Notes on safer, smarter solar.
How optimisers, MPPT and rapid shutdown work, and what they mean for UK installs. Plus a real Stockport case study.
We're exhibiting at Enlit Europe 2026 in Vienna this week
We're exhibiting at Enlit Europe in Vienna until Thursday 12 November. Find us on stand B.h52 to see the Archai system and our grid platforms.
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Rapid shutdown at panel level: what it actually means on a UK roof
A string of 14 panels can sit at nearly 700 V DC in daylight. Here's how panel-level rapid shutdown brings that down to a few volts, and how to check it on site.
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Why connectors matter: genuine Stäubli MC4, cross-mating and DC arc faults
The connector is the cheapest part of a PV system and one of the commonest points of failure. Here's what goes on inside an MC4 and why mixing brands is a risk.
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PLC vs Wi-Fi: why our monitoring runs over the DC cable
Wi-Fi on the roof is one of the commonest causes of monitoring callbacks. Here's how power line communication works and why we chose it.
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Designing a string with optimisers: a worked example
Optimisers don't change how you design to the inverter. They add three quick checks per panel. Here's a worked example, start to finish.
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Will Archai work with my inverter? Where we stand with Solis and Fox ESS
A plain answer to the question we get asked most: which inverters Archai is certified with, which models we've confirmed, and what's still in testing.
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Case study: residential PV with Archai optimisers, Stockport
A Stockport home with partly shaded strings: Archai optimisers and SolarSync monitoring, with a 10–15% uplift on the shaded strings.
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How solar optimisers work, and when they're worth fitting
In a plain string, the weakest panel sets the pace. Here's how panel-level optimisers change that, where they make a real difference, and where they don't.
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Optimisers or microinverters? A fair comparison for UK installers
Both give you panel-level MPPT and panel-level data. The real differences are where the power is converted, how batteries connect, and what's on the roof.
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Solar PV and fire safety: what actually reduces the risk
PV fires are rare, but when they happen the DC side is usually involved. Here are the practical things that reduce the risk, from connectors to shutdown.
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What is MPPT, and why does it matter for solar?
MPPT keeps a panel working at its most productive point as light and temperature change. Here's what it does, and why doing it at every panel matters.
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