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Guidance for plug in solar for Electricians

Alan B

We are now a few days from plug in solar being legal. The likes of Martin Lewis is recommending people should ask an electrician to check their installation before plugging a solar system in.

I have seen various comments referring back to changes in the law and changes to the specification for a 13A plug.

But I haven't seen any guidance from IET, NAPIT or NICEIC for electricians stating under what conditions it's acceptable to plug one of these systems in.

Personally as it stands today based on what I have seen I would not be willing to say iny installation is acceptable unless it was a single socket on it's own circuit protected by a bidirectional type A RCBO. Which I am sure isn't what the government wants.

Have I missed something, is something in the pipline?

I know lots of people will just do it, but in those situations I am not responsible.

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  • 0

    Well, NICIEC have broken cover... here is their advice.

    https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/products-and-appliances/green-energy/plug-in-solar-panels/ 

    Unsurprisingly it is slightly biassed towards 'get in one of our members to inspect your property ' not, 'here is what to look for in your fuse-board' 
    And they do seem to see AC RCDs as show stoppers, rather than a niggle.

    Mike

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    Well spotted Mike

    The Competent Person's schemes only register "Enterprises", not individual electricians. A Logo on a van, fleece or t-shirt is not evidence of competency, only that your employer has paid a fee. 

    Also they fail to mention engineers who may be an alternative to an electrician. 

    If you want to find a competent electrician go to the JIB web site and look for an Approved Electrician. 

    JP

  • 0 in reply to mapj1

    "homes with Type AC RCDs should not use plug-in solar systems without first upgrading"

    which seems to leave homes with no RCDs at all without any constraint ... which seems a little inconsistent.

    Never connect plug-in solar through extension leads or adapters

    I wonder quite what the overheat risk is for 800W...

       - Andy.

  • 0 in reply to John Peckham

    The Competent Person's schemes only register "Enterprises",  

    ...
    If you want to find a competent electrician..

    Indeed, the man on the doorstep with the screwdriver and box of tools may be superb, or a total 'cowboy' , but I fear it was ever thus.

    There are some things to look out for like the horse droppings on the front lawn, the patterned leather boots and Stetson hat, but absence of  these is not a fully reliable indicator. Oddly I was thinking something like this last night enjoying a beer watching an old Porter Wagoner interview on a tribute to Dolly Parton programme on the telly. 

    Which begs the question where I should go to find a competent electrical and electronics engineer.... 

    Joking aside, it will be interesting to see what if anything other organisations recommend in due course.
    Very few devices seem to  have gained ENA approval to be plugged in, compared to the vast range on sale,  far more applicants seem to be failing, but its not clear on what parameter(s).

    I may hold off on buying something to play with home  until the dust settles and manufacturers learn what to make.
    M.

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury
    AJJewsbury said:
    which seems to leave homes with no RCDs at all without any constraint ... which seems a little inconsistent.

    That just continues the current inconsistency with napit at least. They guide that a type ac rcd is a c2 but no guidance for lack of rcd protection.

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  • 0 in reply to Alan B

    If you turn up for an MOT with a modern car and a seatbelt is defective, you get a fail.

    However, if you turn up with an older car which does not have seatbelts, you pass.

    I think that my regular MOT testers like the older cars, 'cos the test is quicker. Mind you, having logged on a test, they cannot complete it before a certain interval, so we just have a natter. :-)

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