🎙️EP10 – How Big Should Your Solar System Be? With Oli from Zinc Electrical

In this episode of Only Panels, Michael and Dan are joined by Oli from Zinc Electrical to unpack one of the biggest questions in solar: how do you size a solar PV system properly?

We kick things off with highlights from Elex Coventry — including the Safe Isolate stand and plenty of installer chatter — before diving into real-world solar design.

Topics we cover:

• Should you design a solar system based on household consumption, maximise roof space, or stick to a set budget?

• The “120% rule” explained – why oversizing panels or inverters can actually improve performance.

• Inverter sizing myths: why a smaller inverter can sometimes generate more power over the year.

• Battery storage challenges – charge/discharge rates, hybrid inverters, and when to add batteries later.

• Real-life analogies to make sense of kWp, kWh, and inverter ratings (think: car top speed vs speed limit 🚗⚡).

• How to future-proof PV systems for EV charging, heat pumps, and growing family usage.

Oli also shares his personal journey: leaving corporate IT sales, training with Oval Renewables, and eventually launching Zinc Electrical. We talk about the realities of being a one-man-band installer, the importance of community in the UK renewables sector, and balancing business with family life.

Whether you’re a solar installer, an electrician moving into PV, or a homeowner thinking about solar panels and battery storage, this episode gives you practical insights into how systems are really designed — and why no two installs are ever the same.

📺 Watch on YouTube🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & Google Podcasts

#Solar #SolarPanels #Inverters #BatteryStorage #Renewables #OnlyPanels #Podcast #InstallerLife #SolarDesign #SolarPV #HeatPumps #EVCharging