Grid-connected PV installation

Best practice guidelines

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 1

 Why best practice?
 AS/NZS mandate minimum requirements
 Best practices go above and beyond and
include non-technical aspects
 Improve the quality/reputation of the PV
industry
 Some best practices may be included in
new versions of AS/NZS

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 2

 Before installation
 Visit customer’s site before preparing
quote, don’t use satellite imagery
 Watch out for shading
◦ Solar Pathfinder, SunEye, mobile phone apps,
visual estimate
 Plan cable routes, inverter location, panel
layout
◦ Minimize effect of shading

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 3

 Before installation
 Watch out for meter box upgrades
 Give a firm quote, no hidden costs
 Give a timeline to installation and stick to
it
 Assist with regulatory approvals
◦ Grid connection, planning, RECs

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 4

 Before installation
 Give an accurate estimated energy yield
(in writing)
◦ PVSyst
◦ RETScreen
◦ Manual calculations using BOM or NASA or
the ASRDH

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 5

 Before installation
Azimuth

-90° -60° -30° 0° 30° 60° 90°

0° 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90%

15° 88% 93% 96% 98% 96% 93% 88%

30° 83% 92% 98% 100% 98% 92% 83%

Inclination

45° 77% 88% 95% 97% 95% 88% 77%

60° 69% 80% 87% 90% 87% 80% 69%

75° 60% 70% 77% 78% 77% 70% 60%

90° 51% 59% 63% 63% 63% 59% 51%

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 6

Health and Safety

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Health and Safety

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PV modules

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PV modules

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PV modules

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PV modules

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 A note on fuses
 Overcurrent protection may be required
when multiple stings are connected in
parallel
 AS/NZS 5033:2005 provides sizing
requirements for overcurrent protection
 AS/NZS 5033:2005 does not provide
mandatory trip times for protection

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 13

 A note on fuses
 IEC 61730.2 tests modules to withstand
135% of the maximum series fuse rating
for 2 hours

 => size overcurrent protection so that it

does not trip under normal operation, but
trips within 2 hours of an overcurrent
situation. Look at fuse/MCB
manufacturer’s datasheets.
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 14
A note on fuses

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 15

Polarized DC circuit breakers
 Pay attention to the
direction of current
 Generally speaking,
the PV array goes in
the terminals marked
+ and –
 Check wiring with
manufacturer

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 16

DC cabling

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 17

DC cabling

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DC cabling

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DC cabling

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DC cabling

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Inverters - good

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Inverters - good

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Inverters - better

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Inverters - best

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Inverters - best

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Labelling and documentation

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Labelling and documentation

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 28

 Labelling and documentation
 Documentation should be given to
customer after installation is complete:
◦ Overall working of system
◦ Data sheets and handbooks (PV modules,
inverters, mounting rails)
◦ List of equipment supplied, with serial
numbers
◦ Wiring diagrams and string layout

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 29

Labelling and documentation
◦ Commissioning sheet and installation checklist
◦ Expected annual yield
◦ Warranty certificates and manufacturer’s
contact details
◦ Maintenance procedures, shutdown
procedure, alarms installed and action
required.

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop 30

Thank you

AuSES PV Installation Best Practice

Workshop 31