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Free solar PV system inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Check array, isolators, inverter, cabling, labelling and earthing to AS/NZS 5033 and 4777.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 5 July 2026
Also see:Compliance and inspections →Best tool tracking software →MapTrack vs Hilti ON!Track →

Updated 5 July 2026

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What is a solar pv system inspection checklist?

A solar PV system inspection checklist is the structured list an electrician or inspector works through to verify that a rooftop or commercial photovoltaic system is safe, compliant and performing. It covers the array and modules, the mounting and racking, the DC and AC isolators, the inverter, the cabling and conduit, the labelling and signage, and the earthing and bonding. Completed at commissioning and at periodic maintenance, it confirms the system matches its design, meets the installation standards, and has no developing faults that could reduce output or create a fire or shock risk.

This checklist matters because a PV system is a live electrical installation on a roof, generating during daylight whether or not the main switch is off, and its faults are often hidden until they cause an output loss, an arc or a fire. In Australia PV installations must meet AS/NZS 5033:2021 for the installation and safety of PV arrays and AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 for grid connection of inverter energy systems, and the wiring rules AS/NZS 3000:2018 apply to the electrical installation; where a battery is fitted, AS/NZS 5139:2019 covers the battery system. Installers and designers are accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), which replaced the Clean Energy Council as the accreditation body on 29 May 2024. A consistent inspection checklist is how a licensed electrical worker confirms those requirements are met and records the system's condition over its life.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this solar pv system inspection checklist

  • Electrical safety verified: checking isolators, cabling and earthing confirms the system is safe to work on and safe to leave energised.
  • Fire risk reduced: inspecting DC connectors, isolators and cable entries catches the loose or degraded joints that cause PV rooftop fires.
  • Standards compliance recorded: a documented check against the installation and grid-connection standards evidences a compliant system.
  • Output protected: identifying soiling, shading, cracked modules or a faulting inverter recovers generation that would otherwise be quietly lost.
  • Correct labelling confirmed: verifying signage and isolator labels means emergency responders and the next electrician can isolate safely.
  • Condition history built: a dated inspection record tracks how modules, mounting and inverters age so replacement is planned, not reactive.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move from paper or static PDFs to digital forms in MapTrack, you get:

  • Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
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  • Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
  • Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
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  • Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
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  • Electronic signatures.
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  • Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
  • Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
  • Record test and tag results digitally with automatic retest scheduling.
  • Link electrical inspection records to specific assets for full service history.
  • Flag overdue RCD testing and thermal imaging inspections on the dashboard.

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What to include in a solar pv system inspection checklist

This solar pv system inspection checklist covers 11 key areas:

  • Site address, system size (kW) and installation or commissioning date
  • Inspector name, electrical licence and any accreditation
  • Array and modules: condition, cracks, soiling, hot spots and shading
  • Mounting and racking: fixings, corrosion, clamps and roof penetrations
  • DC isolators: condition, operation, weatherproofing and labelling
  • AC isolator and switchboard connection
  • Inverter: mounting, ventilation, display, fault codes and operation
  • DC and AC cabling, connectors, conduit and cable management
  • Earthing, bonding and equipotential connections
  • Labelling and signage at the array, isolators, inverter and switchboard
  • Performance check: output against expected, and monitoring review

How to use this solar pv system inspection checklist

  1. Confirm scope and isolate safely: Review the system design, the previous inspection and any reported faults. Follow safe isolation procedures, remembering the DC side remains live in daylight, and use appropriate protective equipment. Only a licensed electrical worker should carry out the electrical parts of the inspection.
  2. Inspect the array and mounting: Check modules for cracks, delamination, discolouration, soiling and hot spots, and look for new shading. Inspect the racking, clamps, fixings and roof penetrations for corrosion, movement or water ingress, since a loose array is both a safety and a weatherproofing risk.
  3. Check isolators, inverter and cabling: Inspect DC and AC isolators for condition, correct operation and weatherproofing, and check the inverter mounting, ventilation, display and fault codes. Examine cabling, DC connectors and conduit for UV damage, loose glands and secure management, as degraded DC joints are a leading fire cause.
  4. Verify earthing and labelling: Confirm earthing, bonding and equipotential connections are intact and secure, and verify that all labelling and signage at the array, isolators, inverter and switchboard is present, correct and legible so the system can be isolated safely in an emergency.
  5. Test performance and record findings: Compare actual output against expected generation and review any monitoring data for underperformance. Record every finding, assign any defects for rectification, and complete the sign-off. File the inspection against the system so its condition history builds over time.

