Direct current (DC) isolators used in photovoltaic solar systems in household installations are classified as high risk (level 3) electrical equipment in the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS). This risk rating requires the isolators to be registered on the EESS national database before they are supplied in Tasmania.
Consumer Affairs Tasmania (CAT) has been made aware that the registration of a number of DC isolator models has expired under the EESS.
In Tasmania, it is illegal to sell, or offer for sale, DC isolators unless they are approved, marked with the regulatory compliance mark and comply with the relevant standard in accordance with the Electricity Industry Safety and Administration Act 1997 (Tas).
It is important that you check to ensure that any DC isolators which you sell or install have current approval.
To check this, you can search the EESS database at www.eess.gov.au. Click on “Search Registered Equipment”, enter the equipment details and click the magnifying glass. This will show the equipment’s registration status. Where the search returns “Status: Registered” the equipment is approved for sale in Tasmania.
It is important that electrical contractors only install DC isolators which have current approval, otherwise their safety and compliance is unverified.
We encourage you to liaise with your supplier regarding this issue, and monitor any future developments which may occur.
If you have any questions, you can contact us.