AutoCad can indeed be a tricky platform, when I learned how to use it I found an inexpensive tutor for about two days over the computer using a screen share. It was probably some of the best of the money I have ever spent.
Jason D. Kechijian, LEED AP BD+C NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™ NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales Professional™ [email protected] (843) 200-7271 On Mar 13, 2014, at 1:43 PM, [email protected] wrote: > Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..." > > > When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the Subject: > line to the original, and please edit out any extraneous lines from the > quoted message. > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Autocad (Jerry Shafer) > 2. Re: Autocad (Mac Lewis) > 3. Re: Autocad (Solarguy) > 4. Re: AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > (Mark Richardson) > 5. Re: Huge battery bank recommendation (Kevin Pegg) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 20:56:18 -0700 > From: Jerry Shafer <[email protected]> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Autocad > Message-ID: > <CAMUFgmWHGifDPnHScDPX1uqEo4zTbCXKAD7HDDu-VzA4b=d...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Some state schools teach auto cad and of you are in the class learning the > application you can get a student version for free > Jerry > On Mar 12, 2014 4:09 PM, "William Miller" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Friends: >> >> >> >> The 3D CAD software I have been using is obsolete. I have decided to >> upgrade to Autocad. I am temporarily using an educational copy while I >> learn, but I need to purchase a copy. >> >> >> >> Before I go out and plunk down $4k, I need to do some research: >> >> >> >> Do I have to expect to pay that much? >> >> >> >> Where is a good place to purchase? >> >> >> >> Are there copies of one generation old programs available? >> >> >> >> I am a self teacher but I use printed texts. What is your favorite >> Autocad reference? >> >> >> >> Thanks everyone! >> >> >> >> William >> >> >> >> >> >> [image: Gradient Cap_mini] >> >> Lic 773985 >> >> millersolar.com (hyperlink) >> >> 805-438-5600 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change email address & 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 >> >> >> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140312/e7e8e456/attachment.html> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image001.jpg > Type: image/jpeg > Size: 1460 bytes > Desc: not available > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140312/e7e8e456/attachment-0001.jpg> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 22:39:37 -0600 > From: Mac Lewis <[email protected]> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Autocad > Message-ID: > <caoabg483psgyaa3ty5r46d-z5xb4od1wkuy8jomqb_6bm45...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi William, > > One thing I have found with AutoCad is that it helps to start with > something. A big blank model space is an intimidating place with nothing > in it. If you do end up getting it, shoot me an email and I'll share some > dwgs that may help by giving you some building blocks. I will mention > however, that I just do 2D with AutoCad and use Sketchup (Free Version) for > 3D, so it may not be a big help. > > Good Luck > > > On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 9:56 PM, Jerry Shafer <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Some state schools teach auto cad and of you are in the class learning the >> application you can get a student version for free >> Jerry >> On Mar 12, 2014 4:09 PM, "William Miller" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Friends: >>> >>> >>> >>> The 3D CAD software I have been using is obsolete. I have decided to >>> upgrade to Autocad. I am temporarily using an educational copy while I >>> learn, but I need to purchase a copy. >>> >>> >>> >>> Before I go out and plunk down $4k, I need to do some research: >>> >>> >>> >>> Do I have to expect to pay that much? >>> >>> >>> >>> Where is a good place to purchase? >>> >>> >>> >>> Are there copies of one generation old programs available? >>> >>> >>> >>> I am a self teacher but I use printed texts. What is your favorite >>> Autocad reference? >>> >>> >>> >>> Thanks everyone! >>> >>> >>> >>> William >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> [image: Gradient Cap_mini] >>> >>> Lic 773985 >>> >>> millersolar.com (hyperlink) >>> >>> 805-438-5600 >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: [email protected] >>> >>> Change email address & 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 >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change email address & 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 >> >> >> > > > -- > > > > Mac Lewis > > *"Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates* > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140312/2c8ca6d8/attachment-0001.htm> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image001.jpg > Type: image/jpeg > Size: 1460 bytes > Desc: not available > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140312/2c8ca6d8/attachment-0001.jpg> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:14:36 -0500 > From: "Solarguy" <[email protected]> > To: "'RE-wrenches'" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Autocad > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > A correction to my earlier reply: > > AutoCad will 'print' directly to a pdf file on newer versions using MS > Windows7 & 8. Adobe no longer supports that function on earlier versions of > Acad. Mine is a full commercial version of 2000i and works flawlessly today. > > > In the 80s & 90s text & other instructional books came with all software. > Find old copies, often 100s of pages of commands & examples. Acad doesn't > ever change commands, just adds new ones so even a decade old book is > accurate. > > Find a local chapter of an AutoCad Users Group to meet others with