A garden, terrace or shed may suit small solar, but the mounting and electrical route must fit the site. A long extension lead across the lawn is not an acceptable shortcut.
Find the useful sunlight
An open garden can offer more choice of direction and tilt than a balcony. Check shadows from the house, fences and trees, including seasonal changes.
Allow access without stepping on panels or cables. Consider gardening, children, pets and accidental impacts when choosing the position.
Mounting and wind
Use the manufacturer’s fixing or ballast design. A panel tilted towards the sun also catches wind. Guessing the ballast or improvising supports is not a reliable design.
The whole assembly and the surface beneath it need to be suitable. Heavy paving slabs alone do not establish that a system is safe.
Can the shed carry it?
The roof, frame and foundations must take the extra loads. The appearance of the roof covering does not establish the capacity of the structure underneath. Seek a structural assessment where needed.
Consider waterproofing and safe access too. Do not climb onto a lightweight shed roof to fit panels.
Plan the connection before buying
Confirm the permitted cable route and supplied lead length. The IPS does not allow connecting the device through extension leads or adaptors.
If fixed wiring or a new outdoor socket is needed, include a qualified electrician’s work in the budget. Check relevant property permissions before ordering.
Prepared from the linked sources. This is guidance, not a product certification or an assessment of your home. Tell us about a correction.