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Solar Energy Systems installation UK - lack of skills

Rob Tes

As I researched Solar Energy systems for over a year now I discovered how little I understood the dangerous realities of Solar installations even though powered at ELV level <50Vdc.  The difference being that you are dealing with a constant current of 50 - 100's A dc.  Average Joe, maybe used to Auto/Truck 12/24Vdc  systems probably sees the system as safe - you dont get a shock (boat owners will disagree).  So the hazards of installing a dc distribution system  within a domestic house and the potential to cause disastrous fires are totally underestimated.  Even the average tradesman electrician will not have sufficient training in such matters in his CPD scheme.

To make matters worse, as a result of a question by a neighbour who want to suggest to his lad that he follow an Electrician apprenticeship, I discovered that my area (SE UK) has no regular Technical College Route pursuing CnG courses.  Apprenticeships are very rare and as a rule focus on training junior managers. 

In short, a young person cannot readily find his way in to becoming and electrical tradesman ( I have to make a distinction between the concept of a Technician here)

When you aggregate the complete installation identifying all physical components, the SLD suddenly becomes quite complex.  ie Going from Panel Arrays > optomisers > cables > marshalling boxes > Fuse links > Isolators > Master Circuit Breaker > Inverter (s) > Battery Bank > Domestic Consumer Unit > Grid resale meter > Master Isolator > standby generator > Auto Transfer Switch, Control and monitoring systems, Emergency shutdown scheme.

When you seen the numerous wannabee hopefuls going offgrid and often their lack of formal technical training they dont realise how dangerous their rough and ready installation is

I can post links to many sources of my concern here if there is sufficient interest

Robin 

Parents

  • Are you thinking of ELV systems typically used in off-grid installs, or grid-tied systems on a house roof?  The latter may have the panels wired in series strings, giving relatively modest currents at more dangerous voltages..

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  • Are you thinking of ELV systems typically used in off-grid installs, or grid-tied systems on a house roof?  The latter may have the panels wired in series strings, giving relatively modest currents at more dangerous voltages..

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  • in reply to Simon Barker

    Agreed - my PV system runs as several hundred volts d.c., but  only a handful of amps. There's no d.c. distribution system either - d.c. from the panels is converted to a.c. by the inverter (in the loft) - and then everything else is the usual a.c. arrangement that anyone with a copy of the OSG would recognise. It can be more complicated of course, especially with battery systems, but again these can be (and commonly are) self contained with a.c. connections.

       - Andy.

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