solar electrician

[solarecosse]

can u tell me if a solar electrician has to have bpec, or is he ok with just having 17th edition, inspection and testing and part p, can he still sign off his install cheers

 

[telectrix]

if he's competent with PV, then i assume it's OK. as long as you van get your MCS and whatever to get the FIT.

 

[The Solar King]

Not sure what you mean.
In Scotland should be SELECT or NICEIC. Both are recognised under the Certifier of Construction Scheme. There is no official recognition of Part P defined scope here although some people do use it. There is no such thing for PV. Part P defined scope does what it says on the tin - defined for the scope of the qualification, such as plumbing, kitchen fitting, garage doors etc.

If someone has a BPEC Part P qualification for plumbing that should cover Solar Thermal in England. I know that SNIPEF have been trying to do something under the Certifier of Construction Scheme for electrical work for plumbers, but do not know the detail.

 

[solarecosse]

hi thanks what it is im actually going through my mcs the now and this is my install which they will check and im just making sure before i use this guy that everything will be ok with the qualifications he has, i know hes done alot of solar work and is a qualified spark, will the likes of napit want to see his qualifications too

 

[Gavin A]

hi thanks what it is im actually going through my mcs the now and this is my install which they will check and im just making sure before i use this guy that everything will be ok with the qualifications he has, i know hes done alot of solar work and is a qualified spark, will the likes of napit want to see his qualifications too

you need to have copies of his qualifications else how do you know that he is trained and competent and not just blagging it?

And that's just covering your back and making sure you don't get stung, the MCS side of things is a bonus.

If they're going to be the only one with any qualifications in the field, then IMO they should have done a specific solar PV course, if you've done those courses but want an experienced spark to do the AC side, then it probably matters less.

I got shown why this matters recently when interviewing a time served apprentice trained commercial spark who'd got 6 months solar PV experience.... couldn't answer the question at all about why solar PV AC circuits might need to be designed to a 1% volt drop rather than the usual BS7671 volt drops for other circuits, no matter how much I prompted him. It's amazing how many sparks just don't get this crucial point.

 

[marc8]

Hi all
am just going through my MCS at present have appointment on wednesday & have now done 2 installs one as subcontractor & one for myself, just finishing the one for myself with enphase units & slate roof job, hopefully i will tick all the boxes.
but on another note from what i have seen on the electrical side from a few solar companies anyone who holds 17th edition should have no problems.
i get the 1% volt drop above, but when you see companies hook in solar before domestic meter
& also wire 2.5mm T/E into main switch feeding another D/B, that would be my concern & not all this paperwork that means not even the paper it is written on otherwise these things would be picked up or should be.

 

[solarecosse]

yes i have all my own qualifications for installing them on the roof etc, the spark says he has his 17th edition and test and inspection which he can provide me with and has done installs before, what i basically want to know is, is it enough to get me through the mcs or will he need to have any pv tickets a few sites ive been on only mention 17th edition and part p or have test and inspection,

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yes i have all my own qualifications for installing them on the roof etc, the spark says he has his 17th edition and test and inspection which he can provide me with and has done installs before, what i basically want to know is, is it enough to get me through the mcs or will he need to have any pv tickets a few sites ive been on only mention 17th edition and part p or have test and inspection,

 

[Mark Gee]

thanks for the info