Cheapest way to get started with solar?

Looking at getting some solar sorted but the initial outlay is mental. Currently renting a place with decent south-facing roof space and the landlord's surprisingly cool with it, though I'd need to remove everything when I move.

Thinking of starting small — just enough to offset some of the leccy bill and have a bit of backup when the grid's dodgy. Don't need to go full off-grid or anything, just supplementary really.

What's the realistic minimum spend to get something actually useful running? I've seen those cheap 100W kits on Amazon for under £200 but reckon they're probably rubbish. Would rather spend a bit more on something that'll actually last.

Also curious about:

• Buying used panels vs new budget ones
• Whether a proper MPPT controller is worth the extra quid or if a basic PWM does the job starting out
• Best place to source stuff without getting absolutely fleeced

My setup would probably be:

• Panels on the roof
• Battery storage in the garage (thinking LiFePO₄ if I can stretch to it, otherwise lead-acid)
• Inverter for the house circuits

Don't mind doing the research and DIY'ing most of it, just want to avoid obvious false economy traps. Any recommendations on brands that actually represent decent value?

Cheers for any pointers.

Brilliant situation having a landlord on board — that's half the battle sorted. The re-installation bit is actually doable if you go modular rather than a fixed roof array.

I'd start with a single 400W panel and a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/50 — honestly the sweet spot for budget builds. Pair that with decent lithium (LiFePO4) if you can stretch to it, otherwise lead-acid works but you'll replace it sooner. Total outlay around £1500-2000 for a system that'll genuinely run stuff.

Keep everything on a tilt frame or adjustable stand rather than roof-mounting permanently. Makes relocation trivial when you move on, and you've got a portable system worth actual money.

The real saving? Don't buy pre-built kits. Source components separately — Fogstar for brackets, Renogy cables, whatever. You'll save 30-40% and understand your own setup better.

What's your actual power goal — charging devices, heating water, or offsetting grid pull?

The landlord situation is genuinely golden — most people don't get that option. Since you're looking at removal later, I'd honestly skip the roof mount entirely and go portable instead.

I started with two 100W Renogy panels on a tilt stand in my motorhome years back, cost me about £300-400 total. They're flexible, you can angle them properly (crucial in winter here), and zero installation stress. Pair that with a basic 48V Victron MPPT and a budget LiFePO4 setup — you're looking at maybe £1,500-2,000 to actually use the power rather than just generate it.

The panels themselves are the cheap bit; it's the charge controller and battery that actually matters. Get those sorted properly and you can upgrade panels later without hassle.

What's your actual power need? That'll determine whether portable makes sense or if you're better saving toward a proper permanent setup.

Portable panels are your mate here — grab a couple of 100W Renogy or similar and a budget MPPT like a Victron SmartSolar 75/10, then flog them when you move. Total damage: £300-400 quid. Pop them on a tilted rack in the garden if roof access is dodgy, angles you want anyway. Honestly though, if the landlord's genuinely cool, bolt-down racking is pennies compared to portables and you'll get better year-round performance. Just get it in writing that they're staying (or document the pre-existing condition with photos). Your call depends on how long you're staying put.

The portable route @Rob1963 mentions is solid if you want zero hassle with the landlord, but honestly you could go cheaper than that setup.

Look at second-hand panels on eBay or Facebook Marketplace — people upgrade constantly and you'll find decent 300-400W units for a fraction of RRP. Pair that with a basic PWM controller (£50-80) and a decent battery bank. You don't need Victron SmartSolar to start; save that for when you're scaling up.

Since you've got roof access, even temporary rails are doable. Flat roof or angled? Makes a difference for mounting cost.

What's your actual power need? That'll determine if you're looking at 500W or several kW. The "cheapest way" really depends on whether you're charging phones or running a fridge 24/7.

Right, I'll cut through this one. Portable panels sound ideal on paper, but I learned the hard way they're a false economy if you're actually trying to live off them.

I went the cheap fixed route in my van conversion — grabbed a single 400W panel and a dodgy budget controller for about £300. Biggest mistake was thinking "I'll upgrade later." You won't. You'll just resent the undersizing.

With your landlord's blessing, bolt down a proper 600-800W array and a decent Victron MPPT. You're looking £800-1200 all-in. Much cheaper per watt than portable nonsense, and when you move, you've got a genuinely useful system to take with you rather than glorified trickle chargers.

Skip the budget controller though — that's where corners bite you hardest.

Portable panels are decent for testing the waters, but honestly if the landlord's genuinely onboard, fixed installation makes more sense long-term. You'll get better efficiency and not faffing about moving stuff around.

That said, start small — a single 400W fixed panel with a cheap MPPT (even a basic one will do) and a decent battery like a Fogstar or used Lifepo4. You can expand later. Total damage might be £800-1000 to actually run something useful.

The landlord situation is golden though. Worth getting it in writing that you'll remove everything when you leave — takes the pressure off both sides. Seen too many people lose deposits over this.

What's your actual power needs? That'll dictate whether you need to go full-fat setup or can genuinely get away with something minimal.

I've done both routes and there's a middle ground folk don't always mention. Started with a cheap 100W portable setup on the motorhome to see if I'd actually use it—turns out I'm fanatical about my watts now.

But here's the thing: if your landlord's genuinely sorted, a permanent roof installation pays for itself quicker. The portables lose efficiency sprawled on the ground, and you'll constantly be repositioning them. I've got mates in narrowboats doing exactly what you're describing—fixed panels on rental moorings—and they recoup costs in 3-4 years easy.

