Visual Defects of a Grid Connected Solar and Battery System

Adding a battery to a solar system adds AS/NZS 5139 to everything you already have to get right under AS/NZS 4777.1. This course covers the defects that most often fail a combined solar and battery installation, and what a compliant job looks like instead.

With battery rebates driving installs, compliance scrutiny on battery systems has never been higher — and many of the defects being found are things installers simply haven’t been shown. Backup circuit labelling, shutdown procedures, SDS and S-labels, RCD protection on battery circuits, functional testing in backup mode, fireproofing, cable sizing and mechanical protection all get checked.

This course goes through each of those areas with real examples from the field: what the requirement is, what the defect looks like, and how to avoid it. It’s made for any installer working with batteries who wants to stop losing time to call-backs and failed inspections.

What you’ll learn

• The battery-specific requirements of AS/NZS 5139 and AS/NZS 4777.1 that most often produce defects
• Labelling for backup circuits, shutdown procedures and warnings, and where SDS and S-labels go
• RCD protection requirements for battery circuits
• Functional testing in backup mode: MEN and neutral continuity, and anti-islanding
• Fireproofing, cable sizing and mechanical protection — what’s required and what fails

Course content

Introduction: what changes when a battery is added

The standards that apply and why battery defects are being found more often.

Labelling defects

Backup circuits, shutdown procedures, warning labels, SDS and S-labels for emergency response.

Protection defects

RCD requirements on battery circuits, cable sizing and fireproofing.

Testing defects

Functional testing in backup mode, MEN and neutral continuity, anti-islanding.

Mechanical protection and location

Barriers, bollards and the placement mistakes that get systems sent back.

This course includes

• 20 CPD points (SAA accredited)
• 45 minutes of on-demand video
• Free Battery Labelling Checklist
• Certificate of completion

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.