NEVER BE WITHOUT POWER WITH A CHANGEOVER SWITCH
Updated June 20th, 2025
By Morgan Pierce
“So, who are you leaving your solar panels to?”
You know that something has attained covetable status, when your relations – or your creditors – begin to squabble about who gets it after your demise. A recent letter to The Observer’s financial agony aunt made it clear that solar has reached that milestone.
In the case of this letter-writer, a new widow was asking whether and how she could prove to her energy company that she was the rightful “owner” of the panels that she and her husband had installed on their roof, and thus also the rightful recipient of the feed-in tariff income the panels are generating. With the wisdom of Solomon, the “auntie” pointed out that – happy days! – since her late husband had left her both the house and all his other possessions in his Will, she was well and truly covered.
We’re always looking for ways to ensure that our customers are just as well and truly covered no matter what the circumstances.
By now readers of this blog know that they can feel confident that the Irish sun can generate sufficient energy to power homes and businesses. They’ll have learned, too, the utility of adding a battery for storage to the system they install. And like the widow mentioned above they have learned the value of selling the excess energy their solar generates back to the Grid.
What Is A Changeover Switch?
What, though, happens to a grid-linked solar system when there is a power outage? Doesn’t it shut down too?
The answer is simple. No, not if it has a “changeover switch”.
A changeover switch acts as a bridge to enable a continuous supply of power even during a power outage.
When electricity from the grid is uninterrupted, the switch remains “off” allowing the electricity from the grid or generated by the solar panels to flow to appliances, heat, or your back-up battery.
Some installers supply “manual” changeover switches. They cost a bit less, but we have come to think they would rather defeat the purpose. Power outages or loss of supply are usually unscheduled events. A manual switch requires someone to be there to activate it – which is often just not physically possible.
We are now recommending and fitting “automatic” changeover switches. The ones we use detect power loss or interruption of supply and independently switch to your backup source (i.e. your solar panels and/ or battery). When power is restored, it then automatically switches back.
Automated changeover switches not only ensure a continuous power supply to homes and businesses using solar, they also ensure the safety of utility workers and equipment by preventing the “backfeeding” of electricity from your home onto the grid.
The “manual” and “automatic” changeover switches we use are fully compliant with Irish electrical standards, ensure a safe and seamless transition to off-grid solar power, offering peace of mind like never before.
With this “Look Mam, no hands” technology, you’ll be safely powering your home while the rest of the neighbourhood sits in darkness. (Rather than gloating, it offers you a great opportunity to fire up the coffee pot chance to be a good neighbour!)
With a solar system from SolarSmart, your home will be “well and truly covered” no matter the circumstances.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.
