Tips for Inverter Erection Inspection

One of the many program guides from the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) outlines Solar Equipment, Installation, and Licensing and Certification guidelines for states and municipalities to implement and monitor regularly. These guidelines and standards are aimed to help make solar electricity affordable for a broad cross-section of people and more customer-friendly. There are also several programs for research, education, policy, and implementation support from Federal bodies like the U.S. Department of Energy and industry associations like the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Solar manufacturing, installation, and equipment servicing companies operate in this complex, highly regulated environment. This creates mandates regarding equipment quality, installation SOPs, and service quality standards to enable customer convenience, safety, and satisfaction. In this context, solar installations must be meticulously conducted. And one vital component of the solar plant is the inverter. How are these inverters to be installed if they must meet the strict quality standards and industry stipulations? Here are a few things to know about Inverter Erection Inspection, which can help with a thorough evaluation.

  • Mechanical Installation: As part of the mechanical inspection of the inverter for solar plants, one of the essential things to check for is the spacing of the installation. Is it installed with sufficient spacing around so that the inverter can be conveniently accessed, and does it allow for adequate ventilation? You would also look for optional structure fitments, such as hooking arrangements or anti-vibration pads. In addition, it’s essential to check if the inverter is adequately fixed to the ground and wall, if the cooling air is sufficient and able to flow freely around the device and if components are set with the right type of joining. Are cable gland plates, side doors, component mounting plates, cabinet, roofing, etc., all intact and free of any damage and scratches that may occur during transportation? You would also check to ensure that the drive cabinets are installed in clean, moisture-free, and dust-free surroundings to enable clean and dry air to circulate. 
  • Bus Bars: During typical inverter inspections, bus bars are checked to ensure sufficient spacing between them and that they are clean and have no debris, dust, or foreign objects. In addition, it’s vital to check if the connections and joints of the bus bars are tightened and if their support insulators are in good condition. 
  • Electrical Components: Inverter maintenance can pose several challenges and recurring problems if electrical components are not of the correct specifications or installed correctly. Besides a visual inspection of the condition of each element to ensure there is no damage, it is also essential to document the required number of components, the rating and specifications, and their make and type so that they are the most suited for the installation. You would also check if the ingredients are correctly labeled, the labels are visible for easy inspections and services, and if the drive modules are appropriately mounted and securely attached to the plug connectors.  
  • Electrical Installation: From an electrical installation point of view, there are a few essential checks. First, are the power supply cables routed properly and differently from other wires? Second, are the A.C., DC, and auxiliary power cables fitted with the correct tightening torque? Third, is the assembly’s insulation sufficient and the inverter sufficiently grounded? Fourth, do the A.C. line voltage and inverter nominal output voltage match, and is the A.C. transformer of the correct type and spec to suit the inverter being used?
  • Cabling and wiring: All cables must be of the minimum required length, fitted without undue stress between connection points, and have cable glands and gland plates for tightening. The wires can be pulled or tugged a little to check if they are securely in place. You can also check short links and loop chaining to ensure they are correctly done, as outlined in the schemes. Other important things to inspect are if the cables are routed without any of their sections being impacted by sharp objects, if the lines have any bare or exposed areas and if the bending radius is within desired levels. 
  • Earthing and Mechanical Operating Tests: Simple mechanical checks include cabinet door defeat function tests and a simple check to open and close the doors to ensure they do not grate against the floor or other objects. In addition, it’s vital to check if the panels are dual earthed and if switches are all functioning smoothly by switching them on and off to test how they operate. You also want to check that all fuses are securely fitted in the fuse base or socket. 

Before start-up, some other essential checks are needed. For instance, you would want to ensure the panel doors are closed and that no one is working on the unit before starting a start-up. You will also check if all switches and breakers are off and assess the grid voltage, auxiliary voltage, D.C. power connections, and panel earthing status.

Fielda – Streamlining Solar Inverter Inspections and Maintenance 

Digital transformation is shaping how the renewable energy sector operates and creates efficiencies. Solar plant inspections are no exception. 

Inverter erection inspection is a critical part of solar plant installations and maintenance and has a long-term impact on the efficiency and safety of the unit. With the combination of Federal, State, and Industry regulations, inspectors must ensure rigor and flexibility in gathering data and providing remediation when needed. Fielda simplifies the entire field data collection process with custom forms that suit each unique requirement. Using custom workflow built into the app, inspectors can collaborate with other operations teams, enabling faster customer responses and increased transparency within the group. No matter where the solar installation is, even in the most remote locations, Fielda empowers inspectors with zero-disruption operations through its offline data capture function. And team leads can instantly access reports and dashboards to plan, schedule, and track tasks more efficiently and with less effort.