Not sure what a fault code means, why your solar generation has dropped or whether your battery is behaving normally? Send your question to Mr Solar and our team will help you understand the sensible next step.
Solar faultsInverter warningsBattery questionsFIT & export help
Clear guidance from a local solar specialist.
Send us the details of your system, fault code or question and we can help you decide whether advice, remote support or an engineer is the sensible next step.
How can we help?
What Can You Ask Us About?
You do not need to know the technical language. Tell us what the system is doing, include any warning code you can see and we will help point you in the right direction.
01
Solar Performance
“Why is my solar generating less than usual?”
02
Inverter Fault Codes
“What does this red light or error code mean?”
03
No Generation
“My solar has completely stopped producing electricity.”
04
Battery Storage
“Why is my battery charging or discharging differently?”
05
FIT & Export
“Will this change affect my Feed-in Tariff or export payments?”
When online advice is not enough
Some Solar Faults Need Proper On-Site Testing
Some questions can be answered from the information you provide, but no remote assessment can electrically test your system, inspect hidden wiring or confirm that an installation is safe.
Remote advice is general guidance only and does not replace professional testing or inspection where an electrical or equipment fault is suspected.
Contact us directly if:
The solar system has stopped generating completely
Fuses or circuit breakers repeatedly trip
A persistent inverter fault code will not clear
You smell burning or see visible heat damage
You suspect an electrical or fire-safety risk
There is damaged DC cabling or connectors
The panels or inverter have suffered physical damage
Mr Solar provides professional solar PV and battery testing, inspection and repairs across Norfolk and Suffolk, including systems originally installed by other companies.
Ask Mr Solar
Send Mr Solar a Message
Send the details directly to our team and include as much information about the system or fault as possible.
Name *
Email
Phone number *
Street Postcode
Please let us know your service needs
Gorleston: 01493 289118 Norwich: 01603 394104
Contact Form
Keep your existing Contact Form 7 form here.
Frequently asked questions
Ask Mr Solar FAQ
Can you diagnose my solar system from a message?
We can often narrow down the likely cause from the symptoms, fault code, monitoring screenshots and equipment details, but some faults require electrical testing or an engineer on site before a diagnosis can be confirmed.
Should I reset my inverter?
Only follow the manufacturer’s published user restart procedure. Do not open the inverter or disconnect solar DC connectors.
Can I ask about a system Mr Solar did not install?
Yes. Yes. We provide professional repair and Rescue support for suitable systems installed by other companies as well as our own installations.
Can I ask about Feed-in Tariff or export payments?
Yes. We can explain general FIT, generation-meter and export issues. Specific metering or compliance questions may require us to review your system paperwork.
What information should I provide?
The inverter or battery make/model, exact fault code, postcode, when the issue started and what the monitoring app is showing are all helpful.
Ask Mr Solar
Ask the question. If it needs testing, we’ll take it from there.
Send your question to our Norfolk team for guidance, or book professional support when the problem needs testing or an on-site visit.
A solar-diverter can send suitable surplus electricity to an immersion heater instead of exporting it immediately. It can be valuable—but only where the cylinder, immersion and control arrangement are suitable.
The controller follows export and adjusts the immersion load.
A compatible diverter monitors electricity flow at the grid connection. When surplus solar would otherwise be exported, it proportionally supplies the immersion heater, subject to system limits and the cylinder thermostat.
01
Use genuine surplus
The control should avoid importing expensive electricity merely to heat water unless a scheduled boost has been chosen.
Where a battery is installed, the homeowner should understand whether surplus fills the battery or heats water first.
04
Compare export value
Diverted electricity gives up its export payment. The value depends on the alternative water-heating fuel and the current export tariff.
Suitability survey
Check the plumbing and electrical arrangement first.
Hot-water cylinder and immersion heater present
Immersion element condition and rating
Dedicated circuit and protection
Meter sensor location and direction
Battery and EV-charger priorities
Space-heating system and hot-water schedule
A diverter does not turn PV panels into solar-thermal collectors. It uses PV electricity in a conventional electric immersion heater.
