Coming up on this week's news, the IET unveils urgent guidance on solar panel installs. The health and safety executive issues an alert over high voltage switch gear. And an electrician is stuck for 6 hours in an illuminated sign 130ft above the ground. Welcome to Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly. Helping electricians offer smarter buildings and better energy management. Shelly's range of smart relays, sensors, and control devices makes it easy to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring. Whether you're listening in the van on site or down at the wholesale counter, I'm Joe Robinson and I've been through the best of the electrical industry news to save you the trouble. And if you think you've spotted the two words that I've been challenged to slip into this week's show, comment with them below for the chance to win this exclusive cap branded with Friends of the Show Quickwire and ChumpTools. And while you're there, click the links in the show notes to check out what our sponsors offer. On the show notes web page, you'll also find our bonus story section covering a wide range of subjects. It's definitely worth a read. And stay tuned to the end of the show to catch up on our regular features, including the weather from Fox ESS and the lighter side of the news from Quickwire. The IET has unveiled urgent guidance on the islanding of solar panel installations. Islanding happens when a property disconnects from the public grid, usually due to a power cut. It then runs entirely on its own local generation and storage. The organisation says a problem can arise when an inverter switches to island mode. It can't dump fault current like the grid can. So you're leaning on your RCD to do the disconnecting, not your overcurrent protection. But that RCD has to be on the load side of your system referencing point. Get the earthing wrong. And that RCD is never going to see the fault in the first place. And talking earthing, the IET says an island mode needs a TN system, usually TNS. You create that link with what's called a system referencing conductor or SRC. Yes, that's another three letter acronym for you. And the IET's guidance is clear here. You can only ever have one referencing point live at any one time. If you have two, you're looking at nuisance tripping and circulating currents. You'll need a system referencing conductor switching device, an SRCSD, a five letter acronym, no less. You use this to make and break that link interlocked with your switching device for islanding. Now, here's the real head scratcher, and the IET flags this directly. You can't reliably measure ZE on an island mode inverter. The fault current depends entirely on the manufacturer's internal protection software. However, the regulations let you use an alternative verification method. And where the manufacturer hasn't given you one, the advisory points to IEC 60364-8-82 for a modified formula. This uses rated power, your R1 plus R2, and your RCD's operating current. And don't forget, test every RCD in every mode it operates in. Skip that and you genuinely can't prove that you have a working automatic disconnection of supply. I'll put the link to the full advisory in the show notes. And speaking of testing, why not have a look at Metrel's range of PV testers? From the streamlined MI3114 for essential photovoltaic checks through the MI3115 to the MI3116 with IV curve tracing, efficiency measurements, insulation testing, and irradiance logging. There's a tester to do everything from domestic installs to full PV commissioning. Electricians working on older industrial and commercial sites are being warned about a potentially serious risk affecting high voltage switch gear, specifically the GEC type VMX vacuum circuit breaker. The health and safety executive has issued a safety notice after a recent failure of an 11 KV unit. The incident caused electrical arcing and a fire inside a substation. The protection system disconnected the fault within 700 milliseconds, but the resulting damage was considerable. HSE says the most probable cause of the failure was partial discharge. The warning covers VMX switch gear made between 1985 and January 2003, including equipment made by GEC, GEC Alsthom, Alstom, and Areva T&D. The HSE says it's aware of several failures involving partial discharge. It's urging the trade to identify affected equipment, check serial numbers, and confirm that recommended modifications and maintenance have been carried out. It also recommends partial discharge surveys, checks on vacuum interrupter integrity, and regular monitoring by a competent person. Crucially for contractors, the HSE recommends partial discharge testing whenever a substation containing this equipment is entered. So if you encounter old GEC VMX switch gear, don't assume that because it's worked for decades, it's safe. Check its age, history, and maintenance regime, and get competent HV advice before carrying out work. I'll put a link to the official statement in the show notes. In other news, the Trump administration has announced restrictions on foreign produced power inverters. Under national security legislation, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries are being added to a list of items restricted in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission says they pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of US persons. The restrictions apply to future models of inverters, not those already available on the market. Foreign inverter models that have previously won FCC approval appear to be exempt. The risk is not specifically stated in the government's communications and the FCC has not said the move is because of alleged hidden communications equipment reported in 2025. Then concerns were raised when Reuters reported that undocumented communication devices had been found inside some Chinese-made power inverters. The discoveries allegedly included cellular radios which could provide an additional communications route that bypasses standard firewalls. Engineers are said to have stumbled on the additional