Solar Inverter Install

T

Toku

New Member
I had an inverter failure, during the oppressive summer and tried to get an electrician to check it for me.
20 tries and not one response, not even to say we're busy.

I bought a new inverter and cable and installed, but not powered up, then tried to get an electrician.
This time I got one response out of another 20, only to tell me that they do not sign off other people's work, even though most electrical jobs are on other people's work!

So, what do I do now, with the system sitting there and no one interested, not even from a safety viewpoint?

Any suggestions would be helpful, but not the abusive type.
 
Toku said:
I had an inverter failure, during the oppressive summer and tried to get an electrician to check it for me.
20 tries and not one response, not even to say we're busy.

I bought a new inverter and cable and installed, but not powered up, then tried to get an electrician.
This time I got one response out of another 20, only to tell me that they do not sign off other people's work, even though most electrical jobs are on other people's work!

So, what do I do now, with the system sitting there and no one interested, not even from a safety viewpoint?

Any suggestions would be helpful, but not the abusive type.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your issues, I don't really do solar, not sure what that electrician was talking about, it sounds like it is maintenance work so would not need certifying..

Do you just want someone to make sure you wired it up correctly? Maybe if you posted a picture it might help and say where each cable is going?
 
Blame Brexit and the UK Government.

Some years ago, the European Union organised and paid for training to ensure that there were electricians in the UK capable of installing and maintaining PV installations, but many of the British electricians the EU trained have now retired, there were also many PV installers who were from EU countries and they have left the UK since Brexit, unfortunately for you the UK government does not care about ensuring there are enough skilled and qualified electricians to replace them.

Most of the electricians you phoned probably do not have the skills and knowledge to sort your problem out and those that do are probably far too busy.

To be honest. you were probably up the creek without a paddle and now you have tried replacing the inverter yourself you are even less likely to get someone to sort it out for you.
 
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The Happy Builder said:
Blame Brexit and the UK Government.

Some years ago, the European Union organised and paid for training to ensure that there were electricians in the UK capable of installing and maintaining PV installations, but many of the British electricians the EU trained have now retired, there were also many PV installers were from EU countries and they have left the UK since Brexit, unfortunately for you the UK government does not care about ensuring there are enough skilled and qualified electricians to replace them.

Most of the electricians you phoned probably do not have the skills and knowledge to sort your problem out and those that do are probably far too busy.

To be honest. you were probably up the creek without a paddle and now you have tried replacing the inverter yourself you are even less likely to get someone to sort it out for you.
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That is the most ridiculous nonsense I have ever heard!
 
BiancoTheGiraffe said:
That is the most ridiculous nonsense I have ever heard!
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But true!

Everyone keeps pussyfooting about trying to avoid mentioning the B-word, but actually it is time to start calling it as it is.

We have had Brexit and the "Great retirement" when a lot of older workers who were furloughed during Covid called it a day and did not go back to work again.

The UK government does not invest in training, many EU workers have left the UK and a huge number of older workers have retired having been furloughed.
 
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Hi TOKU.

Well I feel so disserpointed for you.
There are that many "tradesmen " around and one wont help you out.
There seems to be no one around with a bit of conscience.
There seems so many regulations around more so on the sparkies
side they must be fed up with it all as well.
Come on one of you locals Help the guy out.
You retired guys come on,
I just watched DIY SOS, so they still exist,
Yes I was on the sites 16 year. Retires 30 years now.
Where have all the good guys gone ?

I will now don my steel helmet and retire to my Anderson Shelter.

Johnny M
 
The Happy Builder said:
But true!
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Do you know how many EU citizens have stayed in the UK post brexit?

Over FIVE MILLION... So the idea that everyone left is pure remainer fantasy

We only voted to leave in 2016, if EU funding (OUR money) was being used to train people a few years away from retirement as you suggest then I'm personally glad it's stopped!
 
BiancoTheGiraffe said:
Do you know how many EU citizens have stayed in the UK post brexit?

Over FIVE MILLION... So the idea that everyone left is pure remainer fantasy

We only voted to leave in 2016, if EU funding (OUR money) was being used to train people a few years away from retirement as you suggest then I'm personally glad it's stopped!
Click to expand...

