New AS 5033 will make expansion too co$tly

[superquag]

Bet nobody noticed the latest disaster from the Clean Energy Council and the EL-042 Standards Committee.

In a nutshell, there's been some silly changes to AS/NZS 5033 which has to do with solar (PV) systems.

They came into effect July 16 / 2012 with a 3 month grace period.

The sting is in the tail, for those who have saved up to update or expand their PV arrays... Not only will the new bits have to conform, but the original equipment sort of becomes 'contaminated' and needs to also be 'upgraded'.

You will now be required to have ALL, that is ALL, DC cables run inside HD orange conduit, even in wall cavities... If there are any connectors in the line they now must be of the same brand and type as the one(s) they plug into.

A 'disconnect' (switch or Circuit-breaker) must be fitted to each set of panels, up on the roof, unless the Inverter is within 3 metres... These Circuit-breakers may NOT be 'polarity sensitive'.

So., if you add a panel or three, then ALL your old DC cables will have to be ripped out and put INto HD orange conduit, ALL the way between your panels and inverter... which means new (matching..) plugs fitted, your polarity-dependant CB's (if you have this type) chucked away and new ones fitted, then a second set of CB's retro-fitted to you existing solar panels...

Allow around one to two thousand dollars extra.

A consumer-friendly PV installer tells me that all of the changes will co$t in $$$ and reliability, for zero nett gain.

Once again, follow the money-trail, and tell me "who benefits?"

Still want to upgrade ? I won't be, not now.


But the absolute worst possible change is...

"...Plastic cable ties are not to be used as a primary means of support. (Clause 4.3.6.3)"

Listen to the anguised wail from ....(Watt's the collective noun for a group of Electricians?... Hmmmm....) - a Surge of Sparkies

[p38arover]

My cables are strung across the rafters with cable ties (the blue stuff is connected to the aircon ducting). There is no CB on the panels.



This label on the fuse box is now white:

[Slunnie]

Sounds like they're making things safer. Hopefully there will be a reduced risk of houses burning down and people being killed due to faulty and dodgy installations.

[superquag]

Cables running inside conduit runs warmer... therefore need to be derated. Yet TPS can be run all over the roof-space without conduit... and it's possibly 'live' 24/7 AND connected to a very low-impedance source of electrons...

My sparkie tells me that CBs on the roof are a too-regular earner for him. (Unreliable, especially in hot conditions..)

What's the call-out and fitting fee for replacing one of them? - along with the price of the CB.

How many units would you need to generate in order to pay for it ?

Not arguing, just plain cynical... Follow the money.

[isuzurover]

My install was done 30/06/12. Looks like it is up to the new code...

[p38arover]

Sounds like they're making things safer. Hopefully there will be a reduced risk of houses burning down and people being killed due to faulty and dodgy installations.

There will always be dodgy installs until the authorities start checking installs once again. Have a look at this thread to see just how many solar panels are installed on the wrong side of houses or under shade, shoddy installation, etc. (it will take you a while to look at all of them!):

Part 1: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...'t=1430969

Part 2: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...;t=1824702&#r1

You will be spending quite a bit of time on Nearmap.

[rovercare]

I think the new regs will add hundreds of dollars, not really a large concern

[superquag]

It appears "Dodgy Bros Quik & Dirty Installs" are based in Qld and NSW.... Or maybe we were lucky on our installation. ( 3.7kW in two strings. After exactly 12 months we are $512 in credit, rather than around $3,600 paid out in bills...)

My primary objection is... shifting the goal posts and forcing a retro-fit of the existing, legally and properly installed components, never mind the newer bits.

Obviously I'm assuming a competant and safe install to begin with...

[superquag]

I think the new regs will add hundreds of dollars, not really a large concern

Maybe, when done as part of an initial installation. - Cheaper labour costs... But to remove existing cabling, then re-run and replace it... not so cheap.

Lots of muttering and swearing up inside a cramped roof-space translates to Lots Labour co$ts

[rovercare]

Maybe, when done as part of an initial installation. - Cheaper labour costs... But to remove existing cabling, then re-run and replace it... not so cheap.

Lots of muttering and swearing up inside a cramped roof-space translates to Lots Labour co$ts

It's tedious working with existing systems, most system extensions will just become an additional system

Again, why not just fit prior to the grace period ending

I don't mind the changes, I run conduit in ceiling spaces these days anyhow