[Question] Solar inverter installations

[Tradie]

Do you fit a single or double pole circuit breaker feeding the inverter AC control DB.

Then a double pole main switch inside the AC control and a double pole inverter input breaker to the inverter.

From the inverter output to a double pole circuit breaker , then to a double pole main switch in the essential sub DB?

I hear rumours that that the NRS requirement, if that they all have to be double pole breakers from the main DB to the AV control, to the inverter, from the inverter, to the sub DB ?

The way I see it, like an aircon or stove, you fit a single pole breaker to protect the wire, then a double isolator to isolate the sub DB, aircon, stove?

[GCE]

Do you fit a single or double pole circuit breaker feeding the inverter AC control DB.

Then a double pole main switch inside the AC control and a double pole inverter input breaker to the inverter.

From the inverter output to a double pole circuit breaker , then to a double pole main switch in the essential sub DB?

I hear rumours that that the NRS requirement, if that they all have to be double pole breakers from the main DB to the AV control, to the inverter, from the inverter, to the sub DB ?

The way I see it, like an aircon or stove, you fit a single pole breaker to protect the wire, then a double isolator to isolate the sub DB, aircon, stove?

A little different as the inverter is generating 2 phases which when the one phase is earth becomes a neutral - Besides isolating you also need to protect

[Tradie]

The question is where do you start with the double circuit breakers and isolators, do all the breaker have to be double pole from the main DB feeding the AC control box.

Main DB - inverter AC control DB supply - double pole circuit breaker.

The AC control DB - double pole main switch.

The AC control DB - inverter input - double pole combo breaker like we use for a geyser.

The AC control DB - inverter output - double pole combo breaker.

Essential DB - double pole main switch.

Note!

The neutral earth is bonded which which converts the inverter from a class II devices to a class I device. IT is only when the inverter is in islanding mode that it the classification of the inverter is taken into consideration.

[Tradie]

If you decide to turn the job into a more complicated installation by installing an AC control DB with an inverter bypass switch, and not just a straight forward isolator for the input and an isolator for the output, where you you fit the double pole breaker, before the bypass switch or after the bypass switch.

Its time to start adding pictures, because I believe this is a huge challenge we face in the solar industry.

Should we just scrap the AC control, I would say no because on many occasion I have made use of the bypass switch, but we need get the layout right.

Another challenge is the bypass switch current rating, but that is a whole new thread, once we start adding pictures (we tradies love a picture)

[Dave A]

The way I see it, like an aircon or stove, you fit a single pole breaker to protect the wire, then a double isolator to isolate the sub DB, aircon, stove?

6.16.1.2 The power supply to every fixed appliance, except luminaires, shall be supplied through

a) a disconnecting device that disconnects both live conductors in a single-phase supply and all phase conductors in a multiphase supply, or

b) a socket-outlet that is directly accessible at all times that any person is exposed to such appliance while the supply is on. In the case of a remotely installed appliance, the position of the disconnecting device shall be indicated by means of a notice in close proximity to or on the appliance.

And then you get the single phase + neutral (SPN) breakers. We use them mostly as it saves on real estate in the DB and is arguably less confusing as to what one needs to switch to disconnect the target portion of the installation.