I can quote you from another topic on this forum:
"Love to know why they've decided that we yet again need to flood the country with yet more people rather than training our own...
Utterly incompetent"

as you say the UK Government looks like it is about to concede that we need EU workers to fill the skills gaps in the UK workforce rather than ensuring training is available for UK workers, including those in their fifties.

Game, set and match.
 
CeSparky1 said:
Sorry to hear about your issues, I don't really do solar, not sure what that electrician was talking about, it sounds like it is maintenance work so would not need certifying..

Do you just want someone to make sure you wired it up correctly? Maybe if you posted a picture it might help and say where each cable is going?
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It is wired up correctly and perfectly, but because it is connected to the grid, I really need it checked and then I can get an extended guarantee.
 
Toku said:
It is wired up correctly and perfectly, but because it is connected to the grid, I really need it checked and then I can get an extended guarantee.
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I doubt you will find an electrician to certify it for you, seeing as the bought and installed it why would they get involved?
 
I know grid tie inverters need safety detectors built in to auto disconnect them should the power fail, but I have never done the training to know how to test these safety features work so I would not install a solar panel inverter as I don't know how to test it.

In the main solar panels are fitted by specialist firms, who one assumes would train their electricians, the chances of finding a domestic electrician who at some time in his career has worked for a solar panel installation firm are slim.

Same goes for water heating solar panels, one needs to get a specialist firm who have the pumps to add anti freeze and pressurise the system. A standard UK plumber would not have the equipment required.

I suspect firms will use a limited range of inverters, and the training will be limited to the makes they use, I looked at some adverts for grid tie inverters and they make me cringe and I would not connect many of the units found on the internet, but I did find specialist firms who claim they can replace the units, I assume you have also found them, and it seems odd that 20 firms have said they can't help.
 
Toku said:
I had an inverter failure, during the oppressive summer and tried to get an electrician to check it for me.
20 tries and not one response, not even to say we're busy.

I bought a new inverter and cable and installed, but not powered up, then tried to get an electrician.
This time I got one response out of another 20, only to tell me that they do not sign off other people's work, even though most electrical jobs are on other people's work!

So, what do I do now, with the system sitting there and no one interested, not even from a safety viewpoint?

Any suggestions would be helpful, but not the abusive type.
Click to expand...

Whereabouts are you?
 
MGW said:
I know grid tie inverters need safety detectors built in to auto disconnect them should the power fail, but I have never done the training to know how to test these safety features work so I would not install a solar panel inverter as I don't know how to test it.

In the main solar panels are fitted by specialist firms, who one assumes would train their electricians, the chances of finding a domestic electrician who at some time in his career has worked for a solar panel installation firm are slim.

Same goes for water heating solar panels, one needs to get a specialist firm who have the pumps to add anti freeze and pressurise the system. A standard UK plumber would not have the equipment required.

I suspect firms will use a limited range of inverters, and the training will be limited to the makes they use, I looked at some adverts for grid tie inverters and they make me cringe and I would not connect many of the units found on the internet, but I did find specialist firms who claim they can replace the units, I assume you have also found them, and it seems odd that 20 firms have said they can't help.
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Thank you for your info, the specialist firm who installed the original, now do not cover this postcode. Contacting others who advertise, have the same attitude. This is why I decided on trying to get the best by contacting electricians. Appears to be a minefield out there, and I might have to go on a solar electricians one week course, so that I can complete it myself. (the one week course bit is a quote from another party!)
 
Toku said:
Outside Northampton. Don't want to give too much away on an open forum.
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thats fair enough. Broad brush strokes are fine though. I know someone that may be able to help, so needed a rough idea.

If you’re interested then we’ll find some way of making contact…let me know.
 
CGN said:
thats fair enough. Broad brush strokes are fine though. I know someone that may be able to help, so needed a rough idea.

If you’re interested then we’ll find some way of making contact…let me know.
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@CGN - if you put a note in the SCREWFIX sub-forum and ask @screwfix.peter to contact you he can message you. Ask him nicely and he could pass your details on to @Toku in a separate message - at least worth a try.
 
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CGN said:
thats fair enough. Broad brush strokes are fine though. I know someone that may be able to help, so needed a rough idea.

If you’re interested then we’ll find some way of making contact…let me know.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a positive step, just have to find a way of communicating. Thank you.
 
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