equipment while stripping down the inverters in a so-called teardown. Reuters was unable to establish how many inverters have been examined or how many contain the devices. No guidance has yet been issued to the trade in the UK over the choice of inverters in renewable installations. And sorry to disappoint, but there's no lackluster Trump impression this week. Still in America, an electrician got himself stuck for 6 hours in an illuminated sign above the ground. The terrified contractor even recorded video goodbyes to his wife and family while waiting to be rescued. AJ Gow was checking the wiring inside the sign, but found the cramped space uncomfortably hot. He sent his colleague down in the cherry picker to get water and a battery powered fan. But like a faulty pendulum, the cherry picker failed to ascend again, leaving Gow stranded and fearful for his life. A fire brigade arrived, but its ladder stopped 30 ft short of the installer. Eventually, another lifter was borrowed from a job site some 17 m away. Gow was taken to hospital with severe dehydration and has since recovered. Have you ever got stuck while in a cramped space? Let us know your story in the comments below. And that last story neatly highlights the importance of safety in construction. So, it's a good time to remind you that it's that time of year when we really focus on that subject. Yes, it's time to kick off the Safe for September campaign. All this month, we'll be running features and providing help to make sure that you don't become another victim to what is still one of the most dangerous jobs in the market. To get started, why not dive into our free training package on health and safety made in association with Luceco, including videos on safe access, asbestos, working at heights, and more. Whether you've been on site for years or you're starting college next week, it's the perfect course to help you stay safe and it counts as an hour towards your annual CPD requirement. You know where to find the link. And if you want tools that won't leave you high and dry, then DeWalt is the kit for you. With tools created specifically for the electrical industry, they're tested on site, and in the hardest possible ways, dropped, covered in dust, abused, and driven to the absolute limits, so they'll keep working exactly when you need them to. Now, how often have you got your test route only to find the probe you need is missing? If your test probes spend more time rattling around in your toolbox than attached to your tester, Tip Clip reckons it has the answer. The UK made accessory clips onto your belt, tester strap, or tool bag and securely holds up to five standard 4m test probe tips. The idea is to keep your probes organised, protected, and ready to grab when you need them rather than tangled up with the rest of your kit. It's designed to reduce damage to probe tips, prevent tangles, and save a bit of time on site. Tip Clip is made from tough PA12 and is designed for the everyday knocks and drops that come with life on the tools. It's compatible with test leads from brands including Fluke, Mega, Q-Tech, Dialogue, and Martindale. A tip clip cost 17 quid, which we reckon is a small investment if it saves you from hunting through the van for an elusive crocodile clip. If probing live sockets makes you nervous, Test Event UK reckons there's a safer way to test. Its testing plugs provide a controlled plug-in interface for electrical verification, removing exposed life parts, and the risk of probe slippage. The company says its product is designed to support BS7671 and BS799 compliant testing across temporary power and live event installations. They can be used for RCD testing, insulation resistance checks, and initial verification as well as dead testing and cable testing, and speed is a big part of the pitch. Test event says six RCDs can be tested in just 60 seconds. The company is also seeing growing demand from international data centre projects where CEE connectors are increasingly common. There's a range covering 16 amp, 32 amp, 63 amp, and 125 amp connectors as well as Powerlock and Socapex. The Bedford based manufacturer now has a web shop. And again, I've popped the link in the show notes. Another bit of kit to get on your radar is a range of British made conduit bending machines. They're manufactured by Sheffield based BendItNow, the company that used to produce the Hilmore brand before production was moved abroad. The stand bending machines are designed to give you a perfect bend every time. The compact manual units use precision machined aluminium formers and guides which are included. There are five sizes of machine to choose from covering conduit diameters from 20 mil up to 32 mil. All of them come with a 12-month guarantee. And right now, if you use the code eFIXX10 when buying a conduit bending machine from the standard or elite range, you'll get a whopping 10% off. If you do a lot of kitchen furniture or display lighting, Ultral LEDs Syndeo system is designed to take some of the faff out of LED install. It's a plug-and-play lighting ecosystem with LED strips and light bars, drivers, sensors, cables, connectors, and splitters, all designed to work together. That means less soldering and wiring and less time spent trying to make disperate components play nicely. The system is aimed particularly at furniture, cabinetry, joinery, and retail displays where neat installation is important. There are sensors for doors, infrared control, touch dimming, and motion detection so the lighting can respond to how the furniture or display is being used. Syndeo also offers preconfigured kits for simpler projects with components supplied ready to connect. For example, its 24volt chip onboard strip kit comes with a 5meter reel, driver, power cable, extension cables, and solderless connectors. Ultral LED says the system can also be configured for bespoke installations, including custom cable lengths and configurations. So rather than building your own LED system from a box of unrelated bits, Syndeo is essentially an electrical Lego set for lighting. Now, how