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2026 safeelectric guidelines for off grid backup system

N-sligo-blowin

We have a solar PV setup with hybrid inverter.
Wanting to add battery capacity and an off grid switch, we contact our contractor. Upon technical visit, new safeelectric guide lines for an off grid backup system are mentioned: these would only allow to connect '2 circuits' to the inverter. This would be to prevent the inverter, and the connection to it, to be overloaded.
I couldn't find these guidelines online, and have written Safe Electric to ask if they have been published. No response so far.

Our recently deep renovated house has 9 socket circuits and 5 light circuits. Having to choose 2 wouldn't work for us.
This 2 circuit guidance seems based on adding fuse capacity, rather than real life usage. Hard to use the full fuse capacity with current day domestic LED lighting in a single room …

I asked our contractor if it wouldn't be possible to protect the inverter connection with an extra 25 amp fuse, and also raised the possibility of a smart load control panel. The answer is: "due to the regulations set by Safe Electric Ireland there is nothing we can do"

This seems absurd in 2026?

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Cuddlesworth

It makes a fair amount of sense.

For grid connected setup, they limit your output to 5.5kwh or 25 amps which would be standard for a circuit in Ireland. The inverter would be incapable of feeding a full house in it's entirety.

For a proper off-grid system, as long as it's installed to the wiring standards you can install what you want.

Just do the essentials like heating and kitchen.

N-sligo-blowin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124293931#Comment_124293931

Could you elaborate? What would qualify as a proper off grid system?

Hard to see how we would go over 25 amps with fridge, freezer, microwave, lighting and computers. Yet, our contractor feels they can not connect more than 2 circuits to our inverter.

graememk

It's no different to having a changeover switch though.

Maybe this is what they are referring to.

https://safeelectric.ie/contractors/tech-information/a-focus-on-relevant-clauses-for-solar-photovoltaic-pv-systems-and-the-use-of-automatic-changeover-switches/

A manual changeover is different to an automatic one, as there is a decision made to run from backup.

Some common sense is needed, and while the circuits are rated to a certain power they rarely run at that. So discrimination comes into play.

Also the knowledge that your off grid too will be a factor and keeping power use to a minimum...

If you over load the inverter. It just shuts down.

N-sligo-blowin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124294833#Comment_124294833

Tnx, it appears the new guidelines are based on the last paragraph under ADS: "Also, in order to comply with clause 433.1 and clause 8.82.7.1, load shedding may need to be considered in island mode as, for example, a single-phase micro-generator may only have a maximum back-up output of approx. 25 A and may not be suitable for large loads such as an electric cooker etc."

Our problem is, that our contractor appears convinced a load control panel wouldn't be acceptable for Safe Electric. I'm guessing/hoping that could be incorrect.

Problem of switching contractor is that we were very happy till now, and that we might run into compatibility issues.

Power outages are bad for us, as we live on a fairly small section and seem to get fixed later than others after a storm.

graememk

And that's the crux of safe electric, it's all opinion/interpretation.

It's no different to a generator changeover switch.

If power outages are that common maybe that would be a viable option?

Cuddlesworth

Off grid means it's not connected to the grid. Independent, house runs on its own power.

Your describing a grid connected hybrid inverter with a battery, with AC outputs that can provide power in case of a outage. A invertor which is limited to a output of 5.5kw, where the grid is 8-12kw usually.

You can get inverters that can power everything in the house at once but technically your not allowed to connect them to the grid in Ireland.

So that guidance makes sense, to limit the potential load on the inverter. For the times power does drop completely get a generator, run it during times your cooking and to top up the battery and then turn it off. Run the fridge and sitting room off the battery.

al2025

We had a changeover switch fitted 2 months ago, no mention of above, just as Graeme says, shut off or limit use. Well capable of running heat pump for eg.

N-sligo-blowin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124296703#Comment_124296703

Rather than a noisy generator (have lived with those abroad) we'd prefer to add the 16 amp V2L from the KIA in our mix, if we can find a panel that can integrate it.

Until now we've used the V2L with a separate temporary circuit of extension cables running through the house; it has kept fridge, freezer and some lights going during the last multiple day outage. A pain to set up, cables everywhere, and no power whenever we need to drive the car.

We're not looking to power 'the whole house' including hob and under floor heating. Just multiple socket circuits and all lights. That appears impossible with the narrow interpretation at the moment.

