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Floods: Urgent solar panel safety warning

Master Electricians Australia has issued an urgent warning of injuries and potential deaths from solar panels and other electrical equipment as floods continue to impact parts of the country. 

Solar panels continue to produce electricity during a flood event, even if the power supply has been cut off and the panels turned off at the switchboard.

MEA urges residents in areas affected by devastating flood waters to be extremely careful around their solar panel installations.

Homeowners who are forced onto their roof due to flooding need to be extremely careful around solar panels as they present a real electrical safety risk.

This also applies to people in boats or other craft moving around near submerged homes.

Even if the network supply is turned off, solar panels still produce electricity and the associated wiring is also live.

This is a very serious threat affecting thousands of homes and has the potential to cause death or serious injury if people come into contact with the wiring to the panels.

Flood-affected residents can use the shutdown instructions to safely turn off the isolation switches located next to the Solar Inverter and these instructions are usually located on the switchboard.

If you’re unsure of anything we urgently recommend engaging a fully qualified electrician. Where a solar PV system has been flood inundated, an electrician can check the system and safely isolate water-damaged components.

It is vital that residents ensure that the system is electrically safe before it is recommissioned.”

If your property has been inundated and you need to ensure electrical products or supply is safe, MEA can help you find a local, licensed Master Electrician to help. Phone 1300 889 198.

 

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