Solar hot-water FAQ
Will it heat a full cylinder every day?
Not necessarily. Available surplus changes with season, weather, household demand and array size.
Should the battery or immersion come first?
It depends on energy prices, hot-water fuel, export rate and household routine. Compatible systems can be configured around the preferred priority.
Can it work with a heat pump?
Sometimes, but control integration is different. A resistive immersion diverter should not be assumed to control a heat pump correctly.
Start with a proper solar assessment.
Tell Mr Solar about your property, electricity use and future plans. We will recommend a system around the building and the way you actually use energy.
Support for existing GivEnergy battery and inverter installations.
GivEnergy Ltd entered administration and ceased trading in April 2026. Mr Solar is not promoting new GivEnergy sales, but we continue to help owners of existing systems with practical diagnostics, electrical checks, monitoring investigation and repair options where parts and access permit.
Existing systemsFault diagnosticsMonitoring checksIndependent support
Software support ceasedOngoing company support is unavailable
Mr Solar helpsIndependent diagnostics and repair options
Important status update
What changed for GivEnergy owners.
GivEnergy Ltd entered administration on 9 April 2026 and ceased trading with immediate effect. The appointed administrator stated that hardware warranties and ongoing user and software support from GivEnergy Ltd would cease, and advised consumers to approach their installer for initial support.
Our position: Mr Solar is no longer presenting GivEnergy as a new-sales option. We will assess existing installations and explain what can realistically be tested, repaired, reconfigured or replaced.
Visual inspection, relevant electrical testing, meter checks and review of inverter or battery indications.
Monitoring investigation
Review available app data, connectivity, meters and symptoms. Cloud or account functions may be outside an independent installer’s control.
Repair or replacement route
Where parts or support are unavailable, we explain safe alternatives and the implications of replacing components.
No false warranty promise: Mr Solar cannot reinstate a manufacturer warranty, guarantee access to GivEnergy cloud services or promise that every fault can be repaired. Charges apply for inspection and diagnostic work unless agreed otherwise.
Capacity translated into everyday use
Understanding the size of your existing battery.
GivEnergy systems were installed with different capacities and inverter ratings. The model label and system records help separate stored energy from the power the installation can deliver.
Two different limits: kWh describes how much energy is stored; kW describes how much power the inverter and battery can deliver at once. A system can have plenty of stored energy but still be unable to run every high-power appliance simultaneously.
Illustrative examples
A 5 kWh battery is roughly 5 hours at a steady 1 kW load before allowances
A 10 kWh battery is roughly 5 hours at 2 kW
High-power appliances can exceed inverter output even when energy remains
Reported ‘battery empty’ symptoms may involve reserve settings, metering, communication or cell condition
Figures are simple energy illustrations, not guaranteed runtime. Allow for battery reserve, conversion losses, temperature, ageing and changing household demand.
Before contacting us
Send the details that make diagnosis faster.
Model labels
Clear photographs of the inverter, battery and serial-number labels.
Error evidence
Fault codes, warning lights and screenshots from any accessible monitoring.
System history
Installation date, original paperwork and when the problem began.
Current behaviour
What charges, discharges, imports or exports differently than expected.
Do you need help with an existing GivEnergy system?
Send us the model details, symptoms and monitoring screenshots. We will explain whether an inspection is appropriate and what support can realistically be offered.
Solar Photovoltaic cells are often advertised as an investment that saves you money in the medium/ long run. Let’s consider a a house in East Anglia, The average home electricity power use is;
2,900 kWh per year, priced at 28.34p Per KWH, £822 Per year electricity charge for metered electricity. (According to OFGEM)
Now, the house has a standard concrete roof, tiled, facing South, no Shading, standard
4.0kw (11 Solar Panels) generating 3,600kwh Electric per year;
2,900 kwh (we will use electricity per year )x 28.34p = £821 Per Year
4.kw Solar PV cost £4,995, pay back 6 years + Added re-sale value to the property + added protection of future increases in electricity costs.
