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Commission and test the system

Commissioning proves the system is wired correctly, safe and performing as designed before you depend on it. The international reference for PV test and handover documents is IEC 62446-1:2016 with Amendment 1 (2018).

How

  1. With everything isolated, run the basic DC tests in the IEC 62446-1 order used by one national utility guideline: earth and bonding continuity, polarity of every string, combiner box check, string open circuit voltage, string current, functional tests, then insulation resistance.
  2. Compare string Voc with the datasheet or model value; identical strings in steady sun should agree within about 5%, and string currents within about 5% of their average.
  3. Insulation resistance per the 2016 table (as reproduced in that guideline): under 120 V test at 250 V with at least 0.5 megohm; 120 to 500 V at 500 V with at least 1 megohm; above 500 V at 1,000 V with at least 1 megohm.
  4. Amendment 1 (2018) relabels the top row as 500 to 1,000 V and adds a row for arrays above 1,000 V up to 1,500 V. Use the current table from your tester maker or the standard.
  5. Close disconnects in the order the makers specify, usually battery first, then inverter, then PV.
  6. Program every charge source (controllers, inverter/charger, generator) with the correct battery chemistry, voltages, capacity and temperature settings.
  7. Test each source and load: run the largest motor while other loads are on, start the generator and confirm charging and transfer.
  8. Record all test results, settings and serial numbers in a commissioning report.
  9. Save every device's settings to file and print them, then store a copy with the spares (power-28).

Sources

  1. Battery temperature compensation (blog). Victron Energy, accessed 2026-11
  2. IEC 62548-1:2023 Photovoltaic (PV) arrays: Design requirements. International Electrotechnical Commission, accessed 2026-11
  3. Inspection and Testing Guidelines for Solar PV Systems (CS-CSI-P3/G2). Kahramaa (Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation), accessed 2026-11
  4. IEC 62446-1:2016 Photovoltaic systems: Requirements for testing, documentation and maintenance, Part 1. International Electrotechnical Commission, accessed 2026-11
  5. IEC 62446-1:2016/AMD1:2018 Amendment 1 (preview). International Electrotechnical Commission (preview via iTeh Standards), accessed 2026-11

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