Before ordering a Wrenstead solar or battery storage system, check that your existing equipment, electrical setup and intended installation environment are suitable for the configuration you want to use.
Compatibility depends on your solar panels, inverter or microinverter, electrical arrangement, intended connection method and the location in which the Wrenstead battery system will be installed.
This page helps you prepare the information needed before choosing Wrenstead Store 1, Store 2 or Solar + Store 2.
Do You Already Have Solar Panels?
If you already have solar panels installed, you may be able to add Wrenstead battery storage without replacing your complete solar system.
However, solar panels alone do not confirm compatibility.
Before ordering, we recommend checking:
- Solar panel brand and model
- Number of installed solar panels
- Power rating of each panel
- Existing inverter or microinverter brand and model
- Available solar voltage and current information
- How the current solar system is connected
- Your household electrical configuration
- The intended battery installation location
- The expected temperature conditions around the battery installation area
- The amount of battery storage you want to add
If this information is available, it becomes much easier to determine the appropriate Wrenstead system and connection method.
What Information Should You Prepare?
Before contacting Wrenstead or placing an order, prepare as much of the following information as possible.
1. Solar Panel Information
- Panel manufacturer
- Panel model number
- Panel wattage
- Number of panels
- Photos of the panel label, if available
2. Inverter or Microinverter Information
- Manufacturer
- Model number
- Input and output specifications
- Photos of the equipment label
The inverter or microinverter is an important part of the compatibility check because different solar installations can use different electrical configurations.
3. Existing System Configuration
If possible, provide basic information about how the current system is arranged.
- Whether the property already has solar only or solar plus battery storage
- Whether a string inverter or microinverters are currently used
- Approximate age of the solar installation
- Any available system diagram or installer documentation
- Photos of the inverter, distribution equipment or existing energy system
4. Battery Installation Location
The intended battery location is also relevant to system planning.
Where possible, provide information about:
- Where the L1024 battery modules will be installed
- Whether the location is indoors, in an outbuilding or another suitable installation area
- The typical temperature conditions in that location
- Available space around the equipment
- Accessibility for installation, inspection and service
Wrenstead UK battery configurations include low-temperature battery heating, but installation conditions should still be considered before ordering.
5. Your Storage Requirement
Tell us how much battery capacity you are considering.
Wrenstead currently offers two main battery-storage configurations for compatible existing-solar systems:
| System | Battery Capacity | Configuration | Low-Temperature Heating | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrenstead Store 1 | 1.024kWh | H1600 + 1 × L1024 | Included — approx. 95W | Compact starting point |
| Wrenstead Store 2 | 2.048kWh | H1600 + 2 × L1024 | Included — approx. 190W total | Higher storage capacity |
If you already have compatible solar equipment, Store 1 or Store 2 may be appropriate depending on the amount of storage you want.
Learn about battery storage for existing solar panels
Starting Without Solar?
If you do not already have a suitable solar system, the compatibility check is different.
Instead of matching battery storage to an existing solar installation, the solar panels, microinverter, Smart Solar Hub and battery configuration should be considered together.
Wrenstead Solar + Store 2 combines:
- 960W solar generation capacity
- 1 × LS-800Mi 800W microinverter
- 1 × H1600 Smart Solar Hub
- 2 × L1024 LiFePO4 battery modules
- 2.048kWh nominal battery storage
- Low-temperature battery heating
- Approx. 190W total battery-heating power when both modules require heating
The property, electrical configuration and intended installation area should still be checked before ordering.
View Wrenstead Solar + Store 2
What Should Be Checked for a Complete Solar + Storage System?
- Available space for the solar panels
- Panel orientation
- Potential shading
- Household electrical configuration
- Suitable system connection
- Battery installation location
- Expected temperature conditions around the battery installation area
- Installation requirements
- Preferred battery capacity
The actual solar generation will vary according to daylight, season, weather, panel orientation, shading and installation conditions.
H1600 Smart Solar Hub Compatibility
The H1600 Smart Solar Hub is the central energy-management component used in Wrenstead battery-storage systems.
It works with the L1024 battery modules and supports compatible solar charging, AC/grid charging and manually configured charging or energy-use schedules.
The H1600 should not be considered a universal replacement for every existing solar inverter.
The existing system must be reviewed to determine the appropriate connection arrangement.
View the H1600 Smart Solar Hub
L1024 Battery Configuration
The L1024 is the LiFePO4 battery-storage module used in Wrenstead systems.
Wrenstead Store 1 uses one L1024 battery for 1.024kWh of nominal storage.
Wrenstead Store 2 and Solar + Store 2 use two L1024 batteries for 2.048kWh of nominal storage.
The Wrenstead UK configurations use L1024 modules with low-temperature battery heating.
The correct configuration should be selected according to the required storage capacity, the compatibility of the complete system and the intended installation environment.
