links to ABYC and its mandatory electrical regs for boats and formal inspections (no sign off , no insurance, no mooring!!!!!!!)

Just be aware that things aren't universal - that may be true in the US but in the UK the standard for small craft wiring seems to be somewhere between out of date and non-existent - and I've never heard of anyone being refused a mooring as a result.

  - Andy.

Check for yourself

https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2013/june/do-i-need-boat-insurance

I quoted the marine sites as they have decades of experience with dc storage  systems and more recently use of Lion battery banks.  They take fire aboard very seriously and have UL certified EE Inspectors to sign off a craft for insirance purposes

Check for yourself

https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2013/june/do-i-need-boat-insurance

er, yes, that's a US, not UK site isn't it?

   - Andy.

Yes thats my whole point since OP, we have a very slapdash approach to domestic Solar dc distribution systems in UK vs USA and OZ and no real way to educate young engineers accordingly (or even domestic Leccies)

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Indeed - and perhaps YouTube doesn't help with that. Regulatory wise, for domestic buildings and their curtilages though, there is part P of the building regs (which  covers ELV as well as LV, DC as well as AC) to comply with, which demands BS 7671 compliance, which in turn demands competence in design, installation and I&T.

  - Andy.

I agree with the importance of good training however I am not sure I see the level of danger that you are suggesting.

Most countries other than the UK allow power sockets in bathrooms. There doesn't appear to be a higher accident level in these lands.

Many countries have far lower electrical installation standards. On one Chinese building site I complained about a twisted and taped joint in a 400V 3phase cable being out in the rain. They considered this to be resolved by putting an upturned plastic bucket over it.

Solar panels on roofs have two intrinsic risks, working at height, and they can't be switched off, you just have to wait for it to get dark. I would suggest that injurys due to falls from height are much more common than electrical accidents.

What are you considering to be dangerous and are there any accident statistics?

Indeed working on a pitched roof is a self evident hazard.  Joe public doesnt always appreciate the nature of continuous high current from a panel - its not obvious, furthermore you cant test for a "live" circuit"  like using a neon screwdriver, you must have a special dc clamp meter and these have only been commonly available in the last few years (ca£60 for reliable meter - how do you test it is working? , a neon you stick it in the nearest mains socket).

Then you come downstream to the installation wiring and switchgear/fuse protection - this is where it all become a can of worms.  Joe Public will generally not have an appreciation of the risks involved there after - I wont labour that point here - it should be understood by IET Members  although without a particular study of this area, the risks may not be truly appreciated.  Im a highly trained EE rtd  and have studied this for over a year as I was chastened to discover how little I appreciated the problems of ELV high current dc.  I was never involved in Power Systems Engineering, nor did I practice at electrician level - 3 phase scared me - and still does.

A glaring example of regs patchy treatment is that a Firemans Switch is not mandatory. for solar systems.

Note that whatever system is cobbled together by amateur treatment has to run 24/7 unattended and have emergency shutdown or routine operation by untrained persons.

We take for granted the purpose and operation of our domestic consumer board and its MCBs.  A solar system distribution up to the inverter and its  input to household supply and maybe a grid export metering and/or batteries.

Most amateurs Ive seen on YT  Vids just string it all together somehow  - never a hint on an SLD.  or system safety analysis

This is made all the worse by the tidal wave of Cheap Charlie switches, fuses, breakers, inverters etc comprising the installation

No consideration of smoke detectors AFFD's, heat detection , temperature logging

And you ask why I think the risks are not being taken seriously in UK?  We dont have trained inspectors (LGA employed not subcontracted out)  who issue a PTO - permit to operate.  When the amateur gets it wrong it can burn his house down.  There are countless examples on YT.

A couple of quick points:

What are you expecting the firemans switch to do? What can it isolate, what will it leave live?

Are there countless examples on YT of what you consider incorect or countless examples of houses burning down?

Hi,

Yes, I was just having a look at Part P to see how it would cover this - I guess it's notifiable as "the installation of a new circuit", have I got that right?

Thanks,

Andy

furthermore you cant test for a "live" circuit"  like using a neon screwdriver, you must have a special dc clamp meter and these have only been commonly available in the last few years

You've lost me there I'm afraid. Surely DC volt meter (or other DC voltage indicator) can be used on exposed DC terminals (or connectors) just like you would use a neon screwdriver on AC terminals? And doesn't a DC clamp meter only show current, not voltage? (via the clamp at least) - which would mean a downstream break would result in a zero reading even though the conductors were still live?

Not that anyone here would use a neon screwdriver for proving dead anyway - they fell out of favour many many years ago (too many accidents where either the internal resistor failed to provide a high enough resistance (internal fault or exposure to moisture) or the user's finger didn't provide a sufficiently low earth path. Non-contact indicators are preferred (e.g. volt-sticks) and usually for formal proving dead they've have to be backed up by a proper 2-pole voltage indicator direct on the conductors anyway.

   - Andy.