> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learning.kent.co.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Isolation and Shutdown Sequences for Kent M1 and G3

> The only safe power-down and power-up sequences for Kent M1 and Kent G3 — battery-first OFF, AC-first ON, and the mandatory 5-minute discharge wait.

Both Kent platforms power **ON grid-first** and **OFF battery-first** — the exact reverse of each other. Learn the order once; it is the same logic on every Kent hybrid. Getting it wrong is where equipment damage and personal injury happen.

<Warning>
  **DANGER — stored energy.** After the last switch opens, the inverter still holds residual voltage and needs **5 minutes to discharge. Wait the full 5 minutes before opening any cover.** A dark display is not evidence of a discharged system.
</Warning>

## Before you start

Do all of this before touching any isolator.

* Tell the customer that backup power will stop — printers, routers, medical devices, and security systems on the Backup port will lose supply.
* Have your CAT III multimeter ready to verify dead after the wait.
* For any PV work on Kent G3, have a DC-capable clamp ammeter ready to check string current before operating the DC switch.
* Identify every isolator: grid AC breaker, backup AC breaker (if fitted), inverter DC switch, battery breaker, and battery switch or button.

## Power OFF — battery first

<Steps>
  <Step title="Stop the battery">
    **Kent M1:** Press the battery button OFF, and switch off any generator source connected to the GEN port.

    **Kent G3:** Open the battery breaker.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the AC side">
    Open the grid AC breaker OFF. If a backup breaker is fitted, open that too.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the PV DC side">
    **Kent G3:** Confirm string current is **below 0.5 A** using a DC-capable clamp ammeter. If current is higher, wait for irradiance to fall — do not force the switch. Once below 0.5 A, turn the DC switch OFF.

    **Kent M1:** Turn the inverter DC isolator OFF.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait 5 minutes, then verify dead">
    Wait the full labelled 5 minutes. Then use your CAT III multimeter to confirm no dangerous voltage remains on the DC bus and terminals before touching any conductor or opening any cover.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **Pending Kent validation.** \[KNB-VAL-15]
  The exact verify-dead voltage threshold for Kent M1 is under confirmation. Until published here: wait the full 5 minutes **and** meter-verify no dangerous voltage on the DC bus and terminals before any contact — never rely on the wait time alone.
</Warning>

## Power ON — AC first

<Steps>
  <Step title="Close the grid AC breaker first">
    Grid AC on before any DC source. This is step one on both platforms without exception.
  </Step>

  <Step title="PV DC on">
    Turn the inverter PV DC switch ON.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Battery last">
    **Kent M1:** Battery breaker ON → battery switch ON → battery button ON. Follow this sub-sequence in order.

    **Kent G3:** Battery breaker ON. On a new install, complete the first-time HMI setup before this step.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Watch the boot sequence">
    A clean boot shows no sequence faults on the display. On Kent G3: if any alarm appears at startup, power OFF and wait 5 minutes before attempting one restart. Do not cycle power repeatedly.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Older site cards and some videos teach battery-first power-on. **That order is wrong for Kent units.** Both official Kent sequences are AC-first. If a site card disagrees with this page, the card is outdated — photograph it and report it to Kent so it can be replaced.
</Note>

## Common mistakes

<Accordion title="Operating the Kent G3 DC switch above 0.5 A">
  Opening the DC switch with live string current creates a sustained DC arc. At PV string voltages this is not a spark — it is a plasma that can damage the switch, burn cables, and injure you. Use the clamp ammeter. Wait for irradiance to drop if needed.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Skipping the 5-minute wait for a 'quick look' inside">
  The capacitors on the DC bus do not know it is a quick look. The wait is not conservative padding — it is the discharge time stated in the Kent safety label. Skipping it to save three minutes puts you across a charged bus.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Leaving the battery ON while working the AC side">
  With the battery ON, the Backup port stays live regardless of the state of the grid breaker. Any load on the Backup port has live voltage, and the inverter is still energized from the battery. If you are working the AC wiring, isolate all sources.
</Accordion>

## Related pages

* [Safety First](/safety/safety-first)
* [Electrical Basics for Hybrids](/safety/electrical-basics)
* [Commissioning Checklists](/checklists)
* [PPE & Tools](/safety/ppe-and-tools)