N-sligo-blowin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124296708#Comment_124296708

And now our contractor says they are not allowed to do exactly that, because of new guidelines from January this year.

pureza

in island mode have you access to the power from the panels or is it just the battery and in island mode do the panels still charge the battery during a grid outage?

bobburns007

hi, can anyone tell me what would be involved in adding an auto changeover switch to an existing solar PV system?

I have a 5.8kw hybrid Solax inverter and a 5.8kw battery .

I also have a manual changeover switch that only allows me to use power from the battery when there is a power outage.

My installer isn’t very helpful regarding this.

pureza

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124367175#Comment_124367175

Mine does that if I flick down the rcb for the inverter aswell as flicking over the change over switch

It basically tricks the inverter into thinking the batteries are a live grid supply

Try that

Though it depends on what your installer did

I do not know the ins and outs of it but asked mine the procedure to have the panels charging the batteries whilst using them during a power cut

graememk

It's the fireman switch that is preventing the solar from working - it's nothing to do with the inverter.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124367541#Comment_124367541

Sometimes the inverters don't like being given their own power and may error out.

bobburns007

I have a fireman switch, but can anyone tell me what I can do today since the regs have changed, to allow me to use the panels to charge the battery in a power outage situation.

My inverter, battery and cu are in the utility room, currently I have to turn off the ac switch and pull a switch for ems mode that allows me to turn se the battery if there is any juice in it.

whosedaddy?

I'm coming back to my plan to selfinstall, and this changeover switch discussion is throwing curveball of sorts.

Has anone else tried to get installer or independent REC to install a manual changeover past few weeks?
If anyone knows a REC in Dublin who does Solar (even if not fan of changeover) , I wouldn't mind a PM …

The Safeelectric article is from Dec 25, SEAI has article from Jan 26 talking about using Solar during powercut - so you'd assume/hope/expect that it was written with the SE article in mind…

https://www.seai.ie/blog/solar-panels-power-cut

SEAI references both manual and automatic changeover and call out multiple scenarios including all circuits running off backup power.

Option 1: Using a separate circuit(s) that is not connected to the grid.

Option 2: A mixed set-up where some circuits are connected to the panels and the grid while the other circuits are connected to the grid only.

Option 3: All circuits are connected to the panels and the grid with a manual or automatic changeover switch to disconnect from the grid in the event of a power outage.

And SEAI mentions both batteries AND panels to be connected during the outage.

All circuits must be isolated from the incoming grid connection, by the changeover switch, for the duration of the power outage.  Circuits are only connected to the panels during the outage.

It is important to reiterate that with all three options, there is a requirement that the circuits connected to the solar panels, and battery, are automatically and completely isolated from the grid in the event of and for the duration of a power cut. It must also be possible to isolate all sources of electricity (grid, batteries and PV modules) at a single point in the event of an emergency.

But single out automatic changeover with the following para …

Contractor responsibilities:

If an automatic changeover switch is used, it is the responsibility of the Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) to design the system in compliance with the National Rules for Electrical Installations (I.S. 10101) and they are required to provide the appropriate completion certificate confirming that the electrical installation complies with these rules. 

Anyone going to SEAI looking for solar grants will get the impression there is no problem using batteries and panels during an outage (given the right installation) - and then installers and RECs say otherwise.

graememk

Seai have historically been so inconsistent with advice/rules.

First they were fine, then they could only run from battery power only. Then it was a blanket not allowed. A complete joke

They have come full circle now, some installers likely got pulled on it and don't want to fall foul of it.

Nice4daddy

I have a 2.2kW pure sign wave generator (with earth-neutral bonding) which can be connected to my consumer board on demand (manually) if the grid fails and a manual changeover switch to isolate the grid. PV panels with 16kWh battery.

I'm wondering if I run the generator will it cheat the PV inverter and fireman's switch to provide ac power to the consumer board from the PV panels?

Although the generator has a variable ac output depending upon load it will output something. If the domestic load is light will I have to ensure that the battery is at least part depleted to ensure generator output has somewhere to go?

plodder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124485862#Comment_124485862

I got a manual changeover switch as part of my system about a month ago. The only issue was the distance between the inverter and the panel in the house (for earth fault impedance), which necessitated thicker wiring. It powers the whole house, but I guess as pointed out above, in a manual setup you know you have to restrict usage to low powered appliances only. I asked the REC would he do a V2L setup also and he was adamantly opposed to that. So, he's no cowboy. System is in Dublin, but he came from Galway and only did it as a one-off for the PV supplier unfortunately.