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Older solar systems: what we need to check.
If your solar was installed more than about 5 years ago (before December 2021), we need to do extra checks, and sometimes extra work, before we can add a battery or make changes. When we connect new equipment, the rules make us certify the whole system as safe and compliant, not just the part we add.
Why 5 years is the line
The national inverter standard changed on 18 December 2021, and WA's grid rules have tightened since.
| Date | What changed | What it means for an older system |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | New or upgraded solar and battery systems on the WA grid (up to 30 kVA) must support remote grid communications (CSIP-AUS) and work as one site. | Older inverters often can't talk to the grid or a new battery without a gateway, or at all. |
| 14 Feb 2022 | Emergency Solar Management began: new and upgraded systems must be able to be turned down or off remotely in emergencies. | Systems installed before this were exempt, but new equipment added now must comply. |
| 18 Dec 2021 | Inverters must meet AS/NZS 4777.2:2020. Inverters on the old 2015 version stopped qualifying for STCs. | Inverters installed before this were certified to the old standard. |
Inverter warranties are also usually only 5 to 10 years, and most inverters need replacing well before the panels do.
What can come up on an older system
Not every older system has every issue. These are the things we check, and the rules behind them.
| Issue | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| We certify the whole system | To claim the federal battery rebate, the installer must certify the entire system and its connection as safe and compliant, and upgrade existing parts where needed. |
| The inverter may not qualify | A hybrid inverter the battery connects to must be on the Clean Energy Council list (now or when it was installed) and be VPP-capable. If not, it must be replaced. |
| Old and new must work as one | When a new inverter is added, including a battery inverter, every inverter on site must communicate as one system with controllable output. |
| A gateway may be needed | Some older inverters can't communicate and can't be fixed with a firmware update. A gateway device adds cost and setup time. |
| Exports may be capped at 1.5 kW | If a site can't meet the remote management rules, the fallback is a fixed 1.5 kW export limit, which isn't eligible for Synergy buyback (DEBS) payments. |
| Some models are no longer listed | Some older inverter models have dropped off the approved list, which limits what can be connected to them. |
| Switchboard safety upgrades | Altering a switchboard can require safety switches (RCDs) to be added under the wiring rules, AS/NZS 3000. Many older boards have none. |
| Warranty and parts | Adding new gear to an out-of-warranty inverter raises warranty questions if the old part fails later. |
On the roof: the DC side
The panels and DC cabling are checked too. Standards for this changed in 2021 (AS/NZS 5033:2021, compulsory from 19 May 2022), and older roofs often don't meet them.
| What we check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Irregular panel voltages | Older panels wear unevenly, so string voltages drift and a string runs at the pace of its weakest panel. Aged or mixed panels can fall outside a new inverter's voltage range. We test every string before connecting. |
| Earthing | Panel frames and metal mounting touching DC cables must be earthed to today's standard (below 0.5 ohms). Older frame earthing often isn't, and it's rated unsafe in government audits. |
| Rooftop DC isolators | Required from 2012, but no longer required since 2022. Weather-exposed rooftop isolators were behind 38–50% of recorded solar fires in WA and NSW (2009–2015). We remove old rooftop isolators and make isolation compliant. |
| DC cable protection | DC cables in ceilings, walls and under floors must be in metal or heavy-duty conduit. Outdoor runs must be enclosed, sealed and UV-protected. Older installs often have exposed cable or light conduit. |
What this means for your quote
- We check first. We confirm your inverter's model, standard, approved-list status, firmware and communications, then test your panel strings, earthing, rooftop isolators, DC cabling and switchboard. A photo of your inverter label and meter box lets us do most of this before a site visit.
- We tell you what's needed, in writing. Extra work is itemised with the reason, so you can see what the rules require and what's optional.
- We give you options. Usually: keep your inverter and add a gateway, replace the inverter, upgrade the switchboard, or accept a 1.5 kW export limit. Roof safety items (earthing, isolators, DC cable protection) are fixed as part of the job.
- No surprises on the day. If we find something that wasn't visible beforehand, we stop, show you photos and confirm the cost before going ahead.
Why we do it this way: as the licensed electrical contractor (EC17239) and SAA-accredited installer, we sign off the whole installation. Doing it right protects your rebate, your warranty and your home.
Fine print
General information, current as of October 2026. Rules can change; your Phased Power Solutions quote sets out exactly what applies to your property.
Sources: Clean Energy Regulator – Cheaper Home Batteries requirements · Clean Energy Regulator – inverter standard change · Western Power – AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 transition · Energy Policy WA – adding batteries or panels · Energy Policy WA – technical requirements · Energy Policy WA – installer requirements · energy.gov.au – warranties · ERAC advice on alterations and RCDs · Solar Victoria audit checklist – array earthing (AS/NZS 5033:2021) · Solar Victoria audit checklist – DC wiring · pv magazine – AS/NZS 5033:2021 and DC isolators · Renew – rooftop DC isolators and solar fires · REC – panel mismatch guidance
Licensed WA electrical contractor delivering solar, battery, EV and electrical work across Perth.
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