MCB is typically all that is needed on the new circuit.

2. Choosing and preparing the installation location

The PureStorage-II mounts on a solid wall in a dry, ventilated space. A garage, utility room or dedicated plant area all work well. The unit must not be exposed to direct sunlight, rain or temperatures outside the manufacturer's specified operating range. The position is also influenced by how the AC supply cable and CT clamp cable will be routed: a short cable run from the consumer unit keeps cost down and avoids volt drop issues.

The wall needs to be capable of supporting the unit weight. The installer checks wall construction before drilling: masonry anchors in a solid brick wall are straightforward; a timber-framed partition or plasterboard wall needs a different approach.

3. Mounting the PureStorage-II unit

The installer fixes the wall bracket using the template from the PureDrive installation manual, verifies it is level in both planes, and hangs the unit. The cable entry glands at the base of the enclosure are used for the AC supply cable and the CT clamp signal cable. Getting the gland torque right matters: the PureStorage-II is sometimes installed in garages and other damp spaces, and the glands maintain the unit's ingress protection rating.

4. Running and connecting the AC supply cable

A dedicated cable runs from the consumer unit to the PureStorage-II terminal block. For most domestic installations, 4 mm two-core and earth is the correct conductor size. Longer cable runs or routes through thermally insulating material may need a larger conductor to stay within the volt-drop limit in BS 7671 Regulation 525. The cable follows safe zones or runs in conduit throughout.

Inside the PureStorage-II terminal block, connections are made to the torque values in the installation manual. A loose terminal on a battery circuit is a thermal risk: the installer checks every connection before closing the enclosure.

5. Fitting the MCB at the consumer unit

The supply cable connects to an MCB in the consumer unit, sized to match the cable and the PureStorage-II's maximum charge current. Where the board already provides full RCD protection via RCBOs throughout, a standard MCB is sufficient. On an older split-load board, the installer confirms the new circuit is on the RCD-protected side and not the unprotected main switch side.

All terminals are torqued before the board cover is replaced. Polarity and continuity of the earth conductor are checked before closing the board.

6. Installing the CT clamp and configuring energy management

A current transformer (CT) clamp fits around the grid import conductor inside the consumer unit or at the meter tails. The clamp signal cable routes back to the CT input on the PureStorage-II. Correct orientation is essential: if the clamp is fitted the wrong way round, the battery will try to charge from the grid at peak times instead of from surplus solar, wasting money on the exact occasions when it should be saving it.

The energy management settings in the PureDrive app are configured to match the household tariff. Time-of-use tariffs such as Octopus Go and Agile Octopus are supported, allowing the PureStorage-II to charge overnight during cheap periods and discharge during the peak-rate evening window.

7. Commissioning via the PureDrive app and notifying Part P and DNO

With all wiring complete and dead tests passed, the installer powers up the PureStorage-II and steps through the commissioning process using the PureDrive app. Charge and discharge schedules are set and a test cycle is run to confirm the unit reads household import and export correctly. The installer then notifies the installation through their Part P registered competent person scheme: you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate.

DNO notification follows standard battery storage rules. Units with a grid export capacity up to 3.68 kW on a single phase can be self-certified under G98, with the DNO notified within 28 days of installation. Larger systems require G99 pre-approval from the DNO before the work starts. Keep both the EIC and the DNO letter with your property documents.

When to call us

Richard installs PureDrive PureStorage batteries and other home energy storage systems across east Kent, handling DNO notification, Part P certification and commissioning on the same day. Get in touch for a free fixed quote.