In MapTrack, you can digitise electrical safety inspections and test records. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

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How often should you complete this form?

Inspect at commissioning, then at the interval recommended by the installer, the inverter manufacturer and the system's maintenance plan, commonly annually for a commercial system and at least every few years for a residential one. Systems in harsh environments, such as coastal, dusty or high-heat sites, warrant more frequent inspection.

Between full inspections, monitor generation data so a sudden drop in output flags a fault for investigation without waiting for the next scheduled visit. Any electrical fault, visible module damage, or inverter fault code should trigger an inspection straight away rather than being left to the next cycle.

Frequently asked questions

PV installations in Australia are installed to AS/NZS 5033:2021 for the installation and safety of photovoltaic arrays and AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 for the grid connection of inverter energy systems, and the general wiring rules in AS/NZS 3000:2018 apply to the electrical installation; where a battery is fitted, AS/NZS 5139:2019 covers the battery system. Installer and designer accreditation is issued by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), which took over from the Clean Energy Council on 29 May 2024 (the CEC now runs the Approved Products and Approved Seller programs). Network and jurisdictional requirements also apply, and inspection and any electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical worker. This checklist helps structure an inspection against these requirements, but does not replace them. Confirm the current standards and licensing rules with your electrical regulator.

The electrical parts of a PV system, including isolators, cabling, the inverter and the switchboard connection, must be inspected and worked on by a licensed electrical worker, and PV-specific design and install work is generally carried out by an installer accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), the accreditation body since 29 May 2024. A PV array is a live electrical installation that generates during daylight even with the main switch off, so it is not a system for an unlicensed person to open up. Visual roof-level and monitoring checks can support the process, but the electrical inspection and any rectification are licensed work.

Inspect at commissioning and then periodically per the installer's and inverter manufacturer's recommendations and the system's maintenance plan. Commercial systems are commonly inspected annually, while residential systems are often inspected less frequently, though systems in coastal, dusty or high-heat environments benefit from more frequent checks. Continuous generation monitoring between inspections lets you catch a performance drop early. Any fault code, visible module damage or safety concern should prompt an inspection straight away rather than waiting for the scheduled cycle.

The DC side of a PV system carries current whenever there is daylight and cannot simply be switched off at the array, so faults there are both persistent and hard to make safe. Degraded DC connectors, loose terminations and failed isolators are a well-documented cause of rooftop PV fires, because a loose DC joint can arc continuously. That is why the checklist gives particular attention to the condition, operation and weatherproofing of DC isolators and the integrity of DC connectors and cabling. Any sign of heat damage, arcing or water ingress at these points is treated as a priority defect.

Yes, it is completely free. Open it in your browser, then use Print and choose Save as PDF to keep a copy or print it for the job. You do not need a MapTrack account. If you want to move beyond paper, MapTrack runs mobile inspections against each system, records defects and photos, and keeps the full inspection and maintenance history in one place. Start a free trial or book a demo to see how.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

  • AS/NZS 5033:2021 Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
  • AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 Grid connection of energy systems via inverters - Installation requirements
  • AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
  • AS/NZS 5139:2019 Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment (where a battery or BESS is fitted)
  • Installer and designer accreditation: Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), which replaced the Clean Energy Council as the accreditation body on 29 May 2024 (the CEC now runs the Approved Products and Approved Seller programs); electrical work by a licensed electrical worker under the model WHS laws and state electrical safety regulations

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    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Array and modules: condition, cracks, soiling, hot spots and shading</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Mounting and racking: fixings, corrosion, clamps and roof penetrations</li>
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