Solar PV Wiring Query - Compliance with BS 7671

[Buck-Toof]

Hi, I'm a new member; just joined the forum. Thanks for taking the time to read this, would appreciate any advice...

My landlady has just installed a 4kWp solar PV system in the house I rent, and I think there are problems with the wiring:

1. There are no isolation switches anywhere in the PV circuit - none. No DC disconnect, no AC isolation switch, nothing. It's all wired directly from solar panels to inverter to CU. Do the wiring regs allow this?

2. The AC supply from the PV system is wired into the load side of an immersion heater MCB (16A) and the neutral busbar of the CU. Is this ok, or should it be on a separate 2 pole MCB?

3. The are no labels or warnings signs of any kind, anywhere on the PV circuit. Again, is this acceptable?

4. The installers have not done any testing and they have not provided an EIC.

I'm not an electrician and I'm not sure if the above is ok - as a kind of minimum acceptable standard. Would someone be kind enough to confirm one way or other?

Thanks lads
Buck

 

[GMES]

Hi Buck and welcome to the forum.

 

[whinmoor]

Sounds well dodgy. Advise her not to pay until the installation is compliant. Is it definitely complete and commissioned? Maybe the installer plans to return to finish off?

The DC isolator might be integrated into the inverter. Some systems don't need DC isolators. All systems need at least one AC isolator. If the inverter's in the loft, it should have two.

There should be lots of labels. We use approx 12-15 on every job. There should certainly be an EIC. Has she been given all her paperwork such as MCS certificate?

Can you post some photos of the installation?

 

[Worcester]

Photo's please. It should be on its own MCB

What no meter?

Dropbox and a link will do.

From your description, it doesn't sound as though it is either BS7671 or MCS compliant.

Find out which organisation (NICEIC, ELECSA, NAPIT) the installers are registered with - or name them here and we can check them out for you, and then we can give you the contact details of the relevant organisation to call.

There should be some contact details of the installer somewhere about...

 

[Gavin A]

doesn't sound compliant, although it probably could be argued that it's not unsafe as both devices are current limited devices and only need fault protection that the MCB would provide.

there should be an AC isolator within 3m of the inverter, and dc isolation (though this can be intergrated into the inverter)

 

[Marvo]

Photo's please....

I've just given you full member permissions Buck Toof so you can attach photos to your posts as long as they're not too large.

 

[Buck-Toof]

Thanks for the replies GMES, Whinmoor, Worcester & Gavin A. & thanks again GMES for photo permission.

I will ask Landlady for name of installer. They've left no details in the house. Install was done last week while I was at work.

The system is complete and commissioned, they're not coming back.

She's already paid in full. Cost £7,000. She got a loan, repayable over 5 years. My reckoning is 15 to 16 years to break even.

Photos, as soon as I can, tomorrow after work (7AM start for me).

Paperwork, she has:
- MCS certificate
- FIT application forms
- DNO form - application or approval, I don't know which
- Nothing else

The inverter is a Chinese SAJ Sununo TL Series TL4KA. They've put it in the loft, about 2 inches above the loft floor, right in the corner under the eaves. Fixed directly to breeze blocks. Need to be an acrobat to get anywhere near it. There could be a DC isolator on the underside of the inverter (optional extra on TL4KA, need to check).

The CU is on a wall, ground floor hallway. They've put a Emlite kWh meter, a bit of trunking, that's all.

I think, hope the inverter will auto disconnect on loss of grid-tie, otherwise my CU will still be live with main switch off.

Anyway, I'll get some photos asap. Thanks a lot lads, forums are brilliant!

Buck

 

[Gavin A]

she's paid how much for that?

 

[whinmoor]

I will ask Landlady for name of installer. They've left no details in the house. Install was done last week while I was at work.

Installer should be mentioned on the MCS certificate.

The inverter is about as cheap as they come.

 

[Worcester]

£7k Ouch....