Why this matters to you
Without commissioning, the first real test of your system is you living with it. Faults that a half-hour of structured checking would have found — a wrong battery profile, communication that never established, protection that was never proven — instead surface weeks later as an unexplained problem.
What commissioning covers
Before energising
Polarity and connection checks, termination tightness, insulation and earthing checks appropriate to the installation, confirmation that protection devices are the specified ratings, and a visual check against the manufacturer's requirements.
Configuration and communication
The correct battery profile selected, firmware versions recorded, and BMS–inverter communication confirmed as live rather than merely wired — with the inverter showing battery data and limits from the BMS.
Functional testing
A real charge and a real discharge observed, state of charge behaving sensibly, backup transfer tested if the system has a backup circuit, and monitoring confirmed to be reporting.
Handover
Labelling, a shutdown and isolation procedure you understand, the settings and firmware record, equipment documentation and serial numbers, and clarity on who to contact and how faults are reported.
What to expect afterwards
Ask what happens if something behaves oddly in the first weeks, how monitoring alarms reach the installer, and what is covered by the installation warranty as opposed to the product warranty. A system that has been commissioned properly also gives a baseline — so if performance changes later, there is something to compare against.
General guidance and system-specific tests
The exact test list depends on the equipment, the design and the connection type. This article describes the shape of a proper commissioning process rather than prescribing procedures for your installation.