THE recall of a batch of potentially faulty solar isolators that sent a Queensland company into liquidation is having a flow-on effect to small businesses on the Border.
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About 27,000 AVANCO brand DC isolators were sold nationally and Border solar fitters Planet Power had fitted more than 300 in the Riverina.
Planet Power general manager Larry Buete said they were a product used by many solar installers.
“These isolators were approved a while ago through Australian standards and they were used in good faith by solar companies around the country,” Mr Buete said.
“The recall is quite an expensive undertaking and it is hard for a small business, we get no funding for it.
“The balance is staying in business and keeping our 15 staff in jobs as well as undertaking this recall.”
Lavington man Bruce Nichols is warning people to check their isolators after his caught alight.
“Anyone else who has these needs to check if they have these switches because they are all going to fail at some point,” Mr Nichols said.
Similarly, a roof fire in Wangaratta on Wednesday was also caused by a recalled isolator from a different manufacturer.
Wangaratta firefighter Brett Myers said it was a PVPower DC isolator.
“It’s a timely reminder to people who do have them to check if their system has these DC isolators,” he said.