Chance, The wrenches list is also available as a searchable archive, where this subject has been previously discussed / debated at length. Rather than chastising Bob-O, you might thank him for bringing this to your attention and also to the attention of anyone else reading the list, public or pro.
There are many relatively new companies installing solar, some with 30 - 40 employees or so, which have installed multiple grid tie type systems, but have never installed a system which included batteries. Obviously there is a great deal more to these systems than choosing the correct cable. The question put to the list unfortunately seemed to reflect a certain naivete. A company which installs battery based systems has no excuse for failing to provide training for their employees to do them safely, using the proper procedures and materials. There are great resources available to provide this training if it's not available in house. SEI is one I've used personally. Bob-O has been doing these for years and years. Perhaps few in the business know more. His post reflects his concern for the integrity of our industry during this period of rapid growth. Respectfully, Dick Ratico Solarwind Electric Bradford, VT >You wrote, Chance Currington chance766 at yahoo.com Wed Mar 11 10:12:23 PDT 2009 Bob-O Please review wrenches etiquitte here http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Below is what i would like you to focus on with regards to your comments to Jeff. Resist the temptation to "flame" others on the list. Remember that these discussions are "public" and meant for constructive exchanges. Treat the others on the list as you would want them to treat you. (A.K.A. The Silicon Rule.) If you absolutely need to chastise someone, please do it off list. Or contact the moderator with your complaint, and let him decide how to handle it. If you would like to continue this conversation off-list then you will call me at 541.389.1016 Chance Jeff, ________________________________ From: Bob-O Schultze <bob-o at electronconnection.com> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 7:29:26 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] battery cables This is a pet peeve of mine. Welding cable is designed to live it's whole life surrounded by hot sparks and dragged across cement floors, yet it is not "listed" for use in a home. That pretty much means that the manufacturer hasn't spent the dough to do the UL testing. Most of us use a wire manufactured by Cobra Wire & Cable called CobraFlex which is listed. It comes in 2/0 and 4/0 sizes and others. I'm a little concerned that you list yourself as a "Lead Installer" and don't know this. Never done a permitted battery-based system before? Bob-O On Mar 11, 2009, at 6:59 AM, Jeff Blick wrote: Hi wrenches, I have been looking through the codebook for guidance in selecting battery cables for a large UPS system. The code doesn't appear to have much to say about the actual type of wire used. My electrical supplier is suggesting welding cable, but I feel like I read somewhere that welding cable is not appropriate. I know it needs to be 4/0 or larger, just wondering what type of wire others are using for this application. Thanks! Jeff Blick Lead PV Installer Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. direct: 541-306-4196 fax: 541-322-1911 jeff.blick at sunlightsolar.com www.sunlightsolar.com This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or confidential information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify me by replying to this message and delete the original, any copy of this e-mail and any print out made. For additional information about Sunlight Solar Energy please refer to our website at http://www.sunlightsolar.co _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