If you have fixed your tariff until 2023 in favour of potential future savings as energy sky rockets in price, the maths looks like this,
2,900 kwh per year x 40.0p = £1,160cost of 4.kw Solar PV £4,995 pay back 4.3 years pay back + Added re-sale value to the property + added protection of future increases in electricity costs.
we can add electricity storage systems, divert solar energy to the hot water emersion if you have a tank for hot water. The above is a simple example and reflects good conditions, so tell us about your situation and we will do the maths for you to check.
Here we will give the facts about Solar PV Panels and separate the Myth from Fact.
The most asked question is; do I qualify for free solar panels?
Fact, Solar Panels could have been free when the Feed In Tariff was available, so the customer got free daytime electricity and the supplier got the feed in tariff (Rent A Roof). The Feed in Tariff Scheme died in 2019 and many free Solar panels were finished long before this as the Tariff disappeared.
For clarity, this was written on the 19.10.2023.
The ECO4 Scheme is a government-funded energy efficiency scheme that helps low-income households and households that receive certain state benefits to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. This can include measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and solar panel installation.
Despite these changes, there remain some common misconceptions around solar panels that prevent many households giving them any thought. So, how much do solar panels cost and how much energy do they produce?
Prices have dropped substantially since the demise of the Feed in Tariff, *SEG replaced this in 2020 and offers very little for you exported electricity, A mislay 4p Per KWH working out to be about £100 per year on a standard Home, we are now forecasted to be paying 41p Per KWH in Oct 2022. However, 0% VAT on your purchase of Solar Panels is a great incentive saving hundreds of £.
Please try our Solar Pv Calculator, this will work out how much you could save and what the likely cost would be.
A Pessimistic (But Realistic) Outlook — by Mr Solar
If you’re budgeting for 2026, the safest assumption is not “prices will fall back to normal” — it’s that electricity will remain expensive, volatile, and harder to control than it used to be.
Even when wholesale prices calm down, UK households still face structural costs that can keep bills elevated. In this page, we break down a pessimistic but realistic view of what could keep electricity costs high in 2026 — and what you can do to reduce your exposure.
In the UK, energy company profits have remained strikingly high while households continue to face elevated electricity bills. Over recent years, major energy producers and suppliers have reported annual profits running into the tens of billions of pounds, with some individual firms posting £20–£30 billion in global profits in a single year, even as domestic customers struggled with record costs.
Why UK Electricity Costs Could Stay High in 2026
1) Network & Grid Upgrade Costs
The UK grid is being upgraded to handle rising demand and major changes in how we use energy — including EV charging, heat pumps, renewables, and growing commercial loads. These upgrades are paid for through network charges included in your bill.
Pessimistic view: even if wholesale prices ease, the “fixed” cost of running and upgrading the grid keeps pressure on unit rates and standing charges.
2) Gas Still Influences Electricity Prices
Although renewable generation keeps growing, gas still plays a major role in setting electricity prices during many periods (especially when demand is high or renewable output is low).
Pessimistic view: any spike in gas prices or supply disruption can quickly translate into higher electricity costs again — and those shocks can happen fast.
3) Standing Charges Aren’t Going Away
Standing charges have become a bigger part of the bill for many households. That means even if you use less electricity, you can still feel like your bills aren’t falling proportionally.
Pessimistic view: standing charges remain stubbornly high, making electricity costs harder to “escape” through efficiency alone.
4) Demand Keeps Rising
Electricity demand is expected to rise, not fall — driven by electrification (EVs and heating), as well as growing digital infrastructure like data centres.
Pessimistic view: higher demand increases pressure on peak pricing, which can keep average costs elevated and make peak-time electricity particularly expensive.
5) Policy & Levy Uncertainty
A portion of electricity bills comes from policy costs and levies. These can shift over time depending on government decisions and market design.
Pessimistic view: costs are more likely to stay on consumers’ bills than disappear — and electricity may carry an increasing share of transition costs.
