WHO MAY INSTALL SOLAR SYSTEMS

[Derlyn]

Reading the new proposed legislation again.

Am I correct in my understanding that if one has an inverter and battery installed, you do not qualify for the 25% rebate.
It's only when you have a panel on the roof that you qualify.

Similarly, should an electrician install an inverter and battery then it would not be necessary to pass this info onto SARS, however, a panel on the roof changes everything.

Do I understand this correctly ?

[GCE]

The rebate is only for Panels even if you install a grid tie system you can only claim on the panels , not inverters or batteries

[Derlyn]

Thank you brother. So then I suppose the same applies as far as spying for SARS is concerned.

[GSS]

This seems to be a question coming up all the time and the so called Solar installers that are springing up all over that have no Electrical background and DIY projects happening is scary and dangerous

Only registered Electrical Contractors may install Solar(PV) systems

The OHSA and SANS 10142-1 are clear and there is no grey area

To Be an Electrical Contractor he must be able to produce a Registration Certificate as an Electrical contractor issued by the Department of Employment and Labour and be able produce registration with the National Electrical Bargaining Council ( NBCEI)

If those documents cannot be produced he is not an Electrical Contractor and cannot install PV/Solar Installation.

We continually have the statement made that Solar installers are suppliers of electricity and that the isolator to the AC connect point is the point of control and therefore does not have to be carried out by an Electrical contractor as it is not part of the Electrical Installation – This is a Myth or to put stronger a blatant lie
This is a myth and the OHSA and Electrical regulations SANS 10142-1 ED3.01 have clarified and removed any doubt.
The definitions have defined that the consumer is responsible if he generates electricity for himself and the consumer ( definition below) needs to have a COC to legally use the electrical installation.
Definition of electrical installation ( Clause 3.33) clearly includes PV and it includes the brackets that panels are mounted on , trunking , conduit etc
The Electrical Contractor needs to be in General control of the job , not just the connections , the complete works including all wireways , bracketing etc

The point of control definition pasted below is only the point of control if supplied by the " supplier" as defined - If it is the consumers PV system then the isolator for the system is not the point of control.

The installation of Alternative supply including the DC section shall comply with SANS 10142-1 - Section 7.12 of SANS 10142-1 reinforces that including the foreword of SANS 10142-1
If you go over 1,5Kv DC , then you need to go to SANS 10142-2 for MV installations

Pv installations can only be done by Electrical Contractors and that Contractor must employ an Installation licensed electrician or Master Installation Electrician
A licenced single phase tester cannot work with DC and may therefore not sign off on DC installations which would include PV Inverters nor any 3 phase installations.
If a Single phase tester is requested to issue a COC for a premises where inverters( DC involved) or PV system is installed because the property is being sold , he shall not issue the COC as he is legal prohibited from doing so as per Annex M of SANS 10142-1

As Electrical Contractors it is mandatory to belong to the NBCEI.

The " PV Green card " is not a recognized statutory qualification
As the consumer you are held responsible by the regulations and your insurance company could dismiss any claims that may arise from such installation or be destroy by such installation.

Relevant regulations from SANS 10142-1 Ed3.01 pasted below and highlighted in red what is relevant


3.16
consumer
person who is supplied (or who is to be supplied) with electricity by a supplier
(see 3.77); or a person who supplies his own electricity

3.58
point of supply
point at which a supplier supplies electricity to any premises

3.77
supplier
in relation to a particular installation, any local authority (see 3.47), statutory
body or person who supplies, contracts or agrees to supply, electricity to that
electrical installation


3.56
point of control
point at which a consumer can, on or in any premises, switch off the electrical
installation from the electricity supplied from the point of supply


3.33
electrical installation
machinery, in or on any premises, that is used for the transmission of electrical
energy from a point of control (see 3.56) to a point of consumption
(see 3.55) anywhere on the premises, including any article that forms part of
such an installation, irrespective of whether or not it is part of the electrical
circuit, but excluding
a) any machinery of the supplier that is related to the supply of electricity on
the premises,
b) any machinery that is used for the transmission of electricity of which the
voltage does not exceed 50 V, where such electricity is not derived from
the main supply of a supplier, and
c) any machinery that transmits electrical energy in telecommunication,
television or radio circuits



