How One Photo Stopped 90% of 'No DC' Second Fix Failures
Electricians were arriving to 'no DC' at second fix. Capturing first-fix string voltages with photo proof transformed abortive visits into smooth commissioning.
90%
Reduction in 'No DC' Failures
100%
Trade Accountability
£0
Installer Fault Claims
The Challenge
Electricians were frequently arriving at second fix to find 'no DC'-no voltage from the solar panels. This meant abortive visits, expensive reschedules, angry site managers, and finger-pointing between trades. Was it the installer's fault? Did something happen after first fix? Without evidence, accountability was unclear and costs were mounting.
Business Impact
Abortive second-fix visits waste expensive electrician time, delay project completion, damage client relationships, and create inter-trade disputes. Without proof of working installation at first fix, installers were often blamed and charged for issues that weren't their fault.
Who This Affected
Key Pain Points
Abortive second-fix visits creating scheduling chaos
Electricians travel to site only to discover no DC, requiring rescheduling and return visits
Unclear accountability between trades
Without proof that DC was present at first fix, installers were blamed for issues that occurred later
Expensive reschedules and angry site managers
Failed second fix visits delay project completion and frustrate clients who need to coordinate multiple trades
The Solution
Implemented mandatory first-fix voltage field with photo proof in the mobile form, plus an in-app expected voltage hint (calculated from panel spec × count, with daylight variance awareness). This created clear evidence that DC was present when the installer left site and established accountability.
Features Implemented
- ✓Mandatory first-fix voltage field with photo requirement
- ✓In-app expected voltage hint (panels × Voc with daylight variance)
- ✓Photo proof of meter reading with timestamp
- ✓Ability to reference first-fix photos at second-fix stage
- ✓Clear handover documentation between trades
Implementation Approach
First-fix completion form was configured to require both a voltage measurement and a photo of the meter display. The system calculated expected voltage from the panel specification and count, accounting for daylight conditions, to help installers verify correct readings.
The Results
90% Fewer 'No DC' Aborts
That single photo requirement eliminated the vast majority of failed second-fix visits
Clear Accountability
When issues did occur, photo proof showed whether DC was present at first fix, clarifying fault
Faster Commissioning
Fewer abortive visits meant faster project completion and better resource utilization
"That stops 90% of 'no DC' on second fix just taking that photo. As the electrician gets there and there's no DC… bring up that photo - there's 120V there, something's happened since then, it's not the installer's fault."
— Installation Manager
Why This Story Matters
Installation Manager
Why It Matters
Protect your teams from false blame and reduce expensive rework caused by unclear accountability between trades.
Key Focus
Implement voltage verification with photo proof at first fix to document handover conditions.
Operations Director
Why It Matters
Abortive visits and reschedules are expensive operational waste that can be prevented with simple evidence capture.
Key Focus
Use expected-value hints and mandatory photos to catch issues before teams leave site.
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