Does solar power affect neighbours electricity?

[anabella99]

Our neighbours recently had solar panels installed and yesterday our electricity went a bit crazy. When I went to switch the kitchen light on, it flashed and went out, and caused all the downstairs lights to fail. The under cupboard lights were fine, as were the sockets. I checked the fuse box, but the fuse for downstairs lights hadn't tripped. Everything looked ok. After about 20 mins the lights suddnly came back on, but flickering all over the place for about 10 mins. I switched them off, for safety's sake.
After another hour or so, I switched them on again and they were fine, but the electric cooker clock wasn't working, it just said 'Stop.' Later on the doorbell stopped working.
Overnight, the cooker clock was on but managed to lose 2 hours? My husband's an electrical engineer but couldn't find any fault in our house, so we're wondering if it's down to the neighbour's solar power? I should point out that we live in detached houses.
Has anyone else had this sort of experience, and could anyone please offer advice?
Many thanks.

[The Builder]

Sounds like a supply problem rather than anything in your house.
Next door possibly, not only provides their own power, but puts any excess into the Grid. If they have this system, then I guess it's possible that the necessary switchgear is playing around with the local supply.
If not, it may well be that the Supply Company was testing, or bedding the system in.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Are you on an estate or isolated....are you fed from underground or overhead...

[anabella99]

Thanks for the answers so far. We live in a small village, not an estate but not isolated either.
We tried the downstairs lights again last night, and they completely refuse to work at all now. My husband checked the kitchen light switch, and the 'rings' in the dining room and lounge, but the lights in the kitchen are spotlights set into the ceiling. Any ideas? thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

You seem to suggest problems with the lights but not other things, last night. Can't see that being a factor of the supply into your property. May be worth getting as sparky in to check.

Even spotlights can be removed if you know how - probably a spring ring holding them in. Would need to check you are getting power after the breaker in the box. And on to the light fittings / wall switches. Either it's getting there or it isn't.

[factor-fiction]

I'm no electrician but I'd be very surprised if it was directly due to the solar panels.
Have your neighbours (the ones with the panels) and any other nearby residents had problems?

[The Builder]

Ahhh, with a bit more info now.............. I take it all back. If you have power but the lights aren't working, then It really can't be anything to do with next doors arrangement.

Do you have MCBs? (miniature circuit breakers) instead of old-fashioned fuses. They have a little switch on them that you push up to put them ON.
It sounds exactly as though your lighting MCB ....... a 6A one, has packed up. It could easily had a bit of a death rattle as it went wrong. Lights on/off etc etc ...................... not common, but possible.
Replace it to see if it is.

[Ujjalseo]

It should not be occurred due to the installation of the solar power panels. Still you can talk to them in this matter or can consult some professional about this.