Safety Advisory to installers of solar photo voltaic installations

The Electrical Safety Office has been made aware of instances where photo voltaic (PV) installers have incorrectly connected polarised DC isolators resulting in reverse polarity.  Failure to follow correct connection instructions could lead to the isolator failing if it is manually operated under load.

Installers have the obligation to ensure all installations are electrically safe including verification that any polarised DC isolators are installed correctly. This may require installers reviewing installation instructions to workers and also revisiting installations to verify the correct polarity of the polarised DC isolator.

Where it is identified that a DC isolator has been connected incorrectly then the installer, as part of meeting their electrical safety obligation, would need to establish whether the isolator is damaged as a result of any switching under load. If this cannot be established then the isolator must be replaced.

It is important to always follow correct shut down procedures. Shutdown procedures should be located at the inverter and/ or on the main switchboard. If you are unsure of the shut down procedure then contact the manufacturer or installer.

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) website has technical papers highlighting this issue. This information can be found through the following link http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/accreditation/Solar-PV-accreditation/forms.html