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Small (<240W) Extra-low-voltage Solar Installations soon to be subject to new rules - action required

Hi all,

If you like the idea of being able to install your own 12 Volt solar module to run a ventillation fan in your shed, or keep a battery charged to run a light in your shed, or install any other small solar panels on your premises, then you might find that it is much harder and more expensive than it used to be, unless you have your say NOW (by 28th Oct).

The standard for solar installations, AS5033, is being revised, but the draft standard is open to comments from the public until the 28th. AS5033 requires such things as:

corrosion resistant mountings, surge protection, uv resistant materials, circuit breakers, disconnecting devices, earth fault interrupters, steel wire armoured cables, earthing and bonding arrangements, equipment marking, wiring identification, fire emergency information, labelling/signs for disconnection devices, documentation, maintenance recommendations, commissioning tests, commissioning sheet, insulation resistance measurement, open circuit voltage measurements, infrared scan, earth fault protection test, lightning protection, screening and shielding, etc. etc.

In the future, if you want to know which of these you would need to apply to your DIY installation you would need to spend a few hundred $$$ buying the standard, then who knows how much more making your little solar panel comply with complicated rules.

Presently (in the 2012 version of the standard), solar arrays of less than 240 Watts and less than 50 Volts are outside the scope of the standard - which is sensible as such modules are not especially hazardous. The draft standard will remove this restriction for fixed modules, and only allows PORTABLE arrays to be exempt. So your solar powered pocket calculator will not need lightning protection and danger signs, but your solar powered illuminated street number might.

If you would like to have your say on this topic, go to this web address and find AS5033 and leave some comments:

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Here are more instructions for leaving comments:

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You need to create an account to read the draft standard and make comments, but it is free of charge and your only way to influence these rules.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Jones
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Any chance you could pop the draft copy on dropbox or somewhere accessible? That way a LOT more people will read & comment if they so feel inclined.

Reply to
Glenn B

Or just drop the text into this thread?

Reply to
Glenn B

I suspect that would be some kind of copyright violation (even though it is publically accessible whilst it is still a draft), I read that they don't like people quoting more than 50% of the text. I don't like copyrighted standards, especially if they become referred to in laws.

Instead, I will post an excerpt of the change that bothers me:

Old text, from the "Scope" section of AS5033-2012: "PV arrays of less than 240 W and less than 50 V open circuit voltage at Standard Test Condition (STC) are not covered by this Standard."

Proposed new text, from the "Scope" section of DR2 AS/NZS 5033: "PV arrays in portable equipment of less than 240 W and less than 50 V open circuit voltage at Standard Test Condition (STC) are not covered by this Standard."

Chris

Reply to
Chris Jones

Soon you will have to follow a set of standards and rules to be able to walk outside your own back door.

-- Regards,

Adrian Jansen adrianjansen at internode dot on dot net Note reply address is invalid, convert address above to machine form.

Reply to
Adrian Jansen

I agree - that change restrictive without offering any obvious benefit.

I always wonder who is pushing for changes & why.

Someone always profits and it's not the end user!

Reply to
Glenn B

Dear all

I note and share some concern about this standard and its increased scope, but before getting too carried away....

It's not clear what impact, if any, it will have. Unless compliance with th e standard becomes a mandatory requirement in legislation, then it is merel y a guideline for installers. A (very limited) google search suggests that it is not referred to in legislation (except possibly regulations about ins tallations where energy efficiency credits are claimed - probably not appli cable to this scale of installation anyway).

Does anyone know of legislation that forces compliance with this standard ( especially non-grid connected installations)? Of course, laws can be introd uced in the future, which is a worry. To this end, it would be helpful if t he standard said, that in relation to installations below 240 watts etc, it was simply a 'best practice' guideline and not a mandatory requirement. I' ll be sending comments to SA to this effect.

Reply to
Glenn

LGA inspectors who come across them are an obvious one. Some LGA in Tassie are reportedly fining people for not obtaining development consent before getting roof top pv installations.

Basically, any smart arse licensed contractor can. There are plenty of these around who want to force people to employ them.

Reply to
terryc

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