Published: 23 April 2014
Category: Q&A
Peter asks this question, which concerns the procedure for isolating a domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) system, and whether it should be protected by a 32mA RCD. It has been answered by the ECA (Theme – Regulations and Legislation)
This Q & A is one of thousands posted in our Technical Expertise area, and answered on a daily basis by our Voltimum Experts.
Question: Please advise on the procedure for the isolation of a domestic solar PV system that I am involved with…
For this solar PV system, the installers have used an old shower circuit to feed the new consumer unit from the other side of the house, which is controlled by a 32A MCB in a consumer unit having a 100mA RCD as the main switch and connected to a protective multiple earth (PME) system.
Should this circuit have a 32A RCD protecting it?
Another question - when installing the solar PV system, should the installers have upgraded the main protective bonding conductors from 6mm to 10mm (at the time of installation), or would their installation circumvent BS 7671 when modifying the circuit?
Finally, what warning notices are they obliged to fit on the main supply consumer unit?
Answer: Subject to when the work was carried out, and what the consumer unit is serving, an RCD may be required.
And yes, the main protective bonding conductor should have been up graded at the same time.
Notices are required as detailed in BS 7671:2008 (2011).
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