Installing a Sofar Solar home battery (UK)

Helpful video reference. This installation walkthrough covers the complete setup of a Sofar HYD 3-6K EP hybrid inverter alongside a GTX 5000 PRO battery module, showing the physical mounting, DC and AC wiring, and commissioning steps in a UK domestic setting. Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07JLRSKsX8U.

1. PAS 63100 site survey and DNO notification

Before ordering equipment, a registered installer surveys the property. They check the consumer unit for a spare way, confirm the earthing arrangement, assess the condition of the meter tails, and review the proposed cable routes for both the DC strings and the new AC circuit.

DNO notification is submitted under G98 (for systems up to 3.68 kW AC export per phase on most networks) or G99 (for larger systems or where the network operator requires a G99 application regardless of size). The Sofar HYD inverter supports software export limiting, which keeps most single-phase domestic installations within G98 territory.

2. Plan inverter and battery locations

The Sofar HYD hybrid inverter is wall-mounted indoors, typically in a garage, utility room, or boiler cupboard. It needs to be close to both the solar DC cable entry point and the consumer unit to keep cable runs short. The GTX battery module sits beside or below the inverter and connects via a short DC battery cable.

Sofar's installation guide specifies minimum clearances above, below, and to each side of the inverter for cooling airflow. These must be observed, particularly if the inverter is in a confined space.

3. Mount the inverter and battery

The inverter mounting bracket is drilled and plugged into the wall, and the inverter hangs from it. GTX battery modules are stacked vertically in the battery enclosure or connected directly to the inverter depending on the configuration being installed. All fixing bolts are torqued to Sofar's specification before any cables are connected.

The battery modules are heavy. Two people are normally needed for the lift, and the wall fixing must be into solid masonry or into structural timber, not just plasterboard.

4. Connect the solar DC cables

DC cables from the solar array run to the Sofar HYD's MPPT inputs. The installer confirms the open-circuit voltage of each string before connecting, checks polarity with a DC voltmeter, and ensures the strings are within the inverter's input voltage and current ratings. Cables are routed in the safe zones defined in BS 7671 or in conduit where they run on the surface.

Where an existing grid-tied inverter is already present, the installer assesses whether to replace it with the HYD (DC coupling) or retain it and add an AC-coupled battery instead. DC coupling avoids the double conversion losses that occur in AC-coupled systems, but involves more work if the existing DC wiring needs extending or adapting.

5. Wire the AC supply from the consumer unit

A new circuit runs from the consumer unit to the HYD's AC terminals. The circuit is protected by an RCBO at the consumer unit, with cable size and RCBO rating following Sofar's specification for the inverter model. A double-pole isolator is fitted near the inverter so it can be de-energised for maintenance without going back to the board.

This circuit is Part P notifiable. The electrician carries out the required tests (insulation resistance, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, RCD operation) and issues a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate or Electrical Installation Certificate as part of the handover.

6. Fit the CT clamp

The current transformer clamp clips onto the meter tails or the appropriate cable at the consumer unit. It gives the inverter real-time data on how much power is being imported or exported, allowing the system to optimise when the battery charges and discharges. CT clamp position matters: it goes on the live conductor between the meter and the consumer unit main switch.

Where the meter tails are too short to clip a standard CT around, the electrician fits a short extension, done carefully and in compliance with the DNO's rules on tails and metering equipment.

7. Commission via SolarmanPV

Commissioning is completed through the SolarmanPV installer portal. The process covers Wi-Fi pairing, verifying that the CT clamp is reading correctly, configuring any export limit required by the DNO notification, and setting up smart tariff integration if the homeowner uses a time-of-use tariff. SolarmanPV supports scheduled grid charging for tariffs such as Octopus Go and Agile.

The homeowner is shown how to monitor solar generation, battery state, and grid import on the SolarmanPV app. Completion documents including the DNO notification confirmation and the electrical installation certificate are handed over before the installer leaves.

When to call us

A Sofar Solar installation requires a registered electrician, DNO notification, and the correct completion documentation. Richard can advise on whether the Sofar HYD and GTX combination suits your property and solar array, and can arrange a quotation for the full installation.