AS 3000 now revised.

[supersparky]

I have just received a notification of the release of the revised AS 3000. The following is straight off the ESO Qld website. I haven't even begun to understand how it will affect anything yet. At this point I can only guess that AS 3001 (the one that motorhomes and caravans need to comply to ) will be revised some time soon.

"The new edition of the Wiring Rules (ANZS 3000:2018) has been released. You can purchase the new standard on the SAI Global's website.

The new edition contains a number of changes from the previous 2007 edition including:
new requirements for safety switches
enhanced requirements for MEN earthing systems, including bonding of pool structures and wet areas
increased mechanical protection for cables installed within a ceiling space
additional installation requirements for electrical appliances, accessories and equipment
enhanced safety requirements for electrical equipment installed in locations exposed to water
five new appendices:
continuity of supply for active assisted living
electrical conduits
installation of arc fault detection devices
guidance for the installation and location of electrical vehicle charging stations
DC circuit protection and switching devices.
To help identify the changes red asterisks have been added to the document to highlight areas which have changed.

A six month transition period will start on 26 June 2018. The transition period will allow electrical contractors and workers to access AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules and gain a clear understanding of the changes to electrical installation requirements. These changes will need to be adopted into your businesses installation practices to ensure compliance with this new edition.

The enforcement date for AS/NZS 3000: 2018 Wiring Rules will be 1 January 2019. Electrical installation work carried out after this date will need to comply enforcement action, such as notices or fines, will be issued.

We appreciate there are a number of construction projects already commenced and it may be difficult to adopt the requirements of the new edition of the standard part way through an existing project.

The AS/NZS 3000:2007 Wiring Rules will continue to apply in these limited circumstances:

Electrical work commenced prior to but continuing beyond the publication date of the new edition of the standard.
Electrical work quoted prior to the publication date of the new edition of the standard that has been awarded a contract.
Significant electrical work costed and designed prior to the publication date of the new edition for major projects such as shopping complexes and large residential and industrial buildings.
During the transition period we encourage electrical contractors to comply with the 2018 edition where possible."

I have also posted this exact post on Aussie Motor Homers.

[BruceS]

Thankyou David!
When you get to the section referring to DC can you explain a bit please?

[Vik351]

Thankyou David!
When you get to the section referring to DC can you explain a bit please?

Yea, get T1 to read it too...!!!

vik...

[BruceS]

I'm guessing they're referring more to higher DC voltage like a bank of solar panels.... 2-300v DC.

[T1 Terry]

Got my new copy, thank you Steve. Now to find a few hrs where I've got nothing else to do but read through it The last ones weren't exactly bed time reading material even if they did make the eye lids heavy

[supersparky]

I'm guessing they're referring more to higher DC voltage like a bank of solar panels.... 2-300v DC.

Bruce, I'm not sure yet. I will have to access a copy with all the noted changes and see what we do need to take notice of.

[T1 Terry]

After a rather interesting discussion over on this forum http://forums.aeva.asn.au/viewtopic.php ... 983#p67983 The topic of Aust Standards requirements for solar DC arrays came up. Apparently AS 5033 handles DC solar arrays but doesn't seem at all applicable to the voltages involved with off grid battery set ups and more about grid connect systems. The usual gems about terminology and insurance claims came up as so often happens and basic intelligence and logic seem to go out the window when defence of their interpretation of a standard needs to be defended.
The 10kW solar array being installed on the latest off grid house install is being done by a licenced solar installer and he seemed to be completely out of his depth when it came to solar/battery rather than solar grid installation but at least he is young enough to listen He mentioned something about installing the solar isolation switch on the roof, I left him to figure out he'd need to fit 6 of them if they were going to be of any use at all and an open circuit voltage of 115vdc wasn't within the requirements of the standard, but it's up to him to get it all within the price he quoted the owners. I'm only involved once it reaches the battery enclosure and then it's back to him to connect from the 10kW gen set and the 10kW of inverters to the house supply.
Still no firm answer about whether standards apply at all when the system is off grid besides for reference to best practice, they seem to be a tad toothless without the grid connection.
No one seems to know if a house off grid has the same rules as a house on the grid or the rules for a transportable premises, so which standards apply? The whole standards regarding battery installations are so outdated they hold no relevance to anything but 19th century technology so a standards fuel court battle could get very interesting

T1 Terry

[supersparky]

I hope to get the opportunity to download the latest standard tomorrow and spend the weekend reading it. I had a recollection that one of the previews given by Qld ESO implied that there was some update on the requirement of off grid systems.
Watch this space

[TassyJim]

I have started reading.
600+ pages will take me a while to get through.
I have been away from the tools for too long and much of the new stuff is alien to me but I do try and keep up.

Jim