Limpopoboy

Thanks Amit Yes, I totally agree with what you have said. I have plenty of experience with rodents and roof spaces, this is what alerted me in the first place when I saw the installation. As far as SANS is concerned 10142-1 is concerned, single-core cables must have mechanical protection and as far as solar is concerned the conduit or trunking needs to be labelled at specific intervals as well. I have already got them to update the electrical installation in the roof space more or less as per your advice here as it was atrocious before.

Do you have the relevant SANS clauses?

Hi All Scenario: LV Panel cabling from panels to combiner box in a roof space. I assume these cables must be in mechanical containment (trunking and or conduit) to avoid damage? As per Sans code 10142 or the appropriate code for solar installations (domestically). Correct? Or is it not required to have containment? Great if someone could give me the relevant SANS section/subsection either way on this.

LV Panel cabling from panels to combiner box? I assume these cables must also be in mechanical containment (trunking and or conduit) to avoid damage? As per Sans code 10142 or the appropriate code for solar installations (domestically).

Thanks. I agree with the comment on Surfix as you can see from the pics the connections are not enclosed (nor is the Surfix clipped) do you consider the taping of connector blocks enclosed? The conduit for the surfix then is best practice as I said then. No, I don't have rodents but there is a potential for them hence the precautionary measure.

Hi This has probably been asked 100's of times. LV installation in the roof space. See below is this a good practice or a requirement? 1. Is it a SANS 10142 requirement that power 'single core' cables be installed in conduits, until such times as they connect to the dropper conduits buried in the walls that drop to the socket outlets? 2. Is it a SANS 10142 requirement that lighting 'single core' cables be installed in conduits, until such times as they connect to the dropper conduits buried in the walls that drop to the switches? and the conduits run as close to the light fitting as possible and terminate in a 'junction box' with a connector block to connect to the light fitting cable ie.. spot. 3. Surfix cable, should this be installed in conduit or any form of mechanical protection? or at the very least clipped neatly to avoid accidents.. where used in a lighting 'ring' the joints should be in a junction box with a connector block. ie.. where connecting to spotlights. 4. All cable joints are to be enclosed in a junction box, with the appropriate connector block and taped (insulation tape) 5. LV single cables from solar panels. Should they be in containment? 6. Internet cable (ethernet cable) Should that be in containment? If you live in an environment where you have the very real potential for rodents to 'nibble' wires in the roof space ie.. squirrels, mice etc.. should all cables in a roof space have to be installed in mechanical protection ie.. conduit or trunking? Requirement or good practice? All the above questions refer to a roof space installation. I have attached a few pics as well What is the SANS requirement? Regards Limpopoboy

Hi Guys If I understand correctly, I can use my electrical oven even though I am totally off grid, providing my maximum power consumption does not exceed my inverter size. Correct? I have a 5Kw inverter my maximum consumption for the oven is 2.4Kw Regards Limpopoboy

Surely there must be a ball park figure is it hundreds or should you expect thousands?

Hi Guys What price should I expect to pay from the installer to get a CoC for the solar installation and or upgrade to a system? Thanks In advance

Hi Guys I have a 7.2kw inverter running 16 panels works very very well. Except over the easter hols now when we virtually had 5 days of solid cloud cover. I chose to have a generator back up for this scenario. I have a 6.5kw petrol generator with steady 50hertz and 230v inputs to the inverter. However, the invert only goes to line mode charging batteries and house for a couple of seconds then it goes directly feed the property with no supply going to the batteries. Will I need 100% to have a pure sine form entering the inverter? I mean do I need a Pure Sine form generator or should it work based on the set up I have given above. Thanks in advance Limpopoboy

Hi Guys With the bad weather lasting about 3 days here in Limpopo I have run out of power. I wanted to plug in my generator as a back up to charge the batteries. It works well but the input and output voltage fluctuates between 220v and 255v is this okay? I don't want to damage anything either the inverter or my fridge, freezer, TV etc.. Any pointers etc.. Can I continue. with the generator? Regards Limpopoboy

@Bloubul7 many thanks.. Which is better?

Hi Guys Can somebody tell me the difference between Canadian Solar PV panels series CS3K and CS6U please, can they be mixed? I have a CAN-SOL-325W-MONO (CS3K series) can I swop for (due to damage) CS6U -330P? Thanks in advance.

@Buyeye Thanks

@Achmat Yes, totally off grid.