What 2026 Could Look Like
High “average” prices compared with pre-2020 levels
Bills that don’t fall much, even when you use less (standing charge effect)
In short: electricity might not be “crisis pricing” every month, but it could still feel permanently expensive.
How to Protect Yourself From High Electricity Prices
If you plan for electricity staying high, the focus shifts from “hoping prices drop” to reducing your dependence on peak grid power.
Solar Panels
Solar reduces how much electricity you need to buy from the grid during the day.
Battery Storage
A battery helps you:
store solar for evening use
reduce expensive peak imports
potentially charge off-peak (tariff dependent) and use later
Smart Tariffs
Time-of-use tariffs can reduce costs if your usage is flexible—especially with a battery that can shift consumption away from peak rates.
Why Mr Solar Takes This View
We’d rather you go into solar and battery with realistic expectations than be sold an overly rosy forecast. A well-designed system can still deliver strong value — but it works best when it’s built around the reality of UK pricing: high peaks, rising fixed costs, and volatility.
Speak to Mr Solar
If you want to reduce your exposure to rising electricity costs in 2026 and beyond, we can help you understand:
whether solar is right for your property
the right battery size for your usage
how to design for winter performance (not just summer)
how to make the most of smart tariffs
Get in touch with Mr Solar for an honest assessment and a system designed for real UK conditions.
FAQ
Will UK electricity prices go down in 2026?
They might reduce in some quarters, but a pessimistic outlook assumes prices stay elevated due to network costs, demand growth, and continued volatility in gas-driven pricing.
Why are standing charges so high?
Standing charges include fixed costs like maintaining the network and other system-wide charges. If they remain high, they can limit how much bills fall even when you use less.
Is solar still worth it if electricity prices stay high?
High prices generally improve the case for solar and battery, because every kWh you generate or shift away from peak grid usage can save more.
Does a battery help in winter?
Yes — winter solar generation is lower, but batteries still help by shifting energy to avoid peak rates and improving overall control of your electricity use.
Stop Being at the Mercy of Energy Prices
You may not control wholesale markets or standing charges — but you can control how much electricity you buy at peak prices. Find out how solar and battery storage can reduce your reliance on the grid
CALL MR SOLAR 01603 394104 OR 01493 289118
Estimate before survey
Solar PV Calculator: What Could Your Roof Generate?
A calculator is a useful starting point, but a credible result needs roof direction, pitch, shading, usable dimensions and local solar data — not simply a postcode and panel count.
A better estimate starts with better property information.
01
Usable roof area
Chimneys, roof windows, ridges, edges and access zones reduce the number of modules that can actually be fitted.
02
Direction and pitch
South is not mandatory. East and west arrays can perform well and spread output more evenly through the day.
03
Shading
Trees, neighbouring roofs, chimneys and aerials can affect individual modules and the inverter design.
04
System losses
Temperature, cables, inverter conversion, dirt, mismatch and downtime mean annual AC energy is not simply panel wattage multiplied by sunshine hours.
From kWp to kWh
Power rating and annual energy are different.
A 5kWp array is the combined laboratory-rated peak power of its modules. Annual generation is measured in kilowatt-hours and varies with the location and roof.
For example, ten 500W panels equal 5.0kWp, while twelve 450W panels equal 5.4kWp. The larger array will not necessarily deliver the best household value if much of its output is unused or the roof has different shading.
Use the calculator as an early estimate. The MCS proposal and site-specific design should provide the project figure used for the purchasing decision.
No. Savings also depend on electricity use, tariff, export rate, battery behaviour and future energy prices.
Should I enter panel wattage or array size?
Use the exact input requested. Array size in kWp is panel wattage multiplied by panel quantity and divided by 1,000.
Why can two 5kWp systems generate differently?
Orientation, pitch, shade, local weather, inverter design and downtime can all differ.
Start with a proper solar assessment.
Tell Mr Solar about your property, electricity use and future plans. We will recommend a system around the building and the way you actually use energy.
Switch off lights and appliances. It’s probably the most obvious energy-saving tip but switching lights off can make a difference to your energy usage.
Reduce energy consumption.
