the legalitys of pv installation

[hxsarge]

supposing i get hold of some panels and an inverter for my house, even though im not registered with anyone for pv etc, is there anything to stop me installing the panel, inverter, and isolators and just connect straight into my henley blocks without regestering for the fit and not bothering metering it? reason i ask is the opportunity has come about to get some gear cheep after a job was cancelled last min for one of my customers, and i have been thinking about jumping on the band wagon, i can always meter it later?? sorry if i sound a bit uninformed, its because i am... :C

cheers

 

[steptoe]

you still need to notify it to building control.

but other than that, as long as it falls within the scope of G83 and the AC side complies with BS7671 then I think you are ok,

 

[hxsarge]

notify building control as in part p or is there a rule for pv?

 

[steptoe]

PV is notifiable under part P ,

 

[Andy™]

i dont think you can meter it later, unless its installed by someone MCS?

either way, iirc the inverters only work with a mains supply. and to connect to mains supply, it would need to be notified to DNO / whoever

only way to DIY it would be use a stand alone inverter, and keep the inverter supply completely separate from the mains

 

[steptoe]

ANDY, as long as it complies with G83 DNO dont need to be informed, thats the 3.68kW rule bit of compliance.

 

[Andy™]

oops, i though anything that could put a supply back into the mains had to be notified to DNO

 

[steptoe]

ENA - Distributed Generation

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[quote name='Andy

 

[Andy™]

just a random thought, but if you had a street full of solar PV with more supply than there is damand, and the DNO isolated a transformer (for maintenance or whatever), what would happen to the inverters? i know they must shut down within 5 seconds of loss of power, but if they are all producing power, then would they each think the mains was still there and stay on, possibly causing a problem were DNO cannot safely isolate a supply?

 

[steptoe]

:slap

I dunno, but it made me smile,

bring on the night shift.

 

[hxsarge]

ok cheers for that, i might have to see if a local firm will come and install it for me, or rather watch me install most of it, god ive seen some rough stuff put in by these guys... but in theory i could install it all, meter it, even if not applying for fit, and if i inform dno they should be happy just to know i was feeding back in?

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sorry to be a pain but is there any guide to maximum length of dc tails from arrays? and what type of cable/size can i use? just about to seal my last cable route to the loft from my mains room where i would like an inverter to go, so would like to at least do this bit to future proof my self.

 

[ProDave]

DC cabling is 4 sq mm, double insulated and rated at 1KV (someone else will quote the exact specification number)

You run 2 singles from the array to the inverter.

I don't think length is a great issue, but make sure you run both together.

If in doubt at this stage, drop a run of 20mm PVC conduit through before you seal up your access.

 

[hxsarge]

ive got some 3c 4mm yy flex to use up, i was wondering if this would be ok, just wondered if there was an issue with DC permanently "ON" cables being enclosed in cable boxings.

 

[Sidewinder]

What is the voltage rating on the YY is it greater than 1000V?

 

[hxsarge]

think it might only be 500/600v or somthing. found this anyway during a bit of research:

Purpose designed

 

[Sidewinder]

Please remember this is a DFC, not a final document!

 

[steptoe]

what does the code of practice say?

that may be of issue if you ever want to go for FITs

 

[hxsarge]

recommends the use of wire armored for lengthy runs in hidden cavity's etc, as far as i can remember i think swa is rated at 1000v usually. im thinking that tuv spec double insulated 4mm singles from inverter to dc isolator, from the isolator in swa to loft, into appropriately labeled dc junction box ready for string connections?

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dont think i should earth the steel wire though...