Grid-connected PV installation
Best practice guidelines
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Before installation
Inclination
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%
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
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Health and Safety
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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Health and Safety
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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PV modules
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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PV modules
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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PV modules
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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PV modules
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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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
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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
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A note on fuses
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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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
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DC cabling
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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DC cabling
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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DC cabling
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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DC cabling
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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DC cabling
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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Inverters - good
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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Inverters - good
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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Inverters - better
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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Inverters - best
AuSES PV Installation Best Practice Workshop
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