WHO MAY INSTALL SOLAR SYSTEMS

[GCE]

This seems to be a question coming up all the time and the so called Solar installers that are springing up all over that have no Electrical background and DIY projects happening is scary and dangerous

Only registered Electrical Contractors may install Solar(PV) systems

The OHSA and SANS 10142-1 are clear and there is no grey area

To Be an Electrical Contractor he must be able to produce a Registration Certificate as an Electrical contractor issued by the Department of Employment and Labour and be able produce registration with the National Electrical Bargaining Council ( NBCEI)

If those documents cannot be produced he is not an Electrical Contractor and cannot install PV/Solar Installation.

We continually have the statement made that Solar installers are suppliers of electricity and that the isolator to the AC connect point is the point of control and therefore does not have to be carried out by an Electrical contractor as it is not part of the Electrical Installation – This is a Myth or to put stronger a blatant lie
This is a myth and the OHSA and Electrical regulations SANS 10142-1 ED3.01 have clarified and removed any doubt.
The definitions have defined that the consumer is responsible if he generates electricity for himself and the consumer ( definition below) needs to have a COC to legally use the electrical installation.
Definition of electrical installation ( Clause 3.33) clearly includes PV and it includes the brackets that panels are mounted on , trunking , conduit etc
The Electrical Contractor needs to be in General control of the job , not just the connections , the complete works including all wireways , bracketing etc

The point of control definition pasted below is only the point of control if supplied by the " supplier" as defined - If it is the consumers PV system then the isolator for the system is not the point of control.

The installation of Alternative supply including the DC section shall comply with SANS 10142-1 - Section 7.12 of SANS 10142-1 reinforces that including the foreword of SANS 10142-1
If you go over 1,5Kv DC , then you need to go to SANS 10142-2 for MV installations

Pv installations can only be done by Electrical Contractors and that Contractor must employ an Installation licensed electrician or Master Installation Electrician
A licenced single phase tester cannot work with DC and may therefore not sign off on DC installations which would include PV Inverters nor any 3 phase installations.
If a Single phase tester is requested to issue a COC for a premises where inverters( DC involved) or PV system is installed because the property is being sold , he shall not issue the COC as he is legal prohibited from doing so as per Annex M of SANS 10142-1

As Electrical Contractors it is mandatory to belong to the NBCEI.

The " PV Green card " is not a recognized statutory qualification
As the consumer you are held responsible by the regulations and your insurance company could dismiss any claims that may arise from such installation or be destroy by such installation.

Relevant regulations from SANS 10142-1 Ed3.01 pasted below and highlighted in red what is relevant


3.16
consumer
person who is supplied (or who is to be supplied) with electricity by a supplier
(see 3.77); or a person who supplies his own electricity

3.58
point of supply
point at which a supplier supplies electricity to any premises

3.77
supplier
in relation to a particular installation, any local authority (see 3.47), statutory
body or person who supplies, contracts or agrees to supply, electricity to that
electrical installation


3.56
point of control
point at which a consumer can, on or in any premises, switch off the electrical
installation from the electricity supplied from the point of supply


3.33
electrical installation
machinery, in or on any premises, that is used for the transmission of electrical
energy from a point of control (see 3.56) to a point of consumption
(see 3.55) anywhere on the premises, including any article that forms part of
such an installation, irrespective of whether or not it is part of the electrical
circuit, but excluding
a) any machinery of the supplier that is related to the supply of electricity on
the premises,
b) any machinery that is used for the transmission of electricity of which the
voltage does not exceed 50 V, where such electricity is not derived from
the main supply of a supplier, and
c) any machinery that transmits electrical energy in telecommunication,
television or radio circuits



7.12.7 Additional requirements for photovoltaic (PV) and similar
installations that provide a supply as an alternative to the main supply
7.12.7.1 The photovoltaic installation shall comply with SANS 60364-7-712
and the solar panels shall comply with SANS 61215 (for poly and mono
crystalline) or SANS 61646 (for thin-film).
7.12.7.2 The DC component of the installation shall comply with 7.15.
7.12.7.3 The rated voltage of each circuit shall be clearly indicated at all ends
of the circuit.
In the case of combined circuits, every circuit shall be easily identifiable.
Where single core conductors are used, such conductors for each circuit shall
be tied together at intervals to ensure identification, unless another suitable
arrangement is employed.
7.12.7.4 Precautions regarding parallel operation as prescribed in 7.12.6.1,
and overcurrent protection as prescribed in 7.12.4.1 shall be provided.
7.12.7.5 In addition it shall be recognised that the supply from each inverter,
battery arrangement and PV panel (or identified clustered group), constitutes
a supply, and requires arrangements similar to point of supply, which shall
include switch-disconnection arrangements and shall comply with 7.12.5.
7.12.7.6 If applicable, all exposed conductive parts may require earthing as
prescribed in 6.12.3.

[Isetech]

I have been chatting to an engineer about working together on Solar projects. It sounds like you need to be very careful about just rushing out and throwing a pile of panels on the roof.

Not all municipal bylaws are the same.

People are getting a little ahead of themselves and it just seems everyone is going ahead with installations regardless of the consequences.

