Are you installing battery energy systems correctly?
The popularity of battery energy systems is rapidly increasing in the residential sector as householders seek to save money on power bills and make use of greener energy generated by their own rooftop solar panels.
Recent calls to the Technical Hotline, however, highlight that some electrical workers are not installing these systems correctly, putting householders and other tradespeople at risk of electric shocks.
Does the system have an automatic change-over device?
Check whether the system has an automatic change-over device - this device could be a separate switch or built into a multi-mode inverter. If it does, this means that when someone turns off the main switch only, the grid power will switch to battery power – meaning power will be supplied by the batteries.
There are specific wiring and switchboard labelling requirements that must be followed when installing battery systems, especially with automatic change-over devices, so that when another worker or the householder needs to switch off all power sources in the future, they are aware of how to isolate the battery power in addition to the power from the main grid.
Relevant standards
If you are installing a battery energy system, it is critical that you understand and follow all of the requirements, as covered in:
