Compact 460W or Duo 890W · yard floor
Yard Floor Frame Kit: Solar That Stands on the Flags
A fixed frame that stands on your yard flags, held down with concrete blocks. One panel or two, nothing drilled into the house, and it plugs into your outdoor socket.
Made for no-drill yards (renting? ask your landlord first)
The frame sits on its own feet. There are no holes in the brickwork, so nothing to make good if you move.
If you rent, it's still your landlord's call. Ask first and get the yes in writing before you buy. Leasehold or a managed block? Same goes for the freeholder or managing agent.
Ground only: these frames aren't made for walls, roofs or balconies. For the house wall, see the Back Wall Kit.
How the frame stays put in a Manchester gale
It's held down with ballast: dense concrete blocks of at least 18kg each, sat on the frame's feet. The maker's numbers:
| Gusts up to | Blocks needed |
|---|---|
| Over 40mph | 2 |
| Over 60mph | 5 |
| Over 80mph | 10 |
Ballast isn't in the box. Any builders' merchant sells blocks. A terrace yard is fairly sheltered, but if you're up on the Pennine side of the county, plan for the bigger numbers.
Find the sunny corner first
In most yards the sunniest floor is the strip nearest the house, furthest from the yard wall's shadow. Keep the way to the back gate, the bins and the entry clear.
Specs and footprint
| Compact 460WGround mount | Duo 890WGround mount | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Price TBC | Price TBC |
| Panels | 1 × 460W | 2 × 445W |
| Footprint | 1.9m × 1.2m | 3.7m × 1.2m |
| Floor area | about 2.3m² | about 4.4m² |
| Panel weight | 25.5kg | 25.5kg each |
| Box size | 1800 × 1180 × 180mm | 1800 × 1180 × 180mm |
| Box weight | 41kg | 74kg |
From the maker's datasheets. Tap a kit name for every spec.
Two sizes of floor frame
Things worth knowing before you buy
- A level, sunny patch: about 1.9m × 1.2m for one panel, 3.7m × 1.2m for two.
- Ballast blocks to buy separately, at least 18kg each.
- A weatherproof outdoor socket within the 4m lead, and modern RCD protection.
- Written permission first if you rent or you're leasehold.
- Register free at myplugin.solar before first use, and tell your insurer.
- One kit per household, never with a home battery.
Join the list for a floor frame kit
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Can I move it round the yard?
You can shift it to a sunnier spot, as long as the lead still reaches the socket and the ballast goes back on. It's heavy, so it's a two-person job.
Will it crack my flags?
The frame and blocks spread their weight across the feet. If your flags are loose or rocking, sort those first.
Can I take it with me when I move?
Yes. It's one of the perks of a floor frame. Register it at the new address before you switch it back on.