plug-in solar battery · checked 2026-09-21
Fox ESS MiniQube
A compact battery that scales from 2.11 to 10.55 kWh, takes solar panels directly, and can even run appliances from its own socket off-grid. Fox ESS is unusually honest: until battery plug-in rules exist, it must go on a dedicated circuit under existing wiring and grid rules. A UK retail listing now puts a real price on the master unit, which Fox ESS itself does not publish.
- Base storage
- 2.11 kWh
- Connection
- Electrician connection
Price snapshot
£999
£999 including VAT (£832.50 excluding VAT) for the Fox Mini Qube 2.11 kWh Master Hybrid, model MQ2200-M-H, at Power Xpress. Listing shows in stock, checked 17 October 2026. Expansion modules and installation are separate.
Source: Power Xpress UK: Fox ESS Mini Qube 2.11kWh Master Hybrid Unit · checked 2026-10-17
UK rules check
Rules checked. Maker's UK position verified: dedicated circuit under current wiring rules, grid standard G98 where applicable. No blanket plug-in approval claimed. Page read via archived copy 2026-08-08; the live page returned an error on 2026-09-03 and still served a bot check on 2026-09-21, so this note is unchanged rather than re-confirmed.
Checked 2026-09-03
Works with or without a meter; a wired meter gives fuller tariff control, a wireless one is in testing. Phone-app scheduling included, with FoxCloud V2.0 monitoring on the retailer listing we read. The IP65 rating means it can sit indoors or outdoors, which matters for flats with no plant room.
Who it suits
- Flats and retrofits where a small, simple box beats a full install
- Solar self-use by day plus cheap-tariff charging by night
- Anyone who wants a battery that can also leave the house as portable power
Who should skip it
- Anyone expecting a settled plug-in rulebook: Fox ESS says the framework isn't defined yet
- Whole-home backup at the small end: 2.11 kWh covers essentials only
- Buyers who want a maker-published price: Fox ESS still gives none, so you depend on shop listings
What you need
- A dedicated circuit per the maker's own UK note, not a shared ring main
- An electrician for anything connected to house wiring, working to current wiring regulations
- The DNO route confirmed before ordering: G98 notification where it applies, prior approval if it does not
- A WiFi connection and a FoxCloud account for scheduling and monitoring
- A smart meter if you want cheap-tariff charging to be automatic rather than manual
- Rare honesty: the maker spells out the regulatory gap instead of hiding it
- Grows in small steps from 2.11 to 10.55 kWh, and stacks up to four units
- Panels plug in directly on the hybrid version; doubles as portable power
- A UK retail listing now carries a real price and stock level, so it can be compared like for like
- Still needs a dedicated circuit under current UK rules: not casual plug-and-play
- The maker publishes no price at all, so the price you see is a shop's, not Fox ESS's
- The UK listing we read names European connection standards (EN50549, VDE4105, C10/11) and does not list an ENA G98 certificate, so ask for the current certificate for the exact model
- Warranty and cycle-life figures here come from a retailer listing, not a maker datasheet we could open
Common questions
Can I just plug the MiniQube into any socket?
The box is designed for it, but Fox ESS's own UK guidance says: until plug-in battery rules exist, install on a dedicated circuit following current wiring regulations and grid standard G98 where it applies. Ask an electrician.
What versions of the Fox ESS MiniQube are there?
A master hybrid unit and Slave expansion modules. The master carries the inverter and the four PV inputs on the hybrid version and can work with no panels at all; Slave modules add capacity, and the retailer listing we read says a system runs to four units and 10.55 kWh. Check which version a price refers to before comparing, because a battery-only master and a hybrid master are different purchases.
How much does the Fox ESS MiniQube cost in the UK?
Power Xpress lists the 2.11 kWh Master Hybrid, model MQ2200-M-H, at £999 including VAT (£832.50 excluding), in stock when checked 17 October 2026. Expansion modules and installation are separate. Fox ESS itself does not publish a price.
Does the MiniQube need a G98 notification or DNO approval?
It depends on how it is connected, not on the battery size. Fox ESS's own UK note points to a dedicated circuit and to grid standard G98 where it applies. If the unit can push power into your house wiring alongside the grid, the G98 or G99 route has to be settled with your network operator before you order. Our G98 home battery guide sets out which route applies to which size and what the form needs.
What can I run from the MiniQube's own socket?
The maker and the UK retail listing both rate that socket at up to 1.2 kW, which is a few appliances, not a house supply. Treat it as off-grid portable power for tools, lighting or a fridge rather than a way to cover a home. Anything that feeds your consumer unit is a wiring job, not a socket job.
Is the MiniQube the same product as the Octopus Nook Cube?
They look similar and are often discussed together, but we cannot confirm it. Octopus describes its Nook Cube as a 2 kWh plug-in battery for renters and flats, while this unit is a 2.11 kWh master plus expansion modules. A post on the independent owners and installers forum foxesscommunity.com states the Nook is the MiniQube under another name, and Octopus has not confirmed the hardware, so treat that as an unconfirmed link rather than a fact.
Worth comparing with
Sources
- Fox ESS UK — MiniQube product page (size, socket install, meter options, UK compliance note)checked 2026-09-03
- Fox ESS UK Tech Hub — MiniQube (plug-in battery, 2.11–10.55 kWh capacity range)checked 2026-09-21
- Power Xpress UK listing — Fox ESS Mini Qube 2.11kWh Master Hybrid Unit (price, stock, model MQ2200-M-H, LFP, IP65, cycle life, warranty, connection standards)checked 2026-09-21