New SANS SSEG draft

[Isetech]

I thought I would share a few interesting notes while wasting my Sunday reading them:

This is going to make 90% of solar installation non compliant, and why we use this grounding clip

https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/grounding-clip/

For the record you cant fit a ferule on the wire and connect it to the grounding lug.





"This shall include selection of materials and components that minimize the effect of galvanic corrosion.

Plated or un-plated copper tubular cable lugs shall not be used for connection onto aluminium rails."

[Isetech]

e) Earthing Cables Sizes
The cross-sectional area of earthing and bonding cables of the DC installation shall be of equivalent cross-sectional area as both the positive and negative live (current carrying) conductors.
However, the cable shall have a minimum cross-sectional area of 4mm2.

[Isetech]

"Where a separate functional earth connection is provided:
• It shall be connected to any suitable earthing terminal, such as the building’s main earthing terminal, or an earthing terminal within the device that provides the DC isolation fault detection (typically the inverter);
• The cable shall be laid (installed) in parallel to, and in as close contact as is possible, with the DC array cables;"

[Isetech]

This is why social media is not a good plac eto seek advice with regards to regulations. Man I have read some bullshyte on some platforms and groups.

h) Minimising Induced Lightning Surges
To protect DC systems against the effect of induced voltage surges, the following wiring measures shall be adopted:
• DC cable runs shall be kept as short as is practical;
• Positive and negative cables shall be run alongside one another to prevent the formation of loops;
• PV array bonding conductors shall be run alongside the PV array live conductors.

[Isetech]

For those who dont know the difference between "lightning protection" and "bonding" , they have included a section just for you.

a) The requirements of SANS 10313 apply. External Lightning Protection System

a) The requirements of SANS 10313:2012 apply.

b) Air-Termination Systems

If an air-termination system is installed to protect the EGI, it shall conform to SANS 62305-3, Section 5.2, and SANS 62305-3, Annexure A.

c) Down-Conductor Systems
To protect the EGI structure, down-conductors shall be installed and arranged in such a way that, from the point of strike to earth:
• several parallel current paths exist;
• the lengths of the current paths are kept to a minimum;
• equipotential bonding to conducting parts of the structure is performed according to the requirements of SANS 62305-3, Section 6.2.
The number of down-conductors shall not be less than two (2) and shall be distributed around the perimeter of the structure to be protected from lightning surges, subject to architectural and practical constraints.
The down-conductors

[Isetech]

Note the red section, how does a single phase tester or IE sign off a large lithium battery installation? If not then what is all the fuss about where you can install them?


6.1 Electrical Energy Storage Systems
Requirements for grid-connected energy storage systems, used to store excess energy, to limit electricity export to the grid and / or to provide back-up power, are covered in this section.

Battery charging locations are seen as a hazardous location, as stated in SANS 10142-1, Section 7.14.3.


NOTE: Energy storage includes batteries and supercapacitors.

[Isetech]

Something you will notice on social media post where people are showing off their non compliant installations. The batteries located at the exit or entrance to a building or even worse, in a passage.


i) The battery installation location shall be selected with consideration to fire escape routes and exits;

[Isetech]

Fitting a DC fuse isolator which could cause a spark when operated... you can only smile and fit a label do not operate under load, but if there is a fault pull the handle as fast as possible


See Section 6.1.1, Installation Requirements. Overcurrent Protection – Batteries
a) An overcurrent protective device, rated for IB, shall be installed on the positive output terminal of the battery. This device shall:
• be rated for DC operation;
• have a voltage rating of at least 1.25 x the nominal battery voltage;
• have an interrupt rating that is higher than the battery's rated short-circuit current;
• have an interrupt rating of ≤1.25 x of the maximum possible load; and
• not cause any open arc when operating.

[Isetech]

Something I dont see in the draft, a clause covering those homemade "DC combiner boxes" which have more than one MPPT and if you switch off one of the PV "main switches" and there is still power at the bottom of the main switch. This is extremely dangerous and should be addressed by the use of a 4 pole isolator or a notice on the box indicating that the power is still on until both main switches are switched of or the 4 pole isolator on the inverter is switched off. Personally
I feel a 4 pole isolator should be used.

There should also be a way to disconnect the string on the roof, either with an accessible isolator or at least the MC 4 connectors connecting the string the DC control box must be visible, labelled and accessible.



b) Means of isolation that are not capable of breaking load current shall be marked to indicate that they are no-load break devices and shall be accessible only by means of a tool or a key.
c) Where multiple PV Sub-Array Disconnection Devices are installed <2m to the inverter and in line of sight, a PV array cable needs to be provided. In such cases, there is no need for a PV array load-breaking switch. In this scenario, the switches for the PV Sub-Arrays shall all be load-breaking switches.
d) Where multiple Disconnection Devices are required to isolate the inverter, a warning sign shall indicate the need to isolate multiple supplies. See Annexure E: Labels and Markings – Photovoltaic Installations

[Isetech]

This is a topic I have seen thrown around the socials, there you have it people. That plastic black sprague is just not going to cut it, nor those bare wires strapped to rails.



AC / DC Wiring
Where a system features DC cables longer than 50m, the cables shall be installed in earthed metal conduit or using armoured cable.

[Isetech]

This makes one of my installations non compliant. The one DC combiner box is just out of arm's reach, however the PV isolator is accessible on the inverter, so I dont know if this will apply.


Accessibility
a) Combiner boxes that contain overcurrent and / or Switching Devices shall be accessible for inspection, maintenance and / or repairs without necessitating the dismantling of the structural parts (such as cupboards, benches or the like).
b) Combiner boxes shall be accessible from ground level, i.e., no ladder or scaffolding is required to reach the boxes.

[Isetech]

My all time favourite, class II panels "no reliance on installation protective measures" the way I understand this note, you dont need to connect the panel to protective-equipotential-bonding system of the installation.

JA solar panels are class II rated, in other words they are double insulated.



Class 0
Not covered in this standard.
NA
Not covered in this standard.
Class I
Marking of the protective bonding terminal with the graphical symbol of IEC 60417-5019, or the letters ‘PE’, or the colour-combination green-yellow.
Connect this terminal to the protective-equipotential-bonding system of the installation.
Class II
Marking with the graphical symbol of IEC 60417-5172.
No reliance on installation protective measures.
Class III
Marking with the graphical symbol of IEC 60417-5180.
Connect only

[Isetech]

I got bored before I could find anything about the neutral earth bond, so when I get some time off again I will continue scanning the draft.

PLEASE NOTE THIS INFORMATION IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS COPIED AND PASTED FROM A DRAFT.