At what point does work on PV (Solar) become PEW, disregarding any inverter that may be attached to the PV array.
A couple of examples,
1) a PV array on a house charging a bank or batteries.
2) A PV array on a camper van
PEW and Solar
Re: PEW and Solar
extra-low voltage means any voltage normally not exceeding 50 volts AC or 120 volts ripple-free DC.
So under 120 volts DC ?
So under 120 volts DC ?
Re: PEW and Solar
The actual wording of the ELV Exception from being PEW [Schedule !, cause 2(b) & (c)] is not about the voltage of the array (or whstever) but about whether or not the ELV fittings are "associated with" a supply at above ELV. So a lawyer could argue that any PV array supplying an inverter for LV supply is "associated with" that LV supply.
However ES have provided a written interpretation that all ELV arrays are not PEW. That said, they still have to comply with "5033" due to ESR 60.
That follows though to high risk work; nothing in ESR 6A exempts ELV arrays from being classified as high risk, it's their status as either PEW ornon-PEW that determines risk classification and therefore the need for inspection.
For your examples, an array on a house may or may not be ELV. Even if charging an ELV battery; the array may be LV.
For batteries the best efficiency these days comes from panels in series rather than parallel, along with use of an MPPT type charge controller.
An array on a camper van is most likely to be ELV, and many will be below the lower application limit of "5033". While the Standard is not intended to apply below that limit, ESRs still require compliance. In practice, that gets ignored and most small arrays for RVs & boats don't comply.
Worth noting that coming new edition of "3001" will include requirements for RV arrays; the draft should be out for PC very soon.
However ES have provided a written interpretation that all ELV arrays are not PEW. That said, they still have to comply with "5033" due to ESR 60.
That follows though to high risk work; nothing in ESR 6A exempts ELV arrays from being classified as high risk, it's their status as either PEW ornon-PEW that determines risk classification and therefore the need for inspection.
For your examples, an array on a house may or may not be ELV. Even if charging an ELV battery; the array may be LV.
For batteries the best efficiency these days comes from panels in series rather than parallel, along with use of an MPPT type charge controller.
An array on a camper van is most likely to be ELV, and many will be below the lower application limit of "5033". While the Standard is not intended to apply below that limit, ESRs still require compliance. In practice, that gets ignored and most small arrays for RVs & boats don't comply.
Worth noting that coming new edition of "3001" will include requirements for RV arrays; the draft should be out for PC very soon.
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