DIY solar shed and balcony solar setup UK

The Problem

The owner wanted to build a solar-powered shed and share approaches for plug-in home balcony solar systems with the community. Standard forum threads had not covered non-van solar builds, so there was no consolidated reference for this type of setup.

Solution

1. Mount flexible or semi-flexible panels to the shed roof (e.g., Renogy 160W flexible or Photonic Universe 160W semi-flexible), or rigid panels for a home balcony or roof (e.g., JA Solar 465W).

   • Fitting one panel on the pitch and one on the gable end captures both morning and evening sun angles.

2. Install an MPPT charge controller between the panels and battery bank (e.g., Victron SmartSolar 100/20).

   • If charging dissimilar battery chemistries such as LiFePO4 alongside SLA, add a DC-DC charger (e.g., Redarc BCDC1240) to safely bridge them.

3. Connect a deep-cycle battery bank for shed systems (e.g., 2x 110Ah leisure batteries), or modular units for home systems (e.g., Ecoflow Ultra 1.92kWh and AC Pro 1.92kWh for 3.84kWh total).

   • A linking cable between the two Ecoflow units is not required; the built-in multi-MPPT controller handles charge management automatically.

4. Install an Ecoflow Smart Meter (CT clamp type) following the app guidance for clamp placement — self-install is straightforward using the official YouTube walkthrough.

   • Use the Ecoflow app to set charging schedules and output limits to maximise self-consumption and avoid excess export to the grid.

5. Add Sonoff WiFi smart switches or timers (via the eWeLink app) to automate 12V LED lighting and USB loads.

6. Run a Victron Phoenix Inverter (12/350) from the 12V battery bank to supply 240V loads in the shed.

7. Deploy a Raspberry Pi running Victron Venus OS for a local web dashboard, connected to the Victron SmartSolar and inverter via two USB links.

   • Supplement local monitoring with the Victron VRM Portal for cloud data logging.

8. Bring internet to the shed using a PowerLine adapter over the mains wiring, then connect a 12V-powered WiFi router configured as an access point.

9. Retain a mains 240V hook-up connection with a backup charger (e.g., Noco G1500 15A) for high-load or low-solar periods.

10. Once your home battery system is running, consider enrolling with a grid services aggregator (e.g., Axle Energy) to earn around £1.00/kWh when the grid draws from your stored energy at peak times.

    • Octopus Intelligent Go (approximately 33p/kWh peak, 8p/kWh off-peak) is a commonly cited tariff for payback calculations, with a realistic payback period of 3–4 years for plug-in systems.