NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has told the state’s 120,000 solar households to have their panels checked, after an audit in northwestern Sydney found 18.5 per cent had major defects.
Mr O’Farrell today released the preliminary results of an audit of 658 panel systems in Sydney’s northwest, which found 122 had major problems, primarily relating to their wiring.
A further 418, or 63.5 per cent, were found to have minor defects.
Mr O’Farrell said while the risk was “relatively low” - with just two fuse-box fires reported across the state - he was providing a “clear warning” to solar panel owners to have systems checked by their installers, or a qualified expert.
He stressed that owners should not turn off their panel systems and check it themselves.
“It is clearly a serious warning,” Mr O’Farrell told reporters in Sydney.
“The premier of the state is alerting 120,000 households to a survey, and audit undertaken of 658 homes, that found defects, major defects, minor defects, in solar installation across Baulkham Hills, Kellyville and Blacktown.
“But importantly, what the premier of the state is also doing is telling householders not to panic, not to rush out, turn off their systems, or tamper with their systems in any way, but to contact a qualified technician and expert, the company that installed it, to seek reassurance.”
The Fair Trading audit, sparked by a similar critical review in Port Macquarie, said the major defects largely concerned the DC breaker switch.
“Major defects relate primarily to incorrect wiring of the DC breaker,” the audit said.
“Other major defects included installing the DC breaker switch incorrectly, so that water could enter the breaker box which may cause it (to) fail, or wiring the switchboard incorrectly so that it … conducts electricity and can be an electrocution risk.”
The minor defects relate to cabling, and marking and signage, the audit said.
