Advice from someone who inspects solar and battery systems every week. Pat Southwell is a Licensed Electrical Inspector in Victoria with more than 25 years on the tools and 5,000+ inspections behind him. When a compliance question has real money, safety or reputation riding on it, he gives you a clear, practical answer you can act on, anywhere in Australia.
Solar and battery work sits across the wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000), the inverter, PV array and battery installation standards (AS/NZS 4777.1, AS/NZS 5033 and AS/NZS 5139), state regulations, network requirements and manufacturer instructions, and they don't always line up. Most states don't have dedicated solar inspectors, so when something is unclear, people end up guessing or arguing.
Pat spends his working week on real installations, seeing what passes, what fails and why. Installers have been ringing him with the hard questions for years. Consulting is simply a proper way to give that time to the jobs that need it. Read Pat's full story →
Whether you build them, design them, sell them or have to settle a dispute about one, Pat can help you get to the right answer faster.
Installers, retailers and electrical contractors who want to get it right the first time, or fix it properly after an inspection.
Solicitors, barristers, mediators and their clients who need an independent expert who understands both the standards and the reality on site.
Consulting engineers and system designers who want an inspector's eye on a design before it reaches site.
Brands and distributors who want installers to put their products in correctly and compliantly.
Builders, insurers, assessors, training providers and property managers also come to Pat. If it involves a solar or battery system, ask.
Pat's experience isn't limited to residential jobs. He inspects and advises on larger commercial systems too, where bigger arrays, larger inverters and switchboard integration make compliance more complex and mistakes far more expensive to fix.
Every job is different, so the scope and quote are agreed with you before any work starts.
A focused video or phone call to talk through a specific problem, with a short written summary of what was agreed afterwards.
Send the drawings, photos, test results or paperwork. Pat reviews them and comes back with clear written findings.
Pat attends, inspects and tests, then writes up what he found, what it means and how to fix it.
A formal, independent report for disputes, claims and legal matters, prepared to the standard courts and tribunals expect.
For companies that want Pat on call for questions, spot checks and reviews as the work comes up.
Tailored sessions for your installers, designers or office staff, in person or online.
Send a short description of the job or question, plus any photos, drawings or documents you already have.
We'll come back to you, have a quick chat if needed, and confirm what Pat will do, the timeframe and the cost before anything starts.
Whether it's a call, a desktop review or a site visit, Pat looks at the evidence and the requirements that apply to your job.
A plain-English outcome in writing: what he found, why it matters and what to do next.
Australia-wide for advice calls, design and document reviews, reports and training. Most consulting can be done remotely from photos, drawings and video.
In person in Melbourne and across Victoria for site inspections. Travel interstate can be arranged for larger jobs, expert matters and workshops.
Pat also knows how the rules differ from state to state, and will tell you when something depends on your state's requirements or your network's rules.
It depends on the job. A short advice call costs far less than a site inspection or a formal expert report. Once we understand what you need, we'll give you a clear quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises.
Yes. Pat can provide an independent expert report and opinion for disputes, claims and legal proceedings. Reports are prepared in line with the expert witness code of conduct that applies in the relevant court or tribunal, and his duty is to give an impartial opinion.
A solar expert witness gives an independent, professional opinion on a solar or battery installation for a dispute, insurance claim or legal case. That usually means reviewing the evidence, inspecting the system, explaining whether it meets the relevant standards and regulations, and setting out the findings in a written report that a court, tribunal or mediator can rely on.
Pat works with the requirements that apply to grid-connected solar and battery systems, including the wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000), inverter installation (AS/NZS 4777.1), PV arrays (AS/NZS 5033) and battery systems (AS/NZS 5139), along with state electrical safety regulations, network connection rules and manufacturer installation instructions.
Yes. Advice calls, reviews, reports and training are available Australia-wide. Site inspections are in Victoria, and interstate travel can be arranged for the right job.
Yes. Anything you share about your job, your client or a dispute stays between us and is only used for the work you've asked for.
Consulting gives you expert advice and findings, but it doesn't replace the certificates and inspections your state requires. Those still need to be completed through the normal channels. Pat can help you understand exactly what's needed to get there.
Advice calls can often be booked within a few days. Reviews, inspections and reports depend on the size of the job, and we'll give you a realistic timeframe when we confirm the scope.
Send us a short note about your job and we'll get back to you to talk it through. It helps to include:
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