Turn the heating down. 1 degree makes a massive difference
Insulate your home. Make sure the heat is not going out through the walls or roof by insulating them properly
Get a smart thermostat. A programable heat and hot water stat is essential, or Hive will do switch the heating on off as required over the internet
Choose an energy-efficient boiler.
Get Solar Panels reduce your electricity bill and earn 1 point per panel on the EPC.
10 Reasons Why We Love Solar PV Panels
Renewable Energy Source.
Lower Electricity Rate Escalations.
Provides Local Jobs for the Service and Energy Industry.
Benefits the Local Community.
Prepares for the Electric Vehicle Revolution.
Generate Your Own Electricity.
Low Profile with No Light or Noise Pollution.
Reduces Electricity Bills.
Diverse Applications.
Low Maintenance Costs.
Start saving from day one.
Solar panels significantly improve your resale value.
They are a clean and renewable source of energy. Solar panels do not produce any emissions, so they help to reduce air pollution and climate change.
They can save you money on your electricity bills. The amount of money you save will depend on the size of your solar system and your energy usage, but many people see a significant reduction in their bills after installing solar panels.
They increase the value of your home. Studies have shown that homes with solar panels sell for more than homes without solar panels.
They are a good investment. The cost of solar panels has come down significantly in recent years, and the return on investment is typically very good.
They are easy to maintain. Solar panels require very little maintenance, and most manufacturers offer warranties of 25 years or more.
They are a hedge against rising energy prices. As the cost of electricity continues to rise, solar panels can help you protect yourself from those increases.
They are good for the environment. Solar panels help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which is a major contributor to climate change.
They are a way to be more self-sufficient. With solar panels, you can generate your own electricity and reduce your reliance on the grid.
They are a way to show your support for renewable energy. By installing solar panels, you are helping to create a more sustainable future.
They are cool! Solar panels are a great way to show off your commitment to sustainability and renewable energy.
If you are looking for a way to save money, reduce your environmental impact, and invest in a sustainable future, solar panels are a great option.
A lot will depend on two factors, outlay money and your energy usage. The cost of Solar Panels has come down dramatically over the last 10 years so looking for an affordable package is quite easy compared to the early days of the feed in tariff which saw 4kw been sold for £18,995. We now do 4kw Solar pv systems for under £4,995 as a installed and commissioned system with options to upgrade with electricity battery storage.
Electricity consumption, the following figures apply: Low consumption is estimated as being between 1,800kWh and 2,400kWh. Medium consumption at 2,900kWh to 4,200kWh. High consumption is between 4,300kWh and 7,100kWh per year. We will need to check your bills if you don’t know and work out the best system for your needs.
Mr Solar We will provide a detailed proposal taking into account all the areas where we can see to reduce your energy consummation and reduce your bills.
The number of solar panels you need will depend on a number of factors, including:
Your annual electricity usage
The size of your roof
The orientation of your roof
The amount of sunlight your roof receives
The efficiency of the solar panels you choose
A solar panel’s wattage rating tells you how much electricity it can generate under ideal conditions. To calculate how many solar panels you need, you can divide your annual electricity usage by the wattage rating of the solar panels you are considering.
For example, if your annual electricity usage is 10,000 kWh and you are considering solar panels with a wattage rating of 300 watts, you would need about 33 solar panels.
However, it is important to note that ideal conditions are rarely met. The amount of sunlight your roof receives will vary depending on your location, the time of year, and the weather. You may need more solar panels than the calculation above suggests to generate enough electricity to meet your needs.
It is also important to consider the efficiency of the solar panels you choose. More efficient solar panels will generate more electricity per watt, so you may need fewer of them.
If you are serious about installing solar panels, I recommend getting a quote from Mr solar. They can help you assess your needs and recommend the right number of solar panels for your home.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind when calculating how many solar panels you need:
You may need more solar panels if you want to generate enough electricity to power your entire home.
You may need fewer solar panels if you are willing to export excess electricity back to the grid.
You may need to adjust your calculations if you live in a cloudy or shady area.