7.12.7 Additional requirements for photovoltaic (PV) and similar
installations that provide a supply as an alternative to the main supply
7.12.7.1 The photovoltaic installation shall comply with SANS 60364-7-712
and the solar panels shall comply with SANS 61215 (for poly and mono
crystalline) or SANS 61646 (for thin-film).
7.12.7.2 The DC component of the installation shall comply with 7.15.
7.12.7.3 The rated voltage of each circuit shall be clearly indicated at all ends
of the circuit.
In the case of combined circuits, every circuit shall be easily identifiable.
Where single core conductors are used, such conductors for each circuit shall
be tied together at intervals to ensure identification, unless another suitable
arrangement is employed.
7.12.7.4 Precautions regarding parallel operation as prescribed in 7.12.6.1,
and overcurrent protection as prescribed in 7.12.4.1 shall be provided.
7.12.7.5 In addition it shall be recognised that the supply from each inverter,
battery arrangement and PV panel (or identified clustered group), constitutes
a supply, and requires arrangements similar to point of supply, which shall
include switch-disconnection arrangements and shall comply with 7.12.5.
7.12.7.6 If applicable, all exposed conductive parts may require earthing as
prescribed in 6.12.3.

This is a very interesting article. We are installing solar/backup systems for the past 20 years Our electrician is solar proficient and issues the required certifications. What I am wondering about is that over the past 2-3 years every body is a "Solar Installer". It is common knowledge that ESKOM is unreliable and in my opinion will only gets worse. People are desperate and try to help themselves and suddenly all sorts of regulations pop up regarding "my investment" - I myself am a System Engineer and are very familiar with AC and DC connections and attend regular seminars and training provided by our distributor. I also was employed in Solar equipment factories in the far East for 6 1/2 years. It is not just that there are countless "Solar installers" appear but also "Distributors" which have no external after sales service. We often are call upon by clients which simply can not find the installer any more ..... Specifically Green Card holders which call upon us which have never installed a complete system - my question to this is now, must I close my 20 year old company because of government schemes which clearly aim to profit from your investment? Please do not misunderstand, I fully support that these systems must be connected correctly - I just do not agree with manner this is done.

[GSS]

Well Derlyn, this may have to do with the ESKOM IT system (which I have installed while working for SIEMENS). This can in fact check your usage (by account no) and they can detect if you have now Solar installed - We are a registered company in the solar field ..... now we get overrun with new regulations which do nothing else but see where they can charge you more. They how ever did not invest a single cent in what ever you have installed.
So, if your usage suddenly drops from R 4000 p/m to R 400 - they need to find a way to recover this loss which they could not supply in the first place .....

[GCE]

This is a very interesting article. We are installing solar/backup systems for the past 20 years Our electrician is solar proficient and issues the required certifications. What I am wondering about is that over the past 2-3 years every body is a "Solar Installer". It is common knowledge that ESKOM is unreliable and in my opinion will only gets worse. People are desperate and try to help themselves and suddenly all sorts of regulations pop up regarding "my investment" - I myself am a System Engineer and are very familiar with AC and DC connections and attend regular seminars and training provided by our distributor. I also was employed in Solar equipment factories in the far East for 6 1/2 years. It is not just that there are countless "Solar installers" appear but also "Distributors" which have no external after sales service. We often are call upon by clients which simply can not find the installer any more ..... Specifically Green Card holders which call upon us which have never installed a complete system - my question to this is now, must I close my 20 year old company because of government schemes which clearly aim to profit from your investment? Please do not misunderstand, I fully support that these systems must be connected correctly - I just do not agree with manner this is done.

I am not sure if I understand you correctly .
The electrical installation rules have been around for a long time and always had Solar as part of electrical work meaning that you need to be an Electrical contractor - Nothing new .
It just took a throwing of toys out of the cot to get an organization to actually stand up and remind everyone that there are rules to follow.

Same way that in the following week there should be some statements made that may seem controversial but intend giving the correct legal interpretation of regulations in simply str forward language.

[Isetech]

Let me ask this question again, can I install a lithium battery in an office? Please show me all the lithium battery regulations relevant to this question.

Can I install a lithium battery in a passage?

Can I install a lithium battery in my lounge for a TV.

Can I install a lithium battery in a room with a single brick wall and a fire door.

Can I install a lithium battery in a bedroom with a single brick wall a 120 min fire rated door, but the wall doesnt extend to the roof tiles only to above the ceiling boards.

Are ceiling boards fire rated to 120 minutes.

IF I install a lithium battery in a server cabinet, can it be installed anywhere on a property?

IF I install a lithium battery in a server cabinet, is it fire rated, can it be installed in a bedroom which has single brick walls, which dont extend to the roof tiles, a 120 minute fire rated door and fibre board mounted to the wall behind and on the side of the rack, maybe even a piece above the rack.

There are just so many variables.

I would be prepared to pay someone who could answer all these questions and others, trying to find that person is proving to be a bigger challenge than I expected.

