AS/NZS 5033:2005

1 - AS/NZS 5033:2005 INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) ARRAYS
4 - PREFACE
5 - CONTENTS
7 - SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
7 - 1.1 SCOPE
7 - 1.2 OBJECTIVE
7 - 1.3 NORMATIVE REFERENCES
9 - 1.4 DEFINITIONS
9 - 1.4.1 Accessible, readily
9 - 1.4.2 Active (or active conductor)
9 - 1.4.3 Available, readily
9 - 1.4.4 Bypass diode
9 - 1.4.5 Cable
9 - 1.4.6 Cable, armoured
9 - 1.4.7 Cable core
9 - 1.4.8 Class II equipment
10 - 1.4.9 Insulation monitor
10 - 1.4.10 Installation earth
10 - 1.4.11 ISC ARRAY
10 - 1.4.12 ISC MOD
10 - 1.4.13 I MOD REVERSE
10 - 1.4.14 ISC S-ARRAY
10 - 1.4.15 Junction box
10 - 1.4.16 Live part
10 - 1.4.17 PARRAY
11 - 1.4.18 PELV (protected extra-low voltage)
11 - 1.4.19 Power conditioning unit (PCU)
11 - 1.4.20 Power conditioning unit (PCU), isolated
11 - 1.4.21 Power conditioning unit (PCU), non-isolated
11 - 1.4.22 PV array
11 - 1.4.23 PV array cable
11 - 1.4.24 PV array, earthed
11 - 1.4.25 PV array, floating
11 - 1.4.26 PV array, isolated
12 - 1.4.27 PV array junction box
12 - 1.4.28 PV array voltage
12 - 1.4.29 PV cell
12 - 1.4.30 PV module
12 - 1.4.31 PV module junction box
12 - 1.4.32 PV string
12 - 1.4.33 PV string cable
12 - 1.4.34 PV sub-array
12 - 1.4.35 PV sub-array cable
12 - 1.4.36 PV sub-array junction box
13 - 1.4.37 Ripple-free d.c.
13 - 1.4.38 SELV (separated extra-low voltage)
13 - 1.4.39 Shall
13 - 1.4.40 Should
13 - 1.4.41 STC (standard test conditions)
13 - 1.4.42 VOC ARRAY
13 - 1.4.43 VOC MOD
13 - 1.4.44 Voltage
16 - SECTION 2 PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
16 - 2.1 GENERAL
16 - 2.2 BYPASS DIODES
16 - 2.3 BLOCKING DIODES
16 - 2.4 FAULT CURRENT PROTECTION
16 - 2.4.1 Number of parallel strings without overcurrent protection
16 - 2.4.2 Discrimination
17 - 2.4.3 PV strings
17 - 2.4.4 PV sub-arrays (subdivided PV arrays only)
17 - 2.4.5 PV array cables
18 - 2.4.6 Location of fault current protection devices
18 - 2.5 DISCONNECTING MEANS
18 - 2.5.1 General
18 - 2.5.2 Selection and installation
18 - 2.5.3 Disconnection device requirements
19 - 2.5.4 Extra-low voltage segmentation
19 - 2.6 EARTH FAULT PROTECTION
19 - 2.6.1 General
21 - 2.6.2 Earth fault protection settings
21 - 2.7 ALARMS
21 - 2.7.1 Visual alarms
21 - 2.7.2 Audible alarms
21 - 2.8 LIGHTNING AND OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
21 - 2.8.1 Lightning protection
21 - 2.8.2 Overvoltage protection
22 - SECTION 3 WIRING REQUIREMENTS
22 - 3.1 COMPLIANCE WITH AS/NZS 3000
22 - 3.2 SYSTEM VOLTAGE
22 - 3.3 INSTALLATION WIRING
22 - 3.3.1 General
22 - 3.3.2 Wiring loops
23 - 3.3.3 String wiring
23 - 3.3.4 Wiring installation in junction boxes
23 - 3.3.5 Location of PV array and PV sub-array junction boxes
23 - 3.4 CABLE SELECTION
23 - 3.4.1 Cable size
23 - 3.4.2 Insulation
24 - 3.5 WIRING IDENTIFICATION
25 - SECTION 4 COMPONENT REQUIREMENTS
25 - 4.1 PV MODULES
25 - 4.1.1 Reliability
25 - 4.1.2 Equipment class
25 - 4.2 PV ARRAY AND PV SUB-ARRAY JUNCTION BOXES
25 - 4.2.1 Environmental effects
25 - 4.3 SWITCHING DEVICES
25 - 4.3.1 General
25 - 4.3.2 Non-load-breaking switches
25 - 4.3.3 Current breaking devices
26 - 4.4 PLUGS, SOCKET-OUTLETS AND COUPLERS
26 - 4.5 FUSES
26 - 4.5.1 Ratings
26 - 4.5.2 Fuse holders
27 - SECTION 5 EARTHING
27 - 5.1 GENERAL
27 - 5.1.1 General
27 - 5.1.2 Point of connection of PV system earth
27 - 5.1.3 PV system earthing cable
27 - 5.1.4 Bonding conductors
27 - 5.2 PV ARRAY SYSTEM EARTHING
31 - 5.3 EARTHING OF EXPOSED CONDUCTIVE PARTS AND EQUIPOTENTIAL BONDING (SYSTEM BONDING)
31 - 5.4 EQUIPMENT EARTHING
33 - SECTION 6 MARKING AND SIGNS
33 - 6.1 GENERAL
33 - 6.2 PV ARRAY AND PV SUB-ARRAY JUNCTION BOXES
33 - 6.3 DISCONNECTION DEVICES
33 - 6.3.1 General
33 - 6.3.2 PV array main switch
33 - 6.4 FIRE EMERGENCY INFORMATION
34 - SECTION 7 DOCUMENTATION
34 - 7.1 DESIGN INFORMATION
34 - 7.2 COMMISSIONING INFORMATION
35 - SECTION 8 COMMISSIONING TESTS
35 - 8.1 GENERAL
35 - 8.2 OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE
35 - 8.2.1 General
35 - 8.2.2 Procedure
35 - 8.3 SOLAR ISOLATION DEVICE TEST
36 - SECTION 9 CASE STUDIES
36 - 9.1 GENERAL
36 - 9.2 EXAMPLES
37 - APPENDIX A - CHARACTERISTICS OF PV ARRAYS AND SYSTEMS
37 - A1 PV ARRAYS