about this for a bright idea? It's the Paul Russell's lamp of the week. This week we've got a Corker. This bad boy is called the Vase lamp. No, we've never heard of one either. It's got a huge golden glass envelope with a helix LED filament and a regular E27 base. It's dimmable and it has a super warm colour temperature of 1800K, so it works really well in hospitality jobs such as cafes, pubs, and restaurants. It draws 4 watts and gives out 250 lumens. You can see the full range of lamps at paulrussells.com. Now, a date for your diary. If you're looking to move into solar and battery storage, you won't want to miss the Solar and Storage Live UK show when it returns to Birmingham's NEC from the 22nd to the 24th of September. And this year, installers and electricians get their own installer training hub. It's designed to be hands-on with training covering solar PV, mounting systems, batteries, inverters, and commissioning. There'll also be sessions on certification, the battery standard, rooftop PV troubleshooting, and system monitoring. So, it's not just a chance to wander around looking at shiny new kit. you can actually get to grips with how it's installed and commissioned. More than 500 exhibitors and 250 speakers are expected across the three days. Training is being provided by companies including Solar Port, ZYC Energy, Canadian Solar, GSSE Integration, UK Soul, Genius Roof Solutions, and Fonius. There'll also be live installations, demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities to grill manufacturers on the technical details. And with EV Charge Live UK taking place alongside it, there's plenty for electricians interested in the crossover between solar storage and EV charging. Best of all, entry is free for installers and trade professionals, although you will need to register in advance. So, put the 22nd to the 24th of September in the diary now. And now to the lighter side of the electrical news. Yes, it's time for a tea break with Quickwire and its range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Forget putting solar panels on the roof. What about putting them on the awning? A German startup called Solar Markise has come up with a retractable awning that doubles as a solar generator. The Solar Markise comes in 1.35 kW and 1.8 kW versions with rollable solar fabric mounted on an aluminium frame. The bigger model can even come with a 1.6 kWh battery, so you can sit underneath your solar panels while storing the electricity they generate. The company says installation takes between 2 and 4 hours. Prices start at £3,500. So, this isn't exactly a budget parasol, but at least it's shading the sun while harvesting it. That's the lighter side of the news in our tea break with QuickWire and their range of incredibly rapid electrical connectors. Click the link in the description to check them out for yourself. Now, just before we get to your favourite bit of the show where I reveal last week's challenge words and winners, we want to thank our premium partner. We couldn't make the news without you. It's the best thing to come out of Yorkshire since stainless steel, the home of EV Ultra and other groundbreaking and quality products, is Doncaster Cables. Click the links in the show notes to find out more about this great brand. If you think you know the words that I've smuggled into this week's show, pop your guess into the comments. We'll take all the correct guesses and select one at random to be the winner of an eFIXX goodie bag prize. Answers submitted after midnight on the Wednesday after release will not be entered into the draw. Now, let's reveal the winners of last week's challenge word competition. Last week's words were swooped and meal deal. That last being hyphenated, of course. And the first person to come out of her electronic hat was Bracy 92. So, well done to you, Bracy. Make sure you click the get involved link in the show notes to claim your prize. And now it's time for this week's weather from Joe 3PO and Fox ESS. The August bank holiday has packed away its gazebo after delivering sunshine, showers, and thunderstorms. So fairly standard for Britain. Before the forecast though, a quick shout out to this week's Fox ESS premier partner P4 Solar based in Keighley. Oh no, no, sorry, that's Keighley. According to Rick, P4 Solar designs and installs solar and battery systems across Yorkshire and the north using its own in-house team. And for this week's solar barometer, we are staying local and heading to Braithway Avenue in Keighley. It has plenty of pitched roof phase, good solar potential, and sits close to P4 Solar and our own Lineside Studios. Okay, so Wednesday starts wet and blustery with rain moving northeast. Yorkshire and Northern England could see heavier bursts followed by showers, while the Southeast may stay drier for longer. Uh, Thursday looks like the best solar generation day of the week. Central and Eastern England should see brighter, drier conditions, although western areas may still catch showers and rain. Uh, Friday brings another band of rain moving east, followed by brighter intervals and showers. and western areas should improve first, while the east may have to wait longer for the cloud to clear. And going into the weekend, Saturday currently looks the better day, especially in the south and east. Sunday may turn cloudier and wetter in the north and west. While the southeast keeps the best chance of brighter weather, so Thursday wins best recovery. Wednesday takes the prize for most committed rain and the weekend receives its usual award for refusing to make a decision. And that's your weather. Thanks for that update, Joe. Thanks for listening to this episode of Electrical News Weekly in association with Shel, helping electricians offer smarter buildings and better energy management. Shel's range of smart relays, sensors, and control devices makes it easy to add automation without the cost and disruption of rewiring. Thanks for listening and until next time, have a great week. Stay safe out there and remember there's no such thing as a torque calibrated arm.