Cold-Weather Battery Compatibility
The L1024 low-temperature heating function is designed to support battery charging when battery temperature is low.
When a compatible external PV or DC charging source is connected, the battery manages low-temperature heating automatically.
- Below 5°C: battery heating activates automatically.
- Below 0°C: external input power is used to heat the battery cells first. The battery cells are not charged below 0°C.
- At or above 0°C: battery charging can begin while heating continues.
- At approximately 10°C: battery heating stops and normal charging continues.
Each L1024 battery module uses approximately 95W of heating power when heating is required.
Store 1 therefore uses approximately 95W, while Store 2 and Solar + Store 2 use approximately 190W total when both battery modules require heating.
The heating energy is supplied by the connected external PV or compatible DC charging source rather than being drawn from the battery's stored energy.
The battery charging temperature range begins at 0°C. The -20°C figure refers to the lower limit of the specified discharge temperature range, not the charging temperature.
Low-temperature heating does not remove the need to consider the intended battery installation environment when checking system suitability.
Can the Battery Charge from the Grid?
Yes. The H1600 supports AC/grid charging.
This means Wrenstead battery storage can be configured to charge during selected periods in addition to compatible solar charging.
Charging schedules are configured manually by the user.
Does Wrenstead Automatically Check UK Electricity Tariffs?
No.
The current system does not automatically retrieve live or dynamic electricity tariff information from UK energy suppliers.
Users configure their own preferred charging and energy-use periods according to their electricity plan.
This means compatibility with a particular electricity tariff is mainly a question of how the customer chooses to schedule the system rather than the system automatically selecting tariff periods.
Installation Compatibility
Solar and battery storage equipment should not be assumed to use the same installation method at every property.
The appropriate installation method depends on:
- The existing solar equipment
- The household electrical arrangement
- The required Wrenstead configuration
- The intended connection method
- The proposed battery and Smart Solar Hub location
- The expected operating environment
- Applicable installation requirements
Compatibility and installation requirements should therefore be confirmed before the equipment is connected.
Read Installation & Connection information
Which Wrenstead System Are You Considering?
| System | Best Starting Point | Battery Capacity | Low-Temperature Heating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store 1 | Existing compatible solar, lower storage requirement | 1.024kWh | Included — approx. 95W |
| Store 2 | Existing compatible solar, higher storage requirement | 2.048kWh | Included — approx. 190W total |
| Solar + Store 2 | Starting without a suitable solar system | 2.048kWh | Included — approx. 190W total |
Before You Contact Wrenstead
For the fastest compatibility review, prepare:
- Photos of your existing solar panels or panel labels
- Photo of your inverter or microinverter label
- Number and wattage of your solar panels
- Any available voltage and current specifications
- Photos of the existing solar or electrical equipment
- Information about the intended battery installation location
- Typical temperature conditions at the intended installation location
- The Wrenstead system you are considering
If you do not have every specification, send the information and photos that are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Wrenstead Store 1 or Store 2 work with every solar system?
No. Compatibility depends on the existing solar panels, inverter or microinverter, electrical configuration and intended connection method.
Do I need to replace my current solar panels?
Not necessarily. Customers with an existing compatible solar setup may be able to add battery storage without replacing the complete solar system.
Do I need to replace my existing inverter?
Not automatically. The existing inverter and system configuration should first be reviewed before deciding how Wrenstead storage should be connected.
Can I use Store 2 if I already have solar panels?
Potentially, yes. Store 2 is primarily positioned as a 2.048kWh storage option for households with compatible existing solar equipment.
What if I do not already have solar panels?
Solar + Store 2 is designed as a complete starting system combining 960W solar generation, the LS-800Mi microinverter, H1600 Smart Solar Hub and 2.048kWh of L1024 battery storage.
Can Wrenstead batteries charge in cold conditions?
Yes. Wrenstead UK configurations use L1024 battery modules with low-temperature heating.
Heating activates below 5°C when a compatible external charging source is connected. If the battery is below 0°C, the cells are heated first. Battery charging can begin at 0°C or above, while heating continues until approximately 10°C.
Does low-temperature heating mean installation temperature no longer matters?
No. Low-temperature heating supports cold-weather charging, but the intended battery location and operating environment should still be considered as part of the system compatibility and installation review.
Can I send photos instead of technical specifications?
Yes. Clear photos of panel labels, inverter labels and existing equipment can help identify the system, although additional technical information may still be required.
Check First. Choose the Right System.
A compatibility check helps avoid choosing battery capacity or connection equipment before understanding the solar, electrical and installation conditions at the property.
Start with your existing equipment, decide how much storage you need, consider the intended installation environment, and then choose the appropriate Wrenstead configuration.
Learn How Wrenstead Solar Battery Storage Works | Compare Systems | Contact Wrenstead Energy