Owners Guide and Installation Instructions

Single-Phase PV Systems
SK7685 Rev A - Addendum addressing AS/NZS 5033 Earth Fault Alarm
Requirements
The following instructions should be left with the PV system owner along with the Solahart Owners
Guide and Installation Instructions. These instructions are to be used in conjunction with:
- Installation Instructions Single Phase KIT Solahart PV Systems 120018 REV A, B or C
- Installation Instructions Three Phase KIT Solahart PV Systems 120020 REV A or B
WARNING: For continued safety of this PV system it must be installed, operated and
maintained in accordance with the Solahart Owners Guide and Installation Instructions and
manufacturers installation instructions.

PV SYSTEM OWNER We recommend you read pages 1 to 2.

The other pages are intended for the installer but may be of interest.

INTRODUCTION
From July 11 2015, the installation of an earth fault alarm for all PV arrays is mandatory.
An earth fault is a system fault where a short circuit is formed between the DC circuitry of the PV
system and earth.
Solahart inverters are able to communicate an earth fault in three different ways:
1. Inverter display
Some Solahart inverters display an Earth Fault Alarm message on the inverter display
when an earth fault is present. Consult the specific inverter installation manual for
details of the error message display on the inverter
2. External alarm Email Alert
Some Solahart inverters are able to communicate with a web portal that can be
configured to send an email alert to the system owner when an earth fault is present.
3. External alarm Audible or Visual Alarm
Some Solahart inverters can switch a relay when an earth fault is present. The relay
can be connected to an audible or visual alarm that meets AS/NZS 5033
requirements.
As the PV system owner, please be aware of the current method of communication of earth faults
on your system. In the event of an earth fault, please follow the operating procedure, Actions to
undertake in the event of an earth fault alarm on the following page.

SK7685 Rev A

2015 June

OPERATING PROCEDURES
ACTIONS TO UNDERTAKE IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTH FAULT ALARM
1.

Limit access to all parts of the PV system

2.

Contact your Solahart dealer or Solahart Service

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Action

Frequency

Remarks

If you have a communications device

installed, such as the SMA Webconnect or
ABB Wi-Fi logger card, log in to your
inverter manufacturers web portal and
check that your system is operating, data
has been logged and communication has
been maintained.

Monthly

If you are unable to log in or your system is not

operating correctly, contact your Solahart
dealer.

If you have a communications device

installed, such as the SMA Webconnect or
ABB Wi-Fi logger card, log in to your
inverter manufacturers web portal and
ensure that the contact details of the PV
system owner or responsible officer are up
to date to ensure that inverter fault
notifications are delivered.

Quarterly

If you are unable to log in, contact your

Solahart dealer.

SK7685 Rev A

2015 June

PV SYSTEM INSTALLER We recommend you continue reading.

INSTALLATION - PLANNING
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES
Complete installation of inverter communications devices requires the installer to register the
communication device and inverter on the inverter manufacturers web portal. Hence, to complete
the communications equipment installation, the installer must have access to the PV system owners
internet connection. An example of items that should be organised prior to onsite installation are:

Confirmation that an internet accessible network port is available

Length of networking cable required from inverter to networking port
Wi-Fi access including SSID and password
PV system owners network administrator permission and assistance to adjust firewall,
network address translation (NAT) and port forwarding settings.

INSTALLATION - INVERTER
EARTH FAULT ALARMS
The installation of an earth fault alarm compliant with AS/NZS 5033 requirements is mandatory for
all arrays.
Solahart inverters are able to communicate an earth fault in three different ways:
1. Inverter display
Some Solahart inverters display an Earth Fault Alarm message on the inverter display
when an earth fault is present. Consult the specific inverter installation manual for
details of the error message display on the inverter
2. External alarm Email Alert
Some Solahart inverters are able to communicate with a web portal that can be
configured to send an email alert to the system owner when an earth fault is present.
3. External alarm Audible or Visual Alarm
Some Solahart inverters can switch a relay when an earth fault is present. The relay
can be connected to an audible or visual alarm that meets AS/NZS 5033
requirements.

SK7685 Rev A

2015 June

INSTALLATION - COMMISSIONING
EARTH FAULT PROTECTION TEST
This step is performed to verify that the earth fault protection system and earth fault alarm is
operating correctly.
1. Set the PV system in normal operation mode.
2. Using a variable resistor load, simulate a high impedance earth fault on one of the unearthed
conductors of the PV array cable.
3. Decrease the resistance gradually until the earth fault protection device detects the fault.
Record the earth fault current level or resistance, or both, that triggers the earth fault
protection device.
4. The measured values should comply with the requirements of IEC 62109 for earth fault
detection.
5. Check that the earth fault alarm operation complies with AS/NZS 5033 earth fault alarm
requirements
a. If applicable, an email should be received by the PV system owner and/or installer
and/or dealer.
b. If applicable, an audio and/or visual alarm should operate
c. Inverter display should indicate the presence of an earth fault
6. Repeat steps (1) to (5) for both the positive and negative conductors with unearthed PV
arrays
7. Repeat steps (1) to (6) for each PV array connected to the inverter.

SK7685 Rev A

2015 June