In July 2018, Energy Safe Victoria advised that Amendment 4 of AS/NZS 4417.2 introduced nine additions to the prescribed electrical equipment categories, including for DC isolators.
Appendix B of AS/NZS 4417.2 outlines the additions which took effect on 30 June 2018.
As there were only a limited number of DC isolators approved, and section 57 of the Electrical Safety Act 1998 (the Act) does not provide ESV with an exemption power. To date, ESV has taken an educational approach to the supply of unapproved DC isolators into the Victorian market provided installers made every effort to source and install approved DC isolators, and that suppliers of DC isolators were in a genuine process of obtaining approval of their product.
There are currently 14 certificates for DC isolators on the ERAC website, which cover eight brands and over 30 models.
ESV expects that installers will now only use approved DC isolators in domestic solar installations. Installers can search the list on the ERAC website.
It is an offence under section 57 of the Act to supply level 3 or prescribed electrical equipment that has not been approved by ESV, another electrical safety state regulator or JAS-ANZ accredited third party certifier.