I am trying something different this week, I am going to pass the buck and give it to the customer who will pass it on to the architects, lets see what they come up with. To complicate it even more, the project is in a complex

I am not sure if I understand you correctly .
The electrical installation rules have been around for a long time and always had Solar as part of electrical work meaning that you need to be an Electrical contractor - Nothing new .
It just took a throwing of toys out of the cot to get an organization to actually stand up and remind everyone that there are rules to follow.

Same way that in the following week there should be some statements made that may seem controversial but intend giving the correct legal interpretation of regulations in simply str forward language.

[GSS]

Thank you ...... I will meet with my contractor and see what he has to say ..... there seems to be just to much talk around at the moment and nobody really knows what is going on. My German brain does not really grasp that chaos ... but thank you for your comment

[GSS]

Solar installations are DIY projects.

You can buy solar products cheaper than some installers.

I dont think people realise how many solar in installations are being done as DIY projects, you just have to join a few groups and forums to see all the DIY projects. It does make it easier for insurance companies and suppliers to identify them in case there is a claim.

Inspectors are openly offering to test DIY projects for a small fee.

I think the way smart people are looking at it, ride the crest wave while the councils, electrical industry and DOL scramble to find their way in the maze. the gravy train has left the station months ago, smart people with money have already made millions.

Very clever the way this industry has created a shortage which has resulted in massive price increases. Because people are desperate thanks to load shedding, they are blinded throwing money at the industry.

So here is a problem we have identified, the voltage in some industrial areas is over 250VAC due to the feed back from the massive solar system installed on a few of the factories surrounding the place we are working, as more and more panels are being fitted and grid tied, so the problem is going to increase. Throw in a few large compressors and other industrial machines, I can only see transient spikes getting worse.

Thank you for this article - as I keep studying the comments and problems including more and more regulations - it appears that the problems are mostly cause by "Grid Tied" systems. We are a small company and never ever installed a Grid Tied system. I wonder how all this chaos I have noticed will effect people which do NOT use Grid Tie. We always advise our clients to "stay away" from any thing that "Ties" one to any thing ....

[GCE]

Let me ask this question again, can I install a lithium battery in an office? Please show me all the lithium battery regulations relevant to this question.

Can I install a lithium battery in a passage?

Can I install a lithium battery in my lounge for a TV.

Can I install a lithium battery in a room with a single brick wall and a fire door.

Can I install a lithium battery in a bedroom with a single brick wall a 120 min fire rated door, but the wall doesnt extend to the roof tiles only to above the ceiling boards.

Are ceiling boards fire rated to 120 minutes.

IF I install a lithium battery in a server cabinet, can it be installed anywhere on a property?

IF I install a lithium battery in a server cabinet, is it fire rated, can it be installed in a bedroom which has single brick walls, which dont extend to the roof tiles, a 120 minute fire rated door and fibre board mounted to the wall behind and on the side of the rack, maybe even a piece above the rack.

There are just so many variables.

I would be prepared to pay someone who could answer all these questions and others, trying to find that person is proving to be a bigger challenge than I expected.

I am trying something different this week, I am going to pass the buck and give it to the customer who will pass it on to the architects, lets see what they come up with. To complicate it even more, the project is in a complex

I do not believe that all batteries are equal even amongst Lithium
There is a safety certificate that some batteries have called UN38.3 that if attained allows lithium batteries to be transported via air .
I would then deem that battery safe to install in a occupied area

It would appear that by appointing an engineer as required in Cape Town , the engineer does the design and risk assessment and will stipulate where the battery can be placed. Maybe there is some method in Cape Towns regulations

What is the UN38 3 requirement?
Lithium batteries must undergo a rigorous series of tests to meet UN38. 3 performed by an approved independent testing laboratory. Batteries must not rupture, leak, disassemble, or catch fire to receive certification. There are eight tests that that must be passed for a lithium battery to receive the certification.1

[Isetech]

I am looking of those engineers, I have a rather interesting project which is also in a complex. I have pushed the battery location to the architect to see how they respond.

[Isetech]

People are installing lithium batteries everywhere. I had a chat with a person who works on multi million rand luxury yatchs, he is going to share some of the document they use for lithium batteries, because there arent no garage to install lithium batteries.

We can only wait and see who will put their hand up and take on the challenge to create a basic guideline for the various lithium battery options.

Too many people who know too much on social media and too little actual facts.

[Isetech]

By the way I see more fires caused by home made "Dc combiner boxes" than lithium batteries.

[GCE]

By the way I see more fires caused by home made "Dc combiner boxes" than lithium batteries.

I have seen more fires caused by Electric blankets and a mattress is as flammable as it can get

[Dylboy]

What I have seen, not fires yet but using the MC4 rated at 20Amps being paralleled to 50Amps...

But for the home made combiner, what is generally the cause ?

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