Published: 22 December 2014
Category: Q&A
John asks this question, which is about a PME-connected solar PV installation, and whether it meets BS 7671 regulations according to electrical protection, conductor sizes and warning notices. It has been answered by the ECA (Theme - Regulation & 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: Could you please advise about the procedure of isolation of a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) system in a house that I have looked at in order to give a quote?
With this solar PV system, installers have used an old shower circuit to feed the new consumer unit from the other side of the house, which - in turn - is controlled by a 32A MCB in a consumer unit, with a 100mA RCD as the main switch, and all connected to a protective multiple earth (PME system).
Should this circuit have a 32A RCD protecting it?
Also, by installing the solar PV system, should the installers have upgraded the main protective bonding conductors from 6mm to 10mm at the time of the installation? Or would this installation circumvent BS7671 when modifying the circuit?
What warning notices should the installer have fitted on to the main supply consumer unit?
Answer: Subject to when the work was carried out, and what the consumer unit is serving, an RCD may have been required.
Yes - the main protective bonding conductor should have been upgraded at the same time.
Notices ARE required as detailed in BS 7671.
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