Hi Guys, have a 3kw infini a off-grid DIY system installed following a lot of advice from the forum. I have also been following some of the discussions regarding risk, compliance etc. and want to play my part in at least having a COC issued to certify that my system is in the ball park.

I live in the Overberg and have not been able to find a electrician able or willing to help. I am flexible and have a realistic budget set aside for this project. Can you please refer me or contact me regarding a COC

Thanks,

 

17 minutes ago, Green Bum said:

having a COC issued to certify that my system is in the ball park.

Hi Green Bum, 

Can i ask a question or 2....

1. What components are in the DB. 
2. What do you have to Protect the plug. I Dont see any breaker or Earth Leakage?
3. What type of batteries do you use. If its lead acid, How do you control the build up of gasses in that box?

 

Some things you have to do first.

You can't have AC and DC in the same trunking. Of course it is sometimes unavoidable that they will end up in close proximity, but at least make an effort. Having your DC in the same 20x40mm (if my eyes don't deceive me) trunking is not going to pass.

You also can't have a plug output on the Inverter. All plug points must be protected by an RCD (aka earth leakage). Move the plug point to below the distribution board, other side of RCD. If it is some kind of dedicated plug that you want to run independently of other loads, install a separate RCBO for it in the DB.

Also, I don't like the way the DC terminals connect to the bottom of the inverter. There has got to be a way to apply some strain relief,  maybe if you could bring the cabling across horizontally towards the inverter instead of letting it hang down. And put all of that into trunking too.

After that, as long as the distribution board is done well, a COC should not be an issue.

1 hour ago, Green Bum said:

I live in the Overberg and have not been able to find a electrician able or willing to help.

From my experiences, Sparkies that are both AC and Dc qualified, is scarce. There are quite a few in Cpt if you want references.

Your install:
1) As Plonk said, that plug must be connected to a breaker that is inside the DB.
2) As Plonk also said, that must be in trunking, separate from the AC. I don't see any need for train relief IF it is in trunking.
3) That must be in an enclosure i.e. you cannot have anything that small child's finger can touch ... ever.
4) Must also be in trunking

The trunking is a pain, all wires must be in trunking where someone can touch it ... and yea, I argued blue murder but I needed to do that to get a CoC.

 

The installer should be able to arrange at least a supplementary COC. That's what I got. The installers didn't recertify the whole house, but they issued a certificate that effectively modifies the one I already had.

Wow! thanks for all the feedback!

1.  Jaco, (i)inside the DC  DB box, a 125 A circuit breaker, two DC fuses and Surge protectors. (ii) Oops no earth protection, thanks (iii) Lead acid. yes holes in the box lid and open at the back.

 

1 hour ago, Green Bum said:

 Jaco, (i)inside the DC  DB box, a 125 A circuit breaker, two DC fuses and Surge protectors. (ii) Oops no earth protection, thanks (iii) Lead acid. yes holes in the box lid and open at the back.

That is what I suspected. So you have no Ac and Dc cables in the same trunking. 

You can now easily mount a AC db to the left of the inverter with the correct protection and then connect the Plug to it and you will be much closer to your COC. 

Thanks for all the feedback, I will implement the improvements!

Can you please help me with names and contact details of electricians, willing to check my system and issue a Supplementary COC.

Any electrician willing to take on this COC job please contact me!

You can PM me

Cell 083 234 1717 

 

8 hours ago, Bobster said:

The installer should be able to arrange at least a supplementary COC. That's what I got. The installers didn't recertify the whole house, but they issued a certificate that effectively modifies the one I already had.

How do you issue a supplementary COC without an original COC? You need to fill in the original COC certificate number on the supplementary COC as a reference to which COC(original) you are issuing a supplimentary COC. Am I missing someting here??

9 hours ago, pvdw22 said:

How do you issue a supplementary COC without an original COC? You need to fill in the original COC certificate number on the supplementary COC as a reference to which COC(original) you are issuing a supplimentary COC. Am I missing someting here??

You're right. I had to provide the original. But surely this is part of the service you pay an installer for.

 

 

2 hours ago, Bobster said:

You're right. I had to provide the original. But surely this is part of the service you pay an installer for.

 

 

I agree on this but how many solar installer do you see on FB these days who did not even do there Red seal let alone there wire mans. I do not think that in todays times you can take an COC as part of the deal if it has not been mentioned as part of the deal.