Hi everyone, I strongly recommend looking at the figures that were added in NEC 2017 at the beginning of Article 690 in 690.1(b).
What they show is equipment that is part of the PV system (to the left of the PV system disconnect called out in the diagrams), and equipment that is not part of the PV system (to the right of the PV system disconnect). These are really helpful diagrams, in terms of figuring out where the requirements of Article 690 apply. Equipment *not* part of the PV system is not a "PV system circuit" and thus is *not* subject to rapid shutdown requirements per 690.12. In every type of system you will see that energy storage is *not *part of the PV system, and neither is the multimode inverter for a system with energy storage. So rapid shutdown requirements shouldn't affect any of the loads, multimode inverter, or batteries in an off-grid system. In the 2017 NEC, the PV system disconnect, as shown on the diagrams, is required to be readily accessible per 690.13(A). For a system without batteries, the PV system disconnect is *always *an AC disconnect, not a DC disconnect. It can be the backfed breaker per 690.13(F)(1). For a system with batteries the PV system disconnect is always before the batteries. Equipment disconnects, like the DC inverter disconnect, are not required to be readily accessible, but must be within 10 feet of the equipment, per 690.15(A). Also note that the boundary for rapid shutdown shrank to *one foot* from the perimeter of the array in the 2017 NEC, so the inverter must be positioned within one foot of the array if there is not going to be any other RS equipment. The PV system disconnect (backfed breaker) or the service disconnect can serve as the rapid shutdown initiation device in that case. Best, Rebekah Hren, Member of NEC CMP-4 for Solar Energy International -- Tel: 336.266.8800 NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ 091209-85 NC Licensed Electrical Contractor On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 9:00 PM, Ray <[email protected]> wrote: > For GT using Solar edge or Enphase, its not so hard to comply, but If you > are looking at off grid systems, it's not just someone's opinion, its > $1,000s of dollars extra to comply with 690.12. It also results in a system > that is less reliable, which is less safe off grid where lives depend on > that power for heat, light, refrigeration, and even breathing machines. > > Ray Walters > > Remote Solar > > On 4/16/18 7:44 AM, Brian Mehalic wrote: > > Hey y'all, I'm going to disagree about the NEC getting "worse and worse > when it comes to PV," (see disconnect and grounding requirements, for > instance!), but as with previous posters, that's just an opinion. > > Regarding location - the 2014 version had very little to say about the > location of any rapid shutdown initiation device; 2017 adds the requirement > [690.12(C)] that RS initiation devices for one- and two-family dwellings be > readily accessible (defined in Article 100), AND outside the building. > Seems reasonable for a device that is intended to control energized > conductors to make it more safe to enter a building. > > Cheers, > > > Brian Mehalic > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59 > 520.204.6639 > > Solar Energy International > http://www.solarenergy.org > > SEI Professional Services > http://www.seisolarpros.com > > > On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 12:04 AM, Mark Frye <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Thanks Darryl. >> >> I guess I can add that I am in CA and so looked only at the 2014. I also >> looked at the 2017 article. Man, I have to say, my impression remains that >> really starting with 2008 the code has just gotten worse and worse when it >> comes to PV, but that is just me. >> >> Not really sure what might need to be "Outside readily accessible". Is >> there something other than 690.12 that I need to look at? >> >> Mark >> On 4/15/2018 8:26 PM, Darryl Thayer wrote: >> >> I think the code says Outside readily accessible, >> >> On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 12:22 PM, Mark Frye <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Folks, >>> >>> As I recall, an inverter and it's integrated DC disconnect need only be >>> placed in an accessible location. I am thinking of putting an inverter high >>> up on the wall inside a garage. That would be OK vis-a-vis the location of >>> the disconnect (still accessible for maintenance). >>> >>> If I do put the inverter high up on the wall, I can limit my DC >>> conductors to less that 10 feet total from the array and less that 5 feet >>> inside the garage. >>> >>> That means I get the exemption from the rapid disconnect requirement, >>> right? >>> >>> There is nothing in the Code linking the accessibility of the DC >>> disconnect to the exemption from rapid shutdown, right? >>> >>> Mark Frye >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: [email protected] >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >>> [email protected]/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & >> settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re >> [email protected]/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & > settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > g/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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