• Source an Engineer.

Municipalities require an ECSA Registered Professional to sign off a Commissioning Report as part of your SSEG application. This aspect might sound intimidating, but trust me, the Engineers’ charges are much lower than that of the fines you might face if you don’t have one.

[Isetech]

Let this be a warning to anyone signing off these solar installations.

The person who is going to become responsible for the installation as it filters down the line,

Not the owner, because they will say they did the responsible thing and got a registered person to do the job and verify it is safe.

Not the person who sold the system, they dont sign for anything or even have to make sure the product is safe to use in SA.

Not the person with the green card, because they dont have the authority to sign off solar systems.

What is going to be interesting, is "when" they plan to start checking and issuing fines.

Do they have the man power to get the regs sorted out and track and follow up investigation?

I hear the only reason our municipality hasnt been worrying about solar installations is because they dont have the manpower to run the department never mind still check who is installing solar panels or registering systems.

So it seems for now people will just do what needs to be done to keep the lights on and worry about the law when the municipality get their act together.

They have no control over all the dangerous illegal connections, how they still going to control solar installations?

[Blurock]

Thank you for this information. With rising energy costs, this is something to seriously consider.

What is the legal position if you want to switch from municipal to solar?
We have a small complex with 6 units individually metered by the municipality.
We have been told that it would be cheaper to have an installation for the complex including time of use etc.
According to the experts we would not be allowed to do that without approval from the municipality.

Is that true and would it be a saving considering the outrageous cost for equipment and installation?

[GCE]

Thank you for this information. With rising energy costs, this is something to seriously consider.

What is the legal position if you want to switch from municipal to solar?
We have a small complex with 6 units individually metered by the municipality.
We have been told that it would be cheaper to have an installation for the complex including time of use etc.
According to the experts we would not be allowed to do that without approval from the municipality.

Is that true and would it be a saving considering the outrageous cost for equipment and installation?

There are pros and cons to taking bulk supply from the municipality and then doing private metering to the individual units.There will be a cost to convert from household to bulk and then a cost for private metering with time of use.

It would mean that your Body Corporate would make the money which will save on levies .

There could be an argument started with who uses more electricity at night and then there will be the problem with battery storage.
Do you do a bulk battery on mains and restrict each household on grid off or does each unit have there own inverter and battery which will throw the price again.

Having sat on Body corp type environments there could be more infighting then it is worth.

All in all , my feeling for a domestic type set up it would be better to go individual.

On an office complex could work differently as usage would mainly be daytime.

[mygoggie]

Hi @GCE, would you mind if I copy your post in to a thread I am writing on my own PV design process on another forum?

[GCE]

Interesting post that was picked up on Social Media

Looks like SAPVIA have finally realized that to install PV you first need to be a Registered Electrical Contractor.

They make the statement that they need to revisit the rules in accepting Green Card members .

They appear to in this post openly admit that they have been allowing members in as PV Green Card members without being Electrical Contractors which to me means that the PV Green card is really just a Hype started by Training centers to rack in money with little thought to the legal requirements

How do you now carry on calling it the ultimate PV installer going forward when you know that some members are not Electrical Contractors and have paid money out for courses and set up companies based on the PV Green Card status .

If I was a potential client or past client and appointed a PV installer based on the PV Green card hype , I would be nervous that my installation is not legally compliant .

Hopefully now Homeowners associations that have been insisting on Green Card members only allowed in, realize that they have been fed a story .

[Dylboy]

That is very interesting !

I went to the Solar Show and asked a training company about why non electrical contractors are doing installs and had some round about answers but basically they said they realize it now and working a way forward.

I would say 90% of the people there who install are not registered IE or MIE or even electricians let alone electrical contractors...

@GCE, do you perhaps have a link to that screenshot perhaps ? Edit: I see it was mailed to you, I tried to see on their site this info but I can't find it. Will keep searching.

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[Isetech]

Solar installations are DIY projects.

You can buy solar products cheaper than some installers.

I dont think people realise how many solar in installations are being done as DIY projects, you just have to join a few groups and forums to see all the DIY projects. It does make it easier for insurance companies and suppliers to identify them in case there is a claim.

Inspectors are openly offering to test DIY projects for a small fee.

I think the way smart people are looking at it, ride the crest wave while the councils, electrical industry and DOL scramble to find their way in the maze. the gravy train has left the station months ago, smart people with money have already made millions.

Very clever the way this industry has created a shortage which has resulted in massive price increases. Because people are desperate thanks to load shedding, they are blinded throwing money at the industry.

So here is a problem we have identified, the voltage in some industrial areas is over 250VAC due to the feed back from the massive solar system installed on a few of the factories surrounding the place we are working, as more and more panels are being fitted and grid tied, so the problem is going to increase. Throw in a few large compressors and other industrial machines, I can only see transient spikes getting worse.

[Dylboy]

100% agreed that the DIY market is huge. Their is lots to be saved for DiY. What needs to happen is a CoC not supplied for their work as it was not done under the general control of an IE of MIE.

Best case is if they sell the house they will get a CoC if proven safe and all that...


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