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The consensus in the thread was that hardware from the earlier setup could be behind the trips.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Swapping in a larger inverter in a solar setup can create new headaches if the rest of it stays the same.
In a Reddit thread, the original poster said a Wickes system that had first been fitted with the wrong 6-kilowatt inverter started tripping overnight during grid charging after that unit was replaced with an 8-kW model.
According to the post, the fault had already happened three times.
“Wickes solar install disaster continues!” the original poster wrote. “[…] My basic research/understanding looks like it’s probably going over 32A and that’s the issue.”
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Replies focused less on the new inverter itself and more on what may have stayed unchanged around it. The consensus in the thread was that hardware from the earlier setup could be behind the trips.
“Your system is overloading the 32amp breaker they have installed,” one commenter wrote.
Others backed that up with the same rough math: At 230 volts, an 8-kW inverter works out to about 34 to 35 amps, putting it above a 32A breaker.
That means the job may have needed more than an inverter swap. Commenters said the breaker and the cable supplying the inverter may also need upgrading if the installation was originally sized around 6 kW.
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For a KH 8kW system with EPS not wired, one commenter said the expected spec is a 40A breaker paired with 10mm² cable.
This thread is a reminder that a low quote isn’t always the same as a complete job. Homeowners comparing installers can try EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
The problem also cuts into a major reason people add batteries in the first place: shifting use to cheaper off-peak electricity.
“I think for now I’ll just stop export and importing cheap electric overnight until I find a permanent fix,” the original poster wrote.
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That could reduce the savings the system delivers.
Commenters treated the suspected cause as a familiar installation issue. When a project changes partway through, supporting electrical components do not always get revised with it.
One person in the thread said they ran into the same pattern after upgrading their inverter: the breaker kept tripping until the installer replaced it.
That kind of problem can turn a smart energy investment into a frustrating and potentially expensive back-and-forth with installers. Homeowners may lose access to cheap overnight charging, deal with downtime, or face extra service calls while trying to determine whether the breaker, cable size, or even heat inside the consumer unit is contributing to the trips.
For homeowners still shopping, EnergySage’s solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system by state, along with details on solar incentives for each state. Together, those resources can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
EnergySage can also be valuable after stories like this because it gives homeowners another way to compare providers and pricing. With EnergySage’s help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. That kind of comparison can make it easier to tell whether a proposal includes the full scope of electrical work or only the headline equipment.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save on energy costs, and go off-grid. If you want to compare options, explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage systems, including competitive installation estimates.
Issues like this can come down to whether the breaker size, cable size, and configuration match the inverter’s requirements.
These stories cover the same kinds of home electrification decisions that can shape a solar upgrade.
• In an older home, an off-grid inverter and battery complicated the move to grid backup.
• Solar homeowners on Reddit said full-home battery backup made power outages easier to handle.
• One homeowner said his solar setup worked with an EV charger and no battery.
• EnergySage’s COO unpacked the mystery of solar costs as equipment, labor, and incentives shifted.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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