Inspection of a Solar and Battery Installation – Part One

This is Part One of a two-part course that follows a licensed electrical inspector through a complete solar and battery inspection — the same process used for prescribed inspections in Victoria and CER audits around the country. Part One covers the initial overview and everything on the roof.

Most defects that get a system sent back are found on the roof, and most of them are avoidable if you know what an inspector is going to look at. Cabling, fixings, earthing continuity, disconnection points and labelling all get checked — and ‘looks fine from the ground’ doesn’t count.

In this course you’ll watch Pat inspect a 17.5 kW solar and 40 kWh battery installation exactly as he would on a real prescribed inspection. You’ll see how the reference earth is established at the switchboard, how earthing continuity is proven across every array, what a compliant disconnection point looks like, and the visual checks on cabling, penetrations, connectors and mechanical fixings that separate a pass from a defect.

What you’ll learn

• How a full solar and battery inspection is structured, and what happens at each stage
• What electrical inspectors and CER auditors look for on the roof
• How to prove earthing continuity across every array and exposed metal part
• What a compliant disconnection point, warning label and cable fixing looks like
• How to check penetrations, connectors and mechanical fixings against a wind event

Course content

Introduction and the three stages of an inspection

The system being inspected, safety first, and how the inspection is split into overview, roof and switchboard.

Switchboard and gateway overview

Confirming what’s been installed matches what you were told, warning labels, and establishing a reference earth for the rooftop tests.

Isolating the inverter and battery

Safely isolating before heading up, and the labels and shutdown procedure at the battery.

Earthing continuity across the arrays

Trailing earth lead, the 0.5 ohm target, and working panel to panel across three separately oriented arrays.

Disconnection points and cabling

Warning label placement, conductor identification, fixed positioning, and why PVC ties can’t be the primary fixing.

Penetrations, connectors and mechanical fixings

Roof entry, MC4 mating, brackets and clamps, and the simple shake test that simulates a wind event.

This course includes

• 15 CPD points (SAA accredited)
• 30 minutes of on-demand video
• Certificate of completion
• Real inspection of a live solar and battery system

Your presenter

Pat Southwell — Licensed Electrical Inspector

Pat inspects solar and battery installations across Victoria every week as a Licensed Electrical Inspector, with more than 7,000 inspections behind him. He co-hosts the Solar Sidekicks podcast and has trained over 1,000 installers through Southwell Solar Training.