decades > of knowledge. > > > > Jim Duncan > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Brooks > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 6:34 PM > To: 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Autocad > > > > William, > > > > Go to http://www.associatedsoftwaresales.com/home.php . They do a 48-month > lease of 2013 AutoCAD LT for $325. If you really need AutoCAD, there is no > cheaper route that I know of. > > > > Bill. > > > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of William > Miller > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:09 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Autocad > > > > Friends: > > > > The 3D CAD software I have been using is obsolete. I have decided to > upgrade to Autocad. I am temporarily using an educational copy while I > learn, but I need to purchase a copy. > > > > Before I go out and plunk down $4k, I need to do some research: > > > > Do I have to expect to pay that much? > > > > Where is a good place to purchase? > > > > Are there copies of one generation old programs available? > > > > I am a self teacher but I use printed texts. What is your favorite Autocad > reference? > > > > Thanks everyone! > > > > William > > > > > > Gradient Cap_mini > > Lic 773985 > > millersolar.com (hyperlink) > > 805-438-5600 > > > > > > _____ > > > <http://www.avast.com/> > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus > <http://www.avast.com/> protection is active. > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140313/97a9d4b9/attachment-0001.htm> > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: not available > Type: image/jpeg > Size: 1460 bytes > Desc: not available > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140313/97a9d4b9/attachment-0001.jpeg> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 16:08:20 +0000 > From: Mark Richardson <[email protected]> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]>, > "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system > disconnect > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hi All, > Just wondering if someone could confirm or expand on the assertion in Jason?s > document that: > ?NEC Article 690.64(A) allows a Line?Side AC connection to busbars, > conductors, or lugs at any > point between the customer?s side of the utility meter, and the service > disconnect. Many folks > call this a ?line?side tap?, which leads to confusion with the ?10?foot tap > rule? and Article > 240.21(B). Tap rules and Article 240 do not apply here (emphasis added). > These aren?t feeders, and service > entrance cables don?t have overcurrent protection? > Our engineers and design teams have always considered the Tap rules (Article > 240, et al.) when utilizing a supply/line side connections and the utility > here looks at this as a ?separately derived service.? > Thanks, > Mark Richardson > US Light Energy > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Brooks > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 8:13 PM > To: [email protected]; 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > > Glenn, > > It may be that the equipment sold in your region is that way, but my > experience is the opposite. I just looked in my electrical service panel at > my home to check my sanity and it is 10,000A rated. So is every single-phase > breaker sold at Home Depot or Lowes. You can?t put 10k breakers in a > 25,000AIC panel unless you know the fault current is under 10kA. > > I can?t argue with what you see, but you may be misinterpreting the ratings > on the equipment. You may be reading something on the actual breaker, but > that does not mean that it is 20kAIC in the panel. It has to be tested and > listed with the panel. Again, the key is to confirm what the rating of the > panel is. That is located on the inside cover or you can get that from the > manufacturer. > > Bill. > > > From: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Glenn Burt > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:51 PM > To: 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > > Bill, > > I have never seen a main breaker in a residential main load center (say 200A) > that has a rating of less than 20k AIC. Is there somewhere else in the panel > that changes this? > > Glenn > > From: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Brooks > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 7:24 PM > To: 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > > Glenn, > > The vast majority of service equipment for residences is rated 10k AIC. > Although utilities may say they have some residential services that exceed > 10k short circuit availability, it is still pretty rare. > > Using single phase gear on a 3-phase commercial installation is a different > story. Perhaps this is what you were referring to when talking about 10k AIC > being too low. > > I don?t people to get the idea that you have to check the fault current of > every PV installation. You should only have to check fault current on a new > service. Simply checking the ratings of the exist service equipment at an > installation is sufficient to know what the minimum AIC rating of the > equipment must be. The utility is not legally allowed to increase the fault > current on a service above the service equipment ratings unless it is part of > a service upgrade and the service equipment is being replaced. > > Bill. > > > From: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Glenn Burt > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 3:13 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > > Beware of breakers used as service disconnects. Most in the range suitable > for a supply side connections for PV are really branch circuit rated with 10k > AIC which is generally too low for the utility fault current they may be > exposed to. > If you can get a statement from the utility with available fault current at > the install site you might sneak one in. If you don't want to go to this > trouble, use the rating of the exiting