37 - A1.1 d.c. vs. a.c. behaviour
37 - A1.2 Series parallel configuration
37 - A1.3 Low fault levels
37 - A2 FAULT CURRENT PROTECTION
37 - A2.1 General
37 - A2.2 Fault current protection rating
38 - A2.3 Number of strings
38 - A2.4 Battery storage
38 - A2.5 Diodes
38 - A2.6 Operating temperature
38 - A3 PV SYSTEMS
38 - A3.1 Stand°alone photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage
39 - A3.2 Grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems
39 - A3.3 Solar water pumping system
40 - APPENDIX B - MECHANICAL SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
40 - B1 GENERAL
40 - B2 THERMAL ASPECTS
40 - B3 MECHANICAL LOADS ON PV STRUCTURES
41 - APPENDIX C - FAULT CURRENT ANALYSIS
41 - C1 GENERAL
41 - C2 FLOATING PV ARRAYS
44 - C3 EARTHED PV ARRAYS
45 - APPENDIX D - EARTHING ISSUES
45 - D1 BACKGROUND
45 - D1.1 Types of earthing
45 - D1.2 Purpose of earthing
45 - D1.3 General earthing considerations in a PV system
45 - D2 EARTHING OF EQUIPMENT CONDUCTIVE PARTS
46 - D3 EARTHING OF THE PV ARRAY (SYSTEM EARTH)
46 - D3.1 Options of PV array earthing
46 - D3.2 Typical earthing arrangements for PV arrays
48 - D4 COMPARISON BETWEEN EARTHING SCHEMES
48 - D4.1 Earth fault behaviour
49 - D4.2 Electric shock hazard
49 - D4.3 Fire hazard
50 - D5 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
50 - D5.1 Battery systems
50 - D5.2 Non-isolated inverter systems for PV arrays
50 - D6 REFERENCES
51 - APPENDIX E - SUGGESTED METHODS OF DETECTION AND AUTOMATIC DISCONNECTION FOR EARTH FAULT PROTECTION
51 - E1 FLOATING SYSTEMS
51 - E2 EARTHED SYSTEMS CONNECTED TO THE LOAD VIA AN ISOLATED POWER CONDITIONING SYSTEM
51 - E3 GRID CONNECTED SYSTEMS CONNECTED TO THE LOAD VIA A NON-ISOLATED POWER CONDITIONING SYSTEM
52 - APPENDIX F - LIGHTNING/OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
52 - F1 LIGHTNING PROTECTION
52 - F2 OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION
52 - F2.1 Equipotential bonding
53 - F2.2 Wiring loops
53 - F2.3 Surge arresters
54 - F2.4 Shielding
55 - APPENDIX G - EXAMPLES OF SIGNS
57 - APPENDIX H - MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
57 - H1 SAFETY
57 - H2 PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
59 - H3 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
60 - APPENDIX I - ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONING TESTS
60 - I1 GENERAL
60 - I2 OPEN CIRCUIT VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS
60 - I2.1 General
60 - I2.2 Procedure
60 - I2.3 PV Arrays and sub-arrays measurement
60 - I2.4 Records
61 - I3 SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT
61 - I3.1 General
61 - I3.2 Procedure
61 - I3.3 Records
61 - I4 INFRARED SCAN
62 - I5 PV ARRAY TRACKER OPERATION TEST (IF RELEVANT)
62 - I6 PV ARRAY I-V CURVE
62 - I7 EARTH FAULT PROTECTION TEST (IF RELEVANT)
62 - I7.1 General
62 - I7.2 Measurements
62 - I7.3 Procedure
63 - APPENDIX J - CASE STUDIES DIAGRAMS
63 - J1 GENERAL
63 - J2 NOTES ON CASE STUDIES

Specifies electrical installation requirements for PV arrays with an open circuit voltage of up to 600V d.c. or up to plus or minus 600V with respect to earth.

This Standard sets out the general installation requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays with d.c. open circuit voltages up to 600V between positive and negative conductors or up to (600V with respect to earth and a maximum power of 30kW.This includes the following PV array configurations (refer to Figures1.1 and 1.2) - Single string of modules.Multi-string PV array.PV array divided into several sub-arrays.Direct current systems, and photovoltaic systems in particular, pose some hazards in addition to those derived from conventional a.c. power systems, including the ability to produce and sustain electrical arcs with currents that are not much greater than normal operating currents. This Standard addresses the safety requirements arising from the particular characteristics of photovoltaic systems. A discussion of those characteristics is presented in AppendixA.Although this Standard does not cover PV array systems with a power greater than 30kW, similar principles can be used for such systems.

First published as AS/NZS 5033:2005.
Reissued incorporating Amendment No. 1 (January 2009).