What happens after your solar power system has been installed?
After a solar power system is installed, and before it’s fully operational, there are a few more steps to take.
The operator’s manual
After installation, you are given the operator’s manual This is part of the Australian Standards and contains essential information about your solar panel system.
The operator’s manual contains –
List of equipment
Warranty information
Equipment manual
Equipment handbook
Equipment datasheets
Array frame or racking engineering certificate
Shut-down and isolation procedure
System performance estimate
Maintenance requirements
What to do if there’s an earth fault alarm
System-connection diagram
Site inspection checklist
Testing and commissioning checklist
Declaration of compliance
Certificate of electrical safety
The monitoring
No solar PV system is fully installed without the monitoring. Make sure full monitoring is part of the package – solar generation, solar self consumption, and utility electricity consumption. Before your installers leave, make sure you get your login. Get remote, too, so your installer can easily check if anything’s wrong and narrow down for the on-site look – saving everyone time and money.
Testing & commissioning
The next step after everything is assembled is testing and commissioning. The testing is a check of various electrical, mechanical, and structural elements that impact system performance and safety.
After these tests are passed, the system can then be added to the grid, but is turned off again until smart meter installation.
Changing and switching on the meter
The final step is the installation of your smart meter. In NSW, it’s a requirement that this is completed by Level 2 Electricians who have received extra training in handling grid connections. This is completed by your energy retailer, sometimes for a price.
Without a smart meter, you can’t receive Feed-In Tariffs because that’s the equipment that does the maths for it.
If you already have a smart meter, you don’t need to get a new one! Once it’s installed, your solar system is ready to turn on for good.
Switching on your solar power system
Once your solar system is connected to your new meter it starts generating electricity for you immediately.
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