Hello everyone, just a simple question that I have to ask please. I installed the system at home myself, and then just got an electrician to do the AC side for me and give me a COC. Likewise, at my son-in-law's houses, we followed the same procedure. What do I need to qualify as an installer, do you have to be an electrician or can I go for a certificate somewhere so that I can do it later? After my retirement of course, if possible. Can someone please point me in the right direction? And secondly, what does it mean when they say that someone is coming to inspect the system and sign it off? And is a COC alone sufficient or what else do you give to the client after the full installation is completed?

Thank you.

Edited February 22, 20242 yr by Swannie

There is no such qualification for installation of inveters, solar or batteries. 

There is a qualification for testing and certification of electrical installations known as Wiremans licence. 

This wiremans is required by many companies for warranty purposes as it proves the system is operating correctly with required electrical protections. It also is required by insurance incase of 

You can install and hire a qualified person(Wiremans licence) to certify and write the COC. This is what most companies do. They have a in-house Wiremans person who certify what their labourer did and fix any mistakes.

You can add your own certificates from inverter/solar/battery companies to better understand their system and prove to customers your legit otherwise learn as much as you can online and manuals.

 

On 2024/02/18 at 3:32 PM, Swannie said:

Hello everyone, just a simple question that I have to ask please. I installed the system at home myself, and then just got an electrician to do the AC side for me and give me a COC. Likewise, at my son-in-law's houses, we followed the same procedure. What do I need to qualify as an installer, do you have to be an electrician or can I go for a certificate somewhere so that I can do it later? After my retirement of course, if possible. Can someone please point me in the right direction? And secondly, what does it mean when they say that someone is coming to inspect the system and sign it off? And is a COC alone sufficient or what else do you give to the client after the full installation is completed?

Thank you.

I did the same - I do not have the funds to hire someone to do something I can do myself. With lots of help from Google and Youtube.

Thank you so much, nothing wrong with that, looks good.

What's so funny about this thread is that, yes you need a Wireman & yes you need someone to certify & test AC circuits. Given the fact that Solar tech is so new & has boomed, there are so many guys that took it on as electricians & what's also funny is that electricians know AC circuits pretty well. However, & a big however, Solar Systems contain so much more than AC circuits etc. 

They contain a large portion of DC circuits on the roof in the form of PV as well as batteries & HV batteries for Commercial sites. The PV arrays can get up to 850V and so can the batteries in DC. So we start playing with potentially life hazardous DC power to which a lot of electricians are not equipped nor experienced with. Let's not paint everyone with the same brush, a lot of them have also good DC experience. 

It doesn't stop there. Commissioning is another subject. Good to connect it all up but it will require some system knowledge & that usually borders on IT with CANbus & RS485 as well as working & crimping RJ45 cables with pin outs. Then you have the collective idea of someone who possesses the skills of mechanical knowledge of what works on roofs & safety on roofs. 

Let's just say I think it requires a lot of disciplines mixed into one person & that person is not really ideally an electrician as a must. 

I hope this gives confidence to a lot of ppl but I also hope it keeps ppl honest enough that if you don't know something or you are not sure there is no embarrassment to ask or seek answers. The best of us & the worst of us don't all know the same things. 

11 hours ago, Steve87 said:

What's so funny about this thread is that, yes you need a Wireman & yes you need someone to certify & test AC circuits. Given the fact that Solar tech is so new & has boomed, there are so many guys that took it on as electricians & what's also funny is that electricians know AC circuits pretty well. However, & a big however, Solar Systems contain so much more than AC circuits etc. 

They contain a large portion of DC circuits on the roof in the form of PV as well as batteries & HV batteries for Commercial sites. The PV arrays can get up to 850V and so can the batteries in DC. So we start playing with potentially life hazardous DC power to which a lot of electricians are not equipped nor experienced with. Let's not paint everyone with the same brush, a lot of them have also good DC experience. 

It doesn't stop there. Commissioning is another subject. Good to connect it all up but it will require some system knowledge & that usually borders on IT with CANbus & RS485 as well as working & crimping RJ45 cables with pin outs. Then you have the collective idea of someone who possesses the skills of mechanical knowledge of what works on roofs & safety on roofs. 

Let's just say I think it requires a lot of disciplines mixed into one person & that person is not really ideally an electrician as a must. 

I hope this gives confidence to a lot of ppl but I also hope it keeps ppl honest enough that if you don't know something or you are not sure there is no embarrassment to ask or seek answers. The best of us & the worst of us don't all know the same things. 

Agreed 100%. Most of the basic electrical stuff can be figured out with the aid of some common sense and knowledge, but it is a very wide and diverse field. This is not something a purely electrical specialist will do well in. Lots of other knowledge and experience needed, not least of all - a lot of mechanical expertise. Even more so if you attempt something like this. I did not trust my roof.

Hello : )

So with the above to be an installer is a wide gap of understanding.

By that I mean anyone can mount a thing to the wall and screw brackets to trusses etc. but at the end of the day for a CoC of a new install it has to have the General Control of a wireman. So a wireman can't sign off a new install if he/she didn't have general control. Alas loop holes are there too where if someone not under any general control signs off as it was an existing system and does all the checks etc. 

There are many caviets to installing and installers and contractors.

Also a fine like between DIY and contractor. Anyone wanting to DIY can do so and I have asked many platforms of what is in DIY range and what is not and there is no solid line to a degree. 

 

But if you looking at retirement and doing new installs I say it is a non starter. However.. if you get one and need sign off, ask the wireman and let him/her have general control i.e sizing, routes, etc then sure good.

 

Again my opinion and thoughts at this moment. 

 

My dad was a big DIY guy and I learnt a heck of a lot from him but still does not make it "by the law".

 

With that, anyone know a good place in Bryanston sorta areas even out a bit that can teach welding ? Got a few projects I want to do but my welding is like chicken sh*t

 

Edited February 28, 20242 yr by Dylboy

Hallo all, thank you so much for all of the comments, appreciate it. Blessings

Must say this is exactly the sort of conversation I thought we would have. My team that works with me is broad & diverse. From a youngster that does a lot of roof planning & PV installing all the way up to a semi retired railway signalling engineer. 

We are better than the sum of our moving parts but alone we are but mere individuals. We all support each other & we are all open to ideas on how to accomplish a task. Because we have learnt it's about perspective. You have a different angle of view so hence can have a good suggestion. We carried out that installation of 100kW Inverter system with 96 solar PV modules on a 3 storey roof with a team of 6 including myself & accomplished commissioning according to spec in 11 working days. 

 

 

Thank you Steve87