APsystems EZ1-M in the UK: is it legal for plug-in solar?
The EZ1-M is exactly the sort of microinverter people think of when they hear “balcony solar”: compact, two panel inputs, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a 799VA version that sits very close to the new UK 800VA limit.
But the important question after 27 August is no longer just whether the inverter is technically capable or G98 suitable. It is whether the complete product you buy meets the UK Interim Product Specification.
The key answer: I would not tell an existing EZ1-M owner that buying a suitable BS 1363 lead on its own automatically makes the setup legal under the new UK plug-in solar framework.
The final rules are written around a complete manufacturer-supplied product, including the inverter, panels, plug and lead, mounting arrangement and instructions.
What is the APsystems EZ1-M?
APsystems markets the EZ1 series specifically for balcony and DIY solar. The EZ1-M / EZ1-H family uses two independent MPPT inputs, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, IP67 protection and an integrated safety relay.
APsystems lists output variants including 600VA, 799VA and 960VA, depending on model and configuration. That 799VA variant is one reason the EZ1-M has attracted so much attention in the UK plug-in solar discussion.
Is the EZ1-M G98 capable?
The EZ1 platform is designed for grid-connected operation and APsystems provides European compliance documentation for the range. G98 suitability and the exact network reference for the model being used still need to be checked against the current ENA/DNO information supplied for the actual product.
That network side matters because the inverter needs the correct loss-of-mains, voltage and frequency behaviour.
But this is where people need to stop making the next leap:
G98 suitability does not equal complete plug-in solar compliance.
G98 is about connecting generation safely to the network. The new plug-in solar IPS adds product requirements around the plug, lead, output limit, mounting, consumer instructions, circuit checks and complete supplied configuration.
So can I just buy a UK power lead for my existing EZ1-M?
This is the question I expect a lot of existing owners to ask.
Technically, the EZ1-M can be supplied with different AC connection accessories in different markets. But the new UK rules are not simply a permission slip for owners to retrofit any suitable-looking lead to existing hardware.
The final IPS requires a manufacturer-supplied non-rewireable BS 1363 plug fitted with a 5A fuse as part of the plug-in solar product.
So if you bought an EZ1-M separately before the new framework, then later buy a UK plug lead separately, I would not describe that combination as automatically compliant with the new IPS unless APsystems or another manufacturer has placed that exact complete configuration on the UK market with the required documentation.
What would make an EZ1-based UK product different?
There is nothing in the final specification that says an APsystems EZ1 cannot be used inside a compliant UK plug-in solar product.
A manufacturer could potentially build a compliant product around it, but the product would need to be supplied and documented as a whole. That would include:
- the exact EZ1 variant and approved operating settings,
- the solar module configuration,
- the manufacturer-supplied BS 1363 lead and 5A fuse,
- the permitted mounting arrangement,
- consumer-unit and circuit-check instructions,
- DNO/G98 notification information,
- labels and safety information, and
- evidence that the complete product meets the final IPS.
That is the distinction I think most online listings will fail to explain.
What about the 799VA output?
APsystems advertises an EZ1 output variant of 799VA. The final UK IPS limits a plug-in solar product to 800VA continuous AC output and 3.5A continuous AC current.
On paper, 799VA is obviously in the right area. But matching one headline number is not enough to establish compliance with the rest of the specification.
This is the same mistake as saying “it is under 800W, so it must be legal.” The output figure is only one requirement.
What about the 960VA EZ1-H?
The 960VA variant should not be assumed to fit the new UK plug-in product category just because it is part of the same EZ1 family.
The final UK IPS sets the plug-in solar output ceiling at 800VA. So the exact model, firmware/settings and declared product configuration matter.
Panel matching still matters
The EZ1 is built around two independent panel inputs, which is one of the reasons it suits small balcony-style systems well.
But panel wattage is not the only thing to check. You still need to stay within the inverter's DC voltage, current and MPPT limits for the exact model.
Do not wire panels in series or parallel simply because the new UK framework allows up to 2,000W of connected PV modules. The permitted module arrangement must be part of the product design.
Read the microinverter safety guide for the voltage/current side and the 800VA / 2,000W guide for the power limits.
Does anti-islanding make it safe in a power cut?
The EZ1 is grid-connected equipment and includes the safety functions expected of that type of microinverter. If the mains supply fails, normal grid-connected operation stops.
That means it does not turn a socket into backup power during a blackout.
Can I keep using an existing EZ1 installation?
This is where I would separate technical operation from the new legal product route.
An existing installation may use a perfectly capable inverter and may have been connected under whatever electrical/network route applied when it was installed. That is not the same question as whether retrofitting a plug puts it inside the new 27 August consumer-product regime.
If you already own an EZ1-M and want to know exactly where you stand, I would check:
- how it is currently connected,
- whether the DNO has been notified,
- what electrical work was carried out,
- the exact inverter model and settings,
- the circuit and protection used, and
- whether APsystems has issued any UK-specific IPS product documentation for your exact configuration.
What if APsystems launches a UK-compliant EZ1 kit?
Then this page will change.
If APsystems or an authorised product manufacturer releases a complete EZ1-based UK kit with clear evidence against the final IPS, that would be a very different proposition from buying an inverter and cable separately.
At that point I would want to see the complete product documentation before calling it compliant: exact model, modules, lead, plug/fuse, mounting, instructions and UK declaration/evidence.
My view of the EZ1-M
As a microinverter platform, I still think the EZ1-M makes a lot of sense for small solar. Two MPPTs, simple monitoring and a sub-800VA variant are exactly the sort of features a UK plug-in product could use.
What I would not do is blur that into a claim that every EZ1-M already sitting in somebody's garage becomes legal on 27 August by buying a lead.
The new route is deliberately product-based. If APsystems wants the EZ1 to be part of that UK market, the cleanest route is a complete documented UK product rather than leaving customers to assemble their own interpretation.
What should a buyer check before ordering?
| Check | What I would want to see |
|---|---|
| Exact product name | Not just “EZ1-M inverter”; a complete UK plug-in solar product/kit. |
| Output | Declared continuous AC output within the 800VA / 3.5A IPS limit. |
| Plug and lead | Manufacturer-supplied non-rewireable BS 1363 plug with 5A fuse. |
| Panels | Exact module types/configuration permitted by the product. |
| Mounting | Supplied or approved mounting arrangement included in the compliance story. |
| G98/DNO | Clear current network reference and homeowner notification instructions. |
| UK IPS evidence | Clear manufacturer documentation showing the complete product is intended to meet the final UK specification. |
One final warning: marketplace listings using phrases such as “UK legal”, “G98 approved”, “799W compliant” or “plug and play” are not enough on their own. Ask for the documentation for the complete product.
Sources
Common questions
Is the APsystems EZ1-M legal for UK plug-in solar?
The inverter itself may be technically suitable for small grid-connected solar, but the new UK route applies to a complete IPS-compliant product. Do not treat the inverter alone as proof of compliance.
Can APsystems send me a UK lead and make my old EZ1-M compliant?
A manufacturer-supplied lead is one requirement, but the final framework covers the whole product. Unless the manufacturer confirms your exact configuration as part of a compliant UK product, I would not assume the lead alone changes its legal status.
Is the 799VA version inside the UK 800VA limit?
799VA is below the headline 800VA limit, but that does not prove compliance with the rest of the IPS.
Can I use the 960VA version?
Do not assume so for the new plug-in route. The IPS ceiling is 800VA continuous AC output.
Related guides
Product status can change. This page reflects the public APsystems information and final UK framework available on 18 August 2026. If APsystems publishes a specific UK IPS-compliant EZ1 product, this page should be updated accordingly.