DIY Solar Regulations...

C

Computer Nerd Kev

Guest
I\'ve agreed to buy a used 4KW solar system with the intention of
installing it myself on a frame built at ground-level (there are
no nearby trees or structures, so shadow shouldn\'t be a problem).
It\'s coming with an inverter that\'s still a current model, which
I\'ll have to get an electrician to hook up at the meter panel.

I notice that there are a lot of regulations around solar
installations:
https://www.rpc.com.au/information/faq/cables-fuses/do-it-yourself.html

Does anyone know if it will be easy to get an electrician to just
hook the inverter up to the mains without them demanding that the
solar panel installation is inspected first?

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Oh, and state = Victoria.

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Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 18/8/23 9:12 am:
I\'ve agreed to buy a used 4KW solar system with the intention of
installing it myself on a frame built at ground-level (there are
no nearby trees or structures, so shadow shouldn\'t be a problem).
It\'s coming with an inverter that\'s still a current model, which
I\'ll have to get an electrician to hook up at the meter panel.

I notice that there are a lot of regulations around solar
installations:
https://www.rpc.com.au/information/faq/cables-fuses/do-it-yourself.html

Does anyone know if it will be easy to get an electrician to just
hook the inverter up to the mains without them demanding that the
solar panel installation is inspected first?
Click to expand...
(I just made a phone call looking for a local Sparky [Seymour/Kilmore]
to supply and install a Battery to connect to my (already installed)
4.5kW solar system)

Quite possibly you would be able to get the electrican to certify the
panel installation at the same time as they did the hook-up, wouldn\'t you??

--
Daniel
 
Daniel65 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 18/8/23 9:12 am:
I\'ve agreed to buy a used 4KW solar system with the intention of
installing it myself on a frame built at ground-level (there are
no nearby trees or structures, so shadow shouldn\'t be a problem).
It\'s coming with an inverter that\'s still a current model, which
I\'ll have to get an electrician to hook up at the meter panel.

I notice that there are a lot of regulations around solar
installations:
https://www.rpc.com.au/information/faq/cables-fuses/do-it-yourself.html

Does anyone know if it will be easy to get an electrician to just
hook the inverter up to the mains without them demanding that the
solar panel installation is inspected first?

(I just made a phone call looking for a local Sparky [Seymour/Kilmore]
to supply and install a Battery to connect to my (already installed)
4.5kW solar system)

Quite possibly you would be able to get the electrican to certify the
panel installation at the same time as they did the hook-up, wouldn\'t
you??
Click to expand...

Would I? I\'m not sure whether someone would need to asses the
structure of the frame etc. too. Plus if they do need to certify
something, then I need to find (looks like buy) the applicable
standards to see what the requirements are before I start.

Hopefully nothing needs to be certified except the inverter (which
should be fine because it\'s a current model), in which case it
won\'t be an issue. I need to know before I get to work on it
though.

--
__ __
#_ < |\\| |< _#
 
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 18/8/23 6:01 pm:
Daniel65 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
Computer Nerd Kev wrote on 18/8/23 9:12 am:
I\'ve agreed to buy a used 4KW solar system with the intention of
installing it myself on a frame built at ground-level (there are
no nearby trees or structures, so shadow shouldn\'t be a problem).
It\'s coming with an inverter that\'s still a current model, which
I\'ll have to get an electrician to hook up at the meter panel.

I notice that there are a lot of regulations around solar
installations:
https://www.rpc.com.au/information/faq/cables-fuses/do-it-yourself.html

Does anyone know if it will be easy to get an electrician to just
hook the inverter up to the mains without them demanding that the
solar panel installation is inspected first?

(I just made a phone call looking for a local Sparky [Seymour/Kilmore]
to supply and install a Battery to connect to my (already installed)
4.5kW solar system)

Quite possibly you would be able to get the electrican to certify the
panel installation at the same time as they did the hook-up, wouldn\'t
you??

