14
Electrical
news
Solar alteration
requirements
By John Stolk, ESV Compliance Officer
In Victoria an alteration to a solar installation
is classed as prescribed electrical installation
work, which requires the work to be inspected
by a Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI) and a
Prescribed Certificate of Electrical Safety to be
issued before the solar installation can be used.
Listed are common requirements that apply
to existing solar installations when altered, added
to or re-configured. These requirements address
typical alterations to solar installations; they cannot
address every scenario.
a. If the inverter’s capacity can accommodate
additional panels or altered configuration,
the inverter can remain, otherwise an
upgrade is required.
b. All existing and new panels shall be connected
to the installation’s earthing system. This
requirement is to prevent the possibility
of voltage gradients and creates a safer
installation. Reference Equipotential Bonding—
Clause 5.6 of AS/NZS 3000:2007—Wiring Rules.
c. String wiring must be installed as per
AS/NZS 5033:2012—Installation and safety
requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
d. The restricted use of cable ties apply
to new and existing work as per AS/
NZS 5033:2012—Installation and safety
requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
e. Existing isolating devices must to be replaced
when identified as:
i. not having the correct voltage rating for an
earthed array system (1.2 X Voc);
ii. polarised circuit breakers
iii. rated for AC voltage only
iv. f the enclosure is not protected against UV
i
v. if the enclosure is not mounted as required by
the manufacture and diminishes the IP rating
f. Existing cables that are suitably rated for
purpose (DC rated cable), and cables that
complied with the minimum requirements of
the Standard at the time of installation, would
not be required to be reinstalled in heavy duty
(HD) conduit.
g. When wiring is relocated or upgraded,
the requirements of AS/NZS 5033:2012—
Installation and safety requirements for
photovoltaic (PV) arrays and AS/NZS
3000:2007—Wiring Rules apply.
h. Where TPS cables (suitable for AC) are
installed between the solar array and the
inverter, and solar array is reconfigured or
added to, the TPS cable shall be replaced
with suitably rated DC cable.
See pg 16 and 17 for further
information on solar alterations
or go to www.esv.vic.gov.au
Additional 2 Panels with Bonding and upgraded isolating device
Existing Solar Panel Array
Isolating device
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Roof Configuration
Inverter
A.C Switchboard
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+
+
Isolating device
+
A
N
E
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Scenario one (above)—Adding new panels to an existing array: Original array configured with six panels
in series, the alteration consists of installing an additional two new panels in series. If the existing cables
or isolating devices do not have the current carrying capacity or voltage rating they must be upgraded to
comply with current standards and requirements.
Existing Solar Panel Array
Additional 2 Panels with Bonding
and upgraded isolating device
Isolating device
-
Roof configuration
Inverter
A.C Switchboard
-
+
+
Isolating device
A
N
E
Scenario two (as shown above)—Adding new panels to an existing string but changing
the configuration of the existing string: The original array configured with 10 panels in
series, the alteration consists of installing an additional two new panels in the series but
the configuration of the array is to be in two strings of six. If the isolating devices do not
have the current carrying capacity, they must be upgraded to comply with current
standards and requirements.
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