As a tradesperson, buying electrical goods online is a convenient way to get the items you need. But now, more than ever, it’s vital to ensure that the products you’re ordering comply with the relevant Australian Standards — and due to new regulations, this is especially important when you buy solar components.

Whether you’re installing solar circuit protection, MC4-style connection systems or solar enclosures, this new legislation affects you — and every solar job you work on. So what exactly do you need to know?

Online wholesale electrical supplier, Fastlec, has outlined a number of important details which are listed below.

The key changes that all electrical contractors (and online electrical stores) need to be aware of include:

• The solar array to inverter solar cables within buildings must be in heavy-duty conduit.
• Domestic voltage rating of installation to be limited to 600 Volts DC.
• Change of class 11 to class 1 for PV module insulating rating.
• PV array cabling is to be double insulated and be flexible and meet PV1-F.
• All PV wiring and components are routed, supported and protected in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 — products that meet this Australian Standard include Fastlec’s range of conduit fittings.
• Plastic cable ties are not to be used as a primary means of support.
• Connectors are mated with connectors of the same type from the same manufacturer (12 month transition).
• An isolating/disconnection device must be installed at the array if the inverter is more than three metres from the array.
• An isolating/disconnection device must be installed adjacent to the inverter.
• Disconnection devices will not be polarity sensitive.
• Disconnection devices need to be certified to AS/NZ 60898 or IEC 60947 — Fastlec’s weatherproof DC isolators and miniature DC circuit breakers comply with all disconnection standards.
• Earthing of all exposed metal module frames and mounting rails is required — see Fastlec’s solar earth bond clamps as an example.
• LV PV arrays with functional earthing — when there is an earth fault the EFI interrupts the earth fault and shuts the PV system down (24 month transition).

When you buy products from a company such as Fastlec, you can be confident that all items are certified to the latest Australian Standards.