Thread: New AS 5033 will make expansion too co$tly

I can sort-of understand why folk would buy from overseas... My REC/Motech 4600 (3.7kW) system set me back around $15K. Today I can buy a differant brand setup for about HALF that....- Since the govt 'gift' halved from 40 cents to 20 cents.
Assume similar quality as the above, then say 2/3 of what I paid.

"...The conduit is because its classed as unprotected consumers mains...."

Really ? - Does that mean all that TPS running all over my roof should be in HD orange conduit as well ??? - Only 10 years since we did the extensions. Legally. Did'nt need to be in any conduit of any colour...


Naturally, it has 'nothing' to do with What The Market Will Bear....

Of course I'm not cynical........ Follow the money trail

from an actual installers view wuith 15 years experience, it is a concerted effort to destroy the smaller solar installer.
The CEC is there for the big boys like Origin who in reality are the only ones that can competee in the 'new' market.
I am a bit cynical im sorry, this happens when you see around 8000 layoffs in the industry in NSW and an energy policy which means that any power that you do not usse immediately going free to the likes of essential (origin by another name).
so in effect if you install a system in NSW yuou become a subsidised generatior for them.
Also if you expand your system in NSW then you face fines of $110,000.
This is not a typo. And this means installing additional modules onto an existing approved inverter.

At last count, there had been NIL houses catch on fire in Australia, yes there have been some modules burn out but this has not resulted in any house fires.
How many washing machines burn out every year and result in house fires? (about the same number as for PV installations, that is nil), or more worryingly, how about dichroic (halogen) downlights? - they are Very dangerous - yet these industries do not keep being harrassed.

my two cents worth, I know im new here and ill probably cop flack but this is a topic really close to my heart, I have seen to many businesses destroyed and massive losses incurred by the former renewable energy industry due to poor policies by all governments in the 15 years ive been around. It really SUX sacking people.

Originally Posted by superquag

Really ? - Does that mean all that TPS running all over my roof should be in HD orange conduit as well ??? - Only 10 years since we did the extensions. Legally. Did'nt need to be in any conduit of any colour...


Naturally, it has 'nothing' to do with What The Market Will Bear....

Of course I'm not cynical........ Follow the money trail

No conduit needed for your tps as its a protected final sub circuit.
Silly thing about the conduit is it has to be H/D (orange) anywhere INSIDE a building, and M/D (grey) anywhere outside a building. This came from the horses mouth at the production day they had when it was Q&A time.

As for buying cheap from overseas, i can sell someone a $500 inverter as well, its about buying over the phone with no site inspection etc.. which is mandatory going by the CEC regulations.

[QUOTE=p38arover;1739149]There will always be dodgy installs until the authorities start checking installs once again.

Yes the same over here, new codes are being written all the time!

As a funny, Me and the missus physically built our dwelling place about 15 years ago . The house and the garage are separate, built a bit like an old English house (someone quoted on this forum like a New Queenslander!) with coach house for the cars. The main distribution board, breakers & meters are mounted on the garage exterior with spur to the house. I built it with view to install solar at a later date.

I rough wired the garage myself, on a separate permit while the contractor I knew got his crew and a pulled permit for the house.
When it was time to do the rough inspection the inspector snagged the professional install with about 30 odd corrections. He left saying he wouldn't do anymore checks until he was allowed in that goddamn garage!

Stan the contractor said to me "Dennis I don't know what he is going to say about your rough install, its wired all like a car all neat run lines to the outlets etc". I called for an inspection the next day!

Inspector arrived, we all strolled into the building--the inspector immediately said
"Now this is how it should be done"! Nice job! --and wrote out the pass tag!!

Stan then said "Dennis this is what's wrong with this set up, you are supposed to be the amateur, me the professional with all the training, certificates, code knowledge etc !

Ah I retorted with a smile "But you lot know enough to be bloody dangerous"!
I got a quick quip in return which I shouldn't quote on the forum!!!

Cheers Dennis
Zedcars

Dennis,
Friend of mine was in the same boat... Being a bright fellow and more than handy with electrical stuff, he did the wiring in his house exensions.. running cables, chasing, conduiting etc.. the Full Monty. Another (Sparky) mate checked and signed off on it, and told me later on how embarrased he was to see such neat, safe and perfect workmanship...

- You'd like the New Zealand system... The householder can do all his - or her - own wiring and bring it to the main meter for connection, where an Inspector will check, sign off and power-up. Naturally the work must be to 'standards'...which the NZ government is only too happy to show you.

http://www.med.govt.nz/energysafety/...-installations

Australia and NZ share electrical standards etc, but we Aussie blokes are deemed (by our gov't) to be less competant than a NZ blonde ... :-(

Originally Posted by superquag

Dennis,
Friend of mine was in the same boat... Being a bright fellow and more than handy with electrical stuff, he did the wiring in his house exensions.. running cables, chasing, conduiting etc.. the Full Monty. Another (Sparky) mate checked and signed off on it, and told me later on how embarrased he was to see such neat, safe and perfect work...

That's easily achievable, but finding someone who wants to pay the bill is different

Hell, most of us, could loom your cables, ferulle every core and do a fantastic job on hourly rate

By the way, the Tfit will be announced start of september allegedly

"Tfit" ????

Originally Posted by superquag

"Tfit" ????

Sorry, your not in Vic, irrelevant