Hi, PV Solar partner wanted..

[bobbysolar]

Hi all, 1st post here but the reason i joined the forum is because i am looking for a business partner...i have been installing PV Solar for a 12 month and know everything from sales to handover, however my problem is that i am not a "lecy" so getting my MCS is not possible for me alone, or at least all the research i have done says i cant, so my way around this would be to employ a lecy and pay for him to get the install and design course done and he will be my competent person, however i know for 1 person alone to run this business would be very difficult. If you are a fully qualified lecy and would like the chance to start up a pv solar company but lack the pv knowledge and live in or around the south wales area please let me know, my plan would be 50/50.

 

[moggy1968]

You can do an MCS assessment without any technical knowledge at all, and there lies one of the major flaws with the system.
Once armed with your MCS cert you can then sub out the electrical and roofing work and you just do the paperwork and count your money.
BUT, if you do have subbies how do you know if they are installing to the correct standard. I've seen even experienced subbies who don't know their way round the basics of 1771, never mind all the solar stuff. As you'll see from various posts on here, even experienced guys get caught out and can't agree onn the finer points of the regs.
If your going to do it I think the way you propose is the way to go, get someone experienced and qualified who has a vested interest in the well being of the business.

Good luck with your search.
wrong area for me, otherwise I would love to help as I have the opposite problem. I need someone better on sales and admin than me!!

 

[bobbysolar]

Hi moggy, thanks for that, but can you clarify for me...to get my mcs i dont need to be a lecy? if that is right how do i get around the install and design course to become competent? the rest of the mcs criteria, QMS, H&S working at heights, public liability insurance etc etc...i have no problems with its just this competent person thing...and where you from?

 

[moggy1968]

I'm in Dorset
You would need to have a H&S policy and risk assessments etc. Likewise you would need your QMS. A good MCS course should provide these or at least a framework to get you started. Liability insurance shouldn't be a problem to get but you should have it even if you are subbing out.

If you are subbing out your subbies must also have their own policies on H&S. the working at heights bit is their responsibility. They should have liability insurance as well. They should also do the part P registration of the electrics and commsioning cert for the solar. I do all this myself so not sure exactly how people do it but thats my thoughts. I am sure others on here can advise you on what they do in order to comply.

 

[yellowvanman]

Hi moggy, thanks for that, but can you clarify for me...to get my mcs i dont need to be a lecy? if that is right how do i get around the install and design course to become competent? the rest of the mcs criteria, QMS, H&S working at heights, public liability insurance etc etc...i have no problems with its just this competent person thing...and where you from?

PV design and install is not rocket science. If you've been doing it already you'll know most of what you need to. There is plenty of freebie applications that can help on designing your system (eg. SMAs Sunny Design and all the big inverter manufacturers have free aids). A good 3 day PV course would give you the most of what you would need.

A few weeks ago I would have said a 3 day course may not have been a neccessity but recently working on someone else's project I'll change that and recommend that even sparkies should go on some sort of course.

As far as MCS assessment you don't necessarily have to be 'full-scope' (as an electrical contractor would be) but have enough knowledge and experience to wire in the PV circuit correctly and decide whether bonding is satisfactory or not, but to do that you need to be familar with BS7671 (regs) and have the necessary qualification for that, which is again a 3 day course.

Or as mentioned previously you can subby the ac side of the PV work to a Part P local electrician.

I've got non electricians through both courses, although the BS7671 is harder for a non-lecy.

 

[bobbysolar]

still unsure here...if i apply to for my mcs i dont need to be a lecy, by trade i am a roofer, but after 12 months of fitting solar i have decided to have a go at starting up myself my intention will be to sub the work out however to get my mcs i need to meet their criteria, has i said the QMS, H and C etc etc... i have no problems understanding, but how do i get around me not being a lecy when it comes to the inspection, i would get a lecy to do all the testing etc...but would that be enought?

 

[synergy power]

Hi Bobbysolar,

I am MCS accredited and i am not an electrician, i'm just your average 21 year old who left university studying Financial Mathematics to start up in the solar trade.

I gained all of my knowledge from taking part in 3 training courses with the REA Academy which were 2 day solar PV installation, 2 day Site Surveying and a 5 day course in solar PV. Along with researching alot on the internet.

I used a subby for my first installation who i knew well and i paid for him to take his C&G Solar PV, i also put him down as the competent person for the MCS assesment and he was at the installation on the day of the assesment.

To cut a long story short you can sub-contract an electrician and still get MCS Accredited, you just need to make sure he has all the requirements and also preferably you have preivous experience with as he MCS Assesors do like to see that you havent just pulled bob the sparky off the street.

I hope this helps,
Ryan.

 

[moggy1968]

ideally for your assessment you need the sparky present who installed the system so he can talk the assessor through it and answer any questions. Someone with a maths degree might find the courses a bit easier to get to grips with than the rest of us!!

Know what you mean yellow van man!!

 

[bobbysolar]

thanks all for your advice think i might of finally got to the bottom of this MCS thing....any more advice or info would be great thou.

 

[Eco Deal]

I think this is where mcs assessment is wrong
Why people with none electrical backgrounds
Are getting mcs accredited

Basicly if you can do an excel works doc on a pc
You can install an electrical system???

Great stuff ?

 

[solarsavings]

IMHO there are far too many that think they have, or should have exclusive rights to the solar industry by virtue of their "experience" most of which has been gained since the introduction of the FIT.
The same argument was used with the introduction of part p and the earlier introduction of the gas register.

The objection is about protecting and promoting your own business nothing more.

 

[pablo4321]

hi solar savings can you use your own house to get mcs accredited

 

[solarsavings]

Yes mate.

 

[SolarCity]

IMHO there are far too many that think they have, or should have exclusive rights to the solar industry by virtue of their "experience" most of which has been gained since the introduction of the FIT.
The same argument was used with the introduction of part p and the earlier introduction of the gas register.

The objection is about protecting and promoting your own business nothing more.

http://www.electriciansforums.net/photovoltaic-solar-panels-green-energy-forum/41669-mcs-farce.html

 

[Grumpy]

Hi Bobby,
I'm MCS accredited and a qualified sparky and I live in Gloucestershire.
I've always enjoyed trips to Wales . . . .