main breaker as a minimum value. > Usually 20-25k AIC. > ________________________________ > From: Brian Teitelbaum<mailto:[email protected]> > Sent: ?3/?12/?2014 17:32 > To: RE-wrenches<mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > One big omission, in the otherwise fine Soligent white paper, is that the 60A > minimum disconnect has to be rated as ?Service Equipment?. Generally this > means a ?Heavy-Duty? safety switch or Service-rated load center with Main > breaker. > > I don?t see why an AC breaker panel, with a Main breaker, couldn?t act as the > PV system disconnect, as long as it?s Service-rated, a minimum of 60A, and > the utility does not require an external-handle disconnect, lockable in the > off position. Many utility companies still do. > > Brian Teitelbaum > AEE Solar > > > > From: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jason > Szumlanski > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:14 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Combiner with main breaker as system disconnect > > Don't utter the word tap. :) > > See: > http://www.soligent.net/documents/HappyLandings_v3.pdf > > We usually specify a fusible disconnect for overcurrent protection when > grouping the PV AC combiner with the main premises disconnect is not > practical. > > > Jason Szumlanski > Fafco Solar > > > > > On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 1:31 PM, > <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > I am trying to determine whether an AC combiner panel (for multiple inverter > outputs) with main breaker can be also used as the PV system disconnect? > > This is for a line tap situation. I am accustomed to doing these systems > with an AC combiner, and separate enclosure for a breaker style, line tap > over current protection. > > Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Kevin > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > > Change email address & 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<http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org<http://www.members.re-wrenches.org> > > > ________________________________ > [http://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png]<http://www.avast.com/> > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! > Antivirus<http://www.avast.com/> protection is active. > > > > ________________________________ > [http://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png]<http://www.avast.com/> > > > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! > Antivirus<http://www.avast.com/> protection is active. > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140313/0252ec4f/attachment-0001.htm> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:31:22 -0700 > From: "Kevin Pegg" <[email protected]> > To: "RE-wrenches" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Huge battery bank recommendation > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi Mac, > > We fabricated and operate a similar sized (400 kWh) battery / inverter / > generator hybrid system for BC Hydro, our power utility servicing a remote > community. It has been online for 2 years now. > > Using Dekka / East Penn D-series batteries which we had custom built to our > specs. > > A notable difference is we have 100 kW diesels and 60 kW inverter capacity in > a 120/208 SMA inverter config (stepped up to 14.4 kV distribution). The > system works really well and it currently 100% uptime for last 12 months. > This is an unattended system we are onsite to maintain every 2 months. No > renewable input at this time. > > The sizing you have reported seems out of ratio. ~ 20 kW of charging power > into a 400 kWh battery bank ie C/5. Depending on the loads the gen is > carrying along with charging that could further reduce available charge > capacity. That generator is going to have to run for a very long time to > charge that battery. We call this the big battery blunder syndrome - which > has caused many failures of such scale of system. > > Kevin > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Mac Lewis > Sent: March 11, 2014 7:27 AM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Huge battery bank recommendation > > > To clarify, this is for an off-grid application, 4 Sunny Islands, 30kW > generator. > > > On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 9:16 AM, August Goers < [email protected]> wrote: > > > Mac, > > Is this for an off grid system? We're doing our first project with a Deka > Unigy II battery system but they are AGM and I believe only good for grid > tied battery backup or applications where you won't have a very deep depth of > discharge: > > http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0919c.pdf > > > Best, > > August > > > August Goers > > Principal > > Luminalt Energy Corporation > > o: 415.641.4000 > > m: 415.559.1525 > > www.luminalt.com > > > > > > On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 6:24 AM, Mac Lewis < [email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi wrenches, > > I am consulting on a job that requires an 8000 Ahr battery bank. This is > quite a bit beyond my normal battery bank realm. What would you recommend > for this? > > Thanks in advance > > > -- > > > > > > Mac Lewis > > > > "Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change email address & 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 > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change email address & 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 > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Mac Lewis > > > > "Yo solo s? que no s? nada." -S?crates > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20140313/f5977e96/attachment-0001.htm> > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change email address & 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 > > > > End of RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 7, Issue 110 > *******************************************
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