Who can you trust?

Off The Grid in South Africa - A practical guide to shedding load-shedding

There are a lot of new contractors and suppliers installing solar power systems as demand has recently skyrocketed. Unfortunately, the solar power boom has come with its fair share of scams and underqualified installers. This episode is all about figuring out who you can trust.
As mentioned in the episode, here are some great questions to ask a supplier before going ahead with a solar power installation:

1. What prior experience do you have in solar PV installations?
2. What three recent clients of yours can I phone for references?
3. Did you design, supply and install the systems, or did you only carry out one or two of these steps?
4. Are you an accredited service provider under PV Green Card, SAPVIA or P4 Platform?
5. Can you supply proof of electrical Certificates of Compliance and/or professional engineer sign-offs on previous installations?
6. Can you prove that your previous installations were correctly authorised by the local authority (or Eskom if direct customers)?
7. Do you employ or subcontract qualified staff to design and install systems? (Note: The City of Cape Town suggests you ask for “proof of up-to-date registration (a wireman’s licence and DoLE registration)”).
8. Is the inverter you are quoting for on the local authority’s approved inverter list? (Note: Find the City of Cape Town’s list here; if you are told that your local authority has no such list, get written confirmation).
9. If you propose a “grid-tied system” (see definition below) do you have available an Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) registered professional to sign it off?
10. Are the solar PV panels in compliance with SANS/IEC standards? (Note: The City of Cape Town article recommends you get a certificate of compliance for SANS/IEC 61215:2015 / SANS/IEC 61646:2016).
11. Are you registered with SAPVIA and the ECB? (Note: Per The City of Cape Town “it’s not compulsory but shows commitment to industry best practice.”)
12. What warranties apply to your installation and the components? (Keep proof, with all manuals).
13. Is your quote comprehensive and does it include installation of circuit breakers (specialized to the DC current from the panels), obtaining SSEG registration (see below) and a Certificate of Compliance?

Many thanks to Miltons Matsemela for allowing me to repost their excellent questions in this episode. Here is their original article.

I make podcasts for other people. YOU could be other people by checking out my website or my LinkedIn.

Huge thanks to my guests in this episode:

Shayne Acar (A Car?) (Akahhh?) (Eeeyyyyy...Car!) from Maxicoms
Jean-Claude Malengret, from Rubicon
Neil Berrow from Solar Advice
Matthew Cruise from Hohm Energy

My other show: South African Ex-Pats

My other other show: Visualise This. (soon to be remastered)

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