Start with one 400W rigid panel and a decent MPPT like a Victron SmartSolar. You're looking at £600-700 all-in. Get a proper quote from a local sparky before committing though—landlord agreements can get dodgy if something goes wrong.

What's your power requirement actually looking like?

Mate, if your landlord's actually sorted about it, that's gold. Fixed panels make way more sense long-term than faff with portables.

I'd honestly skip the "cheap starter kit" trap. Grab a decent 400-600W fixed array (Renogy or similar) with a mid-range charge controller and a reasonable battery bank. Yeah, it's more upfront, but you're not replacing gear every 18 months when the budget stuff dies.

The real saving is doing the install yourself if you're handy – labour's where the cost balloons. Couple of YouTube videos and you can bracket a panel to a roof.

Only caveat: get written permission from the landlord in writing. Protects you both if you ever need to move it.

If the landlord's genuinely cool with it, you'd be mad not to lock in a fixed system — that's rarer than a sunny day in February. Portable panels are fine for testing but you'll spend twice as much replacing them with proper kit anyway.

Start with a modest 400-500W array and a basic Victron or Epever controller. Skip the fancy monitoring apps at first, just grab a cheap voltage meter and stop obsessing over your phone. Get a decent lithium battery bank sorted before adding more panels — most people buy panels then realise their battery's the actual bottleneck.

Cost-wise you're looking £2-3k for a genuinely usable setup that won't make you regret breakfast. Dead money saving for years waiting for prices to drop.

The landlord angle changes everything tbh. If he's actually sound about it, get that roof space locked down proper — won't get a better deal than free south-facing real estate.

Skip the portable nonsense unless you're moving soon. A basic fixed array (300-400W) with a decent MPPT controller and battery bank will cost you maybe £800-1200 depending what you go for. Victron gear's pricey but bulletproof, or look at Epever for the budget route.

Only thing — get it in writing with the landlord. Dead serious. Saves grief later when someone inherits the place or he changes his mind.

Started with portables myself years back, waste of money imo. Should've just bitten the bullet on a proper setup from the start.

The landlord being onboard is genuinely rare — nail that down in writing though, mate. Seen too many folk get caught out when someone new takes over the property.

For budget-conscious start, I'd skip the fancy integrated systems. Got myself going with a basic Renogy setup years back — 400W panels, decent MPPT controller, and a small lithium bank. Cost me about £1.2k all in, which isn't nothing but it actually works without the premium brand markup.

If you're renting, go modular. Your landlord might be cool now but circumstances change. Floor-mounted racking on the roof is your friend — bolts off clean if needed. Some folk reckon it looks rough but honestly, a tidy install with proper weatherproofing won't upset anyone sensible.

Start with what you actually need to run, not what sounds impressive. LED lighting, phone charging, maybe a fridge if you're in a static caravan situation. That's genuinely achievable on about £800-1000 if you're not fussed about aesthetics and happy to source bits separately rather than a kit.

What's

Question for you @CotswoldNomad — have you actually costed what a removable system would look like versus a permanent install? I've been down this path with my static caravan setup and the maths might surprise you.

If the landlord's genuinely onboard, a fixed system is cheaper per watt long-term. But if there's any doubt about how long you're staying, a portable array with a decent battery setup (think Fogstar or smaller Victron stack) gives you flexibility without the removal headache.

The real question: are you planning to take the kit with you when you move, or leave it behind? That changes everything cost-wise. Removal labour for a roof-mounted system isn't cheap.

Also — and @FellKev's spot on here — get that landlord agreement in writing. Email confirmation at minimum. Verbal "yeah mate, fine" has destroyed more setups than bad weather.

What's your current consumption looking like? That'll tell you whether you're chasing a micro setup or something more substantial.

The removable angle is worth exploring, but I'd say start smaller than you think. I've bodged enough setups in my cabin to know that scaling up gradually beats dropping a grand on gear that doesn't fit your actual use.

What's your load like? If you're just talking phone charging and LED lighting, a decent 100W panel with a small MPPT controller and 100Ah LiFePO4 battery will run you £400-500 and teach you what you actually need. Renogy do solid budget kits that won't break the bank.

The landlord thing is crucial though — get something in writing about removal clauses and whether they're happy with roof penetrations. A racking system that bolts rather than screws into tiles keeps everyone happy.

Since you're renting, I'd honestly lean toward a portable setup you can take with you if things change. Bolt the panels to a frame, keep the battery and controller on a shelf. Not as elegant as a proper install, but you learn faster and move it about if needed.

What are you actually trying to power?

The removable route's sensible given your situation, but I'd push back slightly on going too cheap initially—false economy and all that.

Here's what I'd actually do: start with a decent 400-600W rigid panel setup (Renogy or similar, around £300-400) paired with a proper MPPT controller (Victron SmartSolar 75/15 is about £150). Skip the budget PWM stuff. Battery-wise, a 48V 100Ah LiFePO4 (Fogstar or similar) runs £2-2.5k but will outlast three cheap lead-acid setups.

Why? Because you're paying the learning curve anyway. Better to nail the fundamentals than retrofit everything when you realise your charge controller's undersized.

On the landlord front—@FellKev's spot on. Get it in writing that removal won't damage the roof (cause it won't if you do it properly). Takes the sting out if they change their mind.

The real saving isn't in the components—it's in not making beginner mistakes that force you to rebuy. I