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SOLAR PANELS- FACTS
TOTAL NUMBER OF PV SYSTEMS INSTALLED
*750,000+
 Queensland:
209,217
New South Wales: 194,980
Victoria:
128,013
South Australia:
107,544,
Western Australia: 104,653,
Northern Territory: 1,551
Tasmania:
7,881
 Please note Germany has 500,000+ installed systems
* Source: Energy Matters
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SOLAR PANELS-INSTALLATION
 Solar panels are installed in strings to form arrays.
 Each panel generates power - the voltage accumulates to form a string,
(i.e. 8 panels @ 40 v DC = 320 v DC).
 Combined voltage is potentially lethal.
 Potential failure points:
 Series arc
 Pershing material: cable insulation, panel backing material
 Damage by animals and vermin
 Poor quality components and materials
 Flood or storm damage
 Any failure point can expose tradespeople, emergency services, home
owners accessing roofs and maintenance personnel to potentially lethal
voltages which currently cannot be switched off.
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UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INCORPORATED USA
FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND PHOTOVOLTAIC
INSTALLATIONS RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT
IDENTIFIED
 A damaged solar array may create unpredictable current paths which
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may include gutters, roofs, flashings and modules.
A severely damaged array may still generate lethal voltages.
Water on a damaged 600 volt solar array is potentially unsafe within a 15
foot radius for “pond water” and up to 750 feet if the water is
contaminated by salt (consider cleaning beachside solar installations).
As long as the solar array is illuminated parts of the array will always be
energised, therefore generating lethal DC voltages.
We are happy to provide electronic copies of this report.
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CURRENT PROBLEM
 Unable to isolate and
make safe rooftop solar
generators.
 Arrays continue to
generate dangerous
voltage when ever the sun
is shining.
 Dangerous voltages exist
between all solar panels
and associated wiring
through to the isolator as
indicated in red.
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PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLS
Fire
Cable Damage - Animal
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PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLS
Perish – 7 years exposure
Poor quality installation
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PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLS
Incorrect cabling
Panels and cabling not
supported
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PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLS
Solar Panel Termination Fire
Series Arcing
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PROBLEMS WITH SOLAR PANEL
INSTALLS
Cable Damage – perish
Cable Damage - vermin
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WARNINGS ISSUED
• Safety Bulletin-Floods and Household Solar Panels
-Clean Energy Council 2011
• Electrocution warnings: NECA 2010/2011
• Field Safety Alerts: ET5A Utilities including shock
and fire.
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CURRENT SOLUTION ATTEMPTS
 Installation of a conventional DC rooftop
isolator (Required in latest AS 5033)
• Location encourages access which
could cause electrocution to
operator if array is damaged.
• Does not stop combined voltage.
• Isolators/disconnects are unable to
switch under full load and are
subject to failure.
• Dangerous voltage still exists up to
and including the isolator.
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CURRENT SOLUTION ATTEMPTS
 Garbage Bags – must totally wrap the
panel to stop voltage generation, prone
to blowing off, require access to roof to
fit.
 Foam – when applied will slide off the
panels of varying angles, failing to block
the sun.
 Blankets – cumbersome and if any
holes exist the panels will still generate
electricity.
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ULTIMATLEY OVER TIME ALL SOLAR
PANELS AND ASSOCIATED
COMPONENTS WILL FAIL
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ACCESSING ONE SUCH DAMAGED
ARRAY PROVIDES A REAL RISK OF
ELECTROCUTION.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO VISUALLY
ASSESS A SOLAR INSTALLATION FOR
DAMAGE!
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ISOLATION – PANEL VOLTAGES NO
LONGER COMBINE
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REMOTE SOLAR ISOLATOR
 Remote Solar Isolator - isolates each individual solar panel.
 Panels are isolated:
 Remotely by disconnecting grid supply to an area. (obvious
advantage during flood, fire or natural disaster). This may be
achieved at the local substation or power lines in the street.
 By following the installed solar standard isolating procedure
located at the customers switchboard per AS 5033.
 Confirmation of isolation:
 RSIA1 provides an additional flashing green strobe. (These
strobes may be placed in a high visibility area if roof panels are
not clearly visible).
 RSIA2 uses the standard indication which is available on all
inverters, indicating grid failure and zero DC generation.
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CONFIRMATION OF ISOLATION
 RSIA1
 RSIA2
 Flashing Green Strobe &
 Blank screen @ inverter
blank screen @ inverter
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LINE DIAGRAM OF STANDARD RSI
INSTALLATION
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HOW DOES THE RSI WORK?
 A 24 volt dc power supply is energised from the grid AC supply
 This in turn supplies the required power to the RSI which in turn will
close the desired contacts. This will then allow all connected solar
panels to combine their voltage and supply DC volts to the inverter.
 The contacts continuously remain in the closed/combining position
until their supply is interrupted.
 This supply may be interrupted on either the AC or DC side of the
control, for example switching off the AC mains or having a relay coil
fail, also included is an 85 degree thermal fuse for heat protection.
 Once either supply is interrupted the solar panels cease to combine,
full indication is provided and the maximum voltage left on the roof
is one panel VOC normally 40-50Vdc.
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RSI – OTHER ATTRIBUTES
 Coils are in series so when one coil opens or fails the whole
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series will fail.
Will isolate entire system if excessive heat is detected.
Can be used in conjunction with inverter arc detection to
provide the ability to stop all DC arcing.
Naturally defaults to open circuit which makes solar panel
more intrinsically safe.
Don’t need to place operator in any danger to isolate.
In case of emergency, access to the switchboard is not
required making it safer for Emergency Service personnel.
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THE PRODUCT
 The Remote Solar Isolator is very simple to install and
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uses simple plug and play wiring
Easily retro-fitted to any solar installation
Simply added to any new installation
Accepts panel voltages up to 100 V DC per panel
Maximum string voltage of 900 V DC
Easily adapts to varying panel numbers in a string
Uses standard panel mounting system
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PROBLEMS OVER TIME
WITH OVER 750,000 INSTALLED SOLAR
SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA A FAILURE RATE OF
ONLY 2% OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS WOULD
MEAN THE POTENTIAL FOR:
15000
INCIDENTS
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INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE
YEAR 2012
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