Isolating PV - tin hat on

[Octopus]

OK, I don't touch PV at all, and the closest I get is to it, is to switch off the isolator when working on CU's.

Got a job on where the PV isolator is close to the board. The "supply"cable to the isolator has been wrapped around the radiator pipes and as the kitchen has been pulled apart it would seem sensible to seperate the cable from the pipes.

So my question is "is there another form of isolation in the loft"?

Tin hat on

Thanks

 

[infinity]

Yes an isolator at the board, and an AC isolator next to the inverter! isolate both and always isolate the AC before the DC.

 

[moggy1968]

should be! there should be another AC isloator and a DC isolator. Switch them all off, belt and braces!!
AC first, then DC. Reverse for switching back on.
If the installer followed the practices of some on here there may not be, in which case you will have to dig out the instructions for the inverter to pull out it's DC disconector.
A good example of why industry recognisable isolators should be used?
The inverter should disconnect when it sees a failure on the AC side anyway, but I wouldn't rely on that for safe isloation

 

[Gavin A]

as above, there should be an isolator in the loft as well if that's where the inverter is.

If there isn't, then you should be ok as the inverter is designed to cut itself off within 5 seconds of the grid supply being disconnected, but obviously you'd want to be proving it was dead yourself before working on it.

 

[Octopus]

Top helpful responses within minutes - thanks to all 3 of you.

 

[Earthstore]

After reading what some installers heve done, if I were you I would get the DNO to shut down the substation, and do the job when its dark...

 

[moggy1968]

After reading what some installers heve done, if I were you I would get the DNO to shut down the substation, and do the job when its dark...

and put a tarp over the panels:yes:

 

[JulianC]

And don't wear the tin hat. DC can arc. Just sayin' like...

 

[stavtoon]

Do it live softy :laugh:

 

[Somecamel]

I'd get the company that installed it back if you're not sure. if their is no isolator in the loft, it's live DC all the way down.

Better to be safe than sorry

 

[Gavin A]

oh. Is it the DC or AC cable in the kitchen?

I was assuming the inverter was in the loft and it was AC cable in the kitchen, if this was wrong then please ignore my point about the inverter cutting out as this only applies to the AC side, not the DC side.

as an aside, cables wrapped around the water pipes doesn't sound promising.