Would I? I\'m not sure whether someone would need to asses the
structure of the frame etc. too. Plus if they do need to certify
something, then I need to find (looks like buy) the applicable
standards to see what the requirements are before I start.

Hopefully nothing needs to be certified except the inverter (which
should be fine because it\'s a current model), in which case it
won\'t be an issue. I need to know before I get to work on it
though.
Click to expand...
Give your friendly neighbour Sparky a ring, I guess. The one you are
gunna get to certify the inverter or, maybe better yet, another
independant one!

--
Daniel
 
On Fri, 18 Aug 2023 09:12:51 +1000, Computer Nerd Kev
<not@telling.you.invalid> wrote:

I\'ve agreed to buy a used 4KW solar system with the intention of
installing it myself on a frame built at ground-level (there are
no nearby trees or structures, so shadow shouldn\'t be a problem).
It\'s coming with an inverter that\'s still a current model, which
I\'ll have to get an electrician to hook up at the meter panel.

I notice that there are a lot of regulations around solar
installations:
https://www.rpc.com.au/information/faq/cables-fuses/do-it-yourself.html

Does anyone know if it will be easy to get an electrician to just
hook the inverter up to the mains without them demanding that the
solar panel installation is inspected first?
Click to expand...

Depends on who you know electrician wise.
 
Daniel65 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
> Give your friendly neighbour Sparky a ring, I guess.

Hmm, if it comes to that I guess. I\'d prefer ganeral advice though
in case I end up using a different one by the time I\'ve got
everything set up. I\'m in the country so there isn\'t a \"neighbour\"
sparky as such. It\'s a matter of who\'se willing to make the drive,
and ideally for a fee that\'s not completely disproportionate to the
$500 I\'m paying for the solar system, although I\'m braced for
disappointment on that front.

The one you are gunna get to certify the inverter or, maybe
better yet, another independant one!
Click to expand...

Yeah I guess if I ring around enough I can work out the general
advice for myself eventually. The inverter is _already_ certified
though, with an AS / NZS 4777.2: 2020 certificate of conformity
downloadable from the manufacturer\'s website. As it should be,
given that distributors are still selling the model. Getting one
certified by a lab would surely cost a fortune, which is where I
wonder about how much of a dealbreaker it might be if something
else turns out to need certification as well.

Lack of AS / NZS 4777 certification is apparantly why \"plug-in\"
type solar inverters aren\'t allowed to be used in Australia:
https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/plug-in-grid-connectsolar-inverters/

--
__ __
#_ < |\\| |< _#
 
On 19/08/2023 8:26 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
Daniel65 <daniel47@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
Give your friendly neighbour Sparky a ring, I guess.

Hmm, if it comes to that I guess. I\'d prefer ganeral advice though
in case I end up using a different one by the time I\'ve got
everything set up. I\'m in the country so there isn\'t a \"neighbour\"
sparky as such. It\'s a matter of who\'se willing to make the drive,
and ideally for a fee that\'s not completely disproportionate to the
$500 I\'m paying for the solar system, although I\'m braced for
disappointment on that front.

The one you are gunna get to certify the inverter or, maybe
better yet, another independant one!

Yeah I guess if I ring around enough I can work out the general
advice for myself eventually. The inverter is _already_ certified
though, with an AS / NZS 4777.2: 2020 certificate of conformity
downloadable from the manufacturer\'s website. As it should be,
given that distributors are still selling the model. Getting one
certified by a lab would surely cost a fortune, which is where I
wonder about how much of a dealbreaker it might be if something
else turns out to need certification as well.

Lack of AS / NZS 4777 certification is apparantly why \"plug-in\"
type solar inverters aren\'t allowed to be used in Australia:
https://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/plug-in-grid-connectsolar-inverters/
Click to expand...

Seems to be no problem in Germany. Anyone can use plug in solar up to 600W:
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/04/25/tuv-offers-guidance-on-plug-in-balcony-solar-panels/
 
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