Solar panel circuit MCB size?

[davesparks]

hows that going to stop the dc cables from being live? is there an isolator to turn the sun off? lol

I don't know, I don't install solar. But I do have some common sense and that says you would have a DC isolator where the cables enter the property to isolate them.

 

[TJ Anderson]

hows that going to stop the dc cables from being live? is there an isolator to turn the sun off? lol

I was thinking the same, unless he has DC isolators upstream of the buried section. Unlikely though, probably just next to inverter.

 

[Gavin A]

Because in my view burying them in the wall even in galv conduit, customer turns main switch off in house for whatever reason they still have live cables running down the wall buried! the customer doesn't know they are there, only the person who done the install will.

again, if it's mechanically protected what's the problem?

and I mean mechanically protected with proper 3mm thick galv steel.

The stickers on the consumer unit, and fact there's an inverter downstairs and panels on the roof ought to give an indication that there are live dc cables in the wall. We'll always put a DC isolator in the loft as well so it can be isolated if needed.

 

[Gavin A]

hows that going to stop the dc cables from being live? is there an isolator to turn the sun off? lol

isolator in the loft.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I don't know, I don't install solar. But I do have some common sense and that says you would have a DC isolator where the cables enter the property to isolate them.

yea 9X out of 10 the dc cables will enter the loft so prob would be best to stick a dc isolator there also but the customer aint climbing in to the loft to isolate this are they! they will just crank the ac and dc isolator off at the inverter ( in this case its going to be next to the consumer unit) hence leaving the buried DC cables live in the wall when the main switch at consumer unit,ac isolator/dc isolator at the inverter are all off.

 

[TJ Anderson]

isolator in the loft.

Even if there was, which is unlikely if the inverter in elsewhere (very commendable of you though), the customer would just switch of Main AC Isolator for PV (by CU) and assume they had done it. Then they would still get a free crash course in arc welding when they get their drill out.

 

[davesparks]

yea 9X out of 10 the dc cables will enter the loft so prob would be best to stick a dc isolator there also but the customer aint climbing in to the loft to isolate this are they! they will just crank the ac and dc isolator off at the inverter ( in this case its going to be next to the consumer unit) hence leaving the buried DC cables live in the wall when the main switch at consumer unit,ac isolator/dc isolator at the inverter are all off.

Then if they can't read a label which clearly states how to isolate correctly what hope has the human race really got?
So what exactly is this scenario you are describing here, why is the customer trying to isolate the installation in the first place?

 

[Leesparkykent]

again, if it's mechanically protected what's the problem?

and I mean mechanically protected with proper 3mm thick galv steel.

The stickers on the consumer unit, and fact there's an inverter downstairs and panels on the roof ought to give an indication that there are live dc cables in the wall. We'll always put a DC isolator in the loft as well so it can be isolated if needed.

of course because it will always be an electrician who buys this new build house and knows the ins and outs of an electrical installation/PV system so will automatically assume all this. behave! lol

 

[Gavin A]

I don't understand what it is you think a house owner is going to be doing to result in them attacking the wall with such force that they can end up breaching the protection of heavy duty galv conduit before realising that they've hit something hard and metallic and should probably stop attacking it and work out what it is.

 

[Leesparkykent]

because diy dave has got his big shiny drill out on a sunday!

 

[Leesparkykent]

i give up to be honest, you have your opinions i have mine.

 

[Gavin A]

because diy dave has got his big shiny drill out on a sunday!

with the power off, and he just happens to be using a metal drill bit rather than a masonry or wood drill bit?

and is going to just keep drilling despite the drill not going in like it should and sounding like it's hit something metal?

 

[davesparks]

because diy dave has got his big shiny drill out on a sunday!

Which is unlikely to operate once he's turned all of the power off. Or if he's using a cordless then I doubt a DIY level cordless drill will be man enough to injure galv pipe.
But either way how many diyers actually switch off their whole house before drilling holes? All that will happen if they do is that it won't go bang when they drill through a cable but probably will when they turn it back on.

 

[davesparks]

with the power off, and he just happens to be using a metal drill bit rather than a masonry or wood drill bit?

and is going to just keep drilling despite the drill not going in like it should and sounding like it's hit something metal?

I have to say there are a fair few who do just keep going after they've hit a buried bit of metal, carpenters are quite good at that trick too, along with plumbers and kitchen fitters

 

[Leesparkykent]

with the power off, and he just happens to be using a metal drill bit rather than a masonry or wood drill bit?

and is going to just keep drilling despite the drill not going in like it should and sounding like it's hit something metal?

he is a DIY'er after all!