It's just not Idaho. I was just asked about NEC PV interpretation for a
large city on the East coast. Same problem. Narrowly (and incorrectly)
interpreting the grounding requirements.
It's probably nervous inspectors who feel their neck is on the line, and
are interpreting defensively thinking that is the safest thing for them
to do. We have taught a lot of Code officials and they really feel
exposed when it comes to PV.
The key to me is just taking time, if the Building Official has it, to
go over the NEC sections and their relevance. It has to be made
understandable and easy. These people are suppose to approve everything
from house wiring to appliances to pools, to anything that requires a
permit. It is just too much for almost everyone to understand
completely. Look at all the questions we have with 690 and 705 alone
Chris.
On 4/20/2018 1:28 PM, Dana wrote:
Reasonable inspector, here? You have no idea.
The plans examiner is the first link in the process here in Idaho, he
is; by the book, crossing t’s & dotting I’s and has a very strict &
narrow interpretation of the code. That said he is very helpful and a
nice guy. It’s an Idaho thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
*C - 208.721.7003 [email protected]*
Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374
NABCEP # 051112-136 www.solarwork.biz <http://www.solarwork.biz>
_"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" ___
*P*Please consider the environment before printing this email.
*From:*RE-wrenches <[email protected]> *On
Behalf Of *cwarfel
*Sent:* Friday, April 20, 2018 9:23 AM
*To:* [email protected]
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Looking for insulated #6 bare standoff
I just got back from being out of the office for a week+ and just read
a few of these. I hope this is not redundant.
6AWG is the size that meets several tests for exposed installations.
By that I mean that it is not protected. If you are running the array
EGC exposed, you would use at least 6AWG depending upon the size of
the overcurrent protection device towards the charge controller/array
disconnect. 250.120(C) and T250.122.
We have run into the conductor covering rating problem too. #4 can be
color coded so you can use black conductor. A reasonable inspector
should allow this for 6 since a lot of the non black coverings are not
holding up as well to sunlight as black. I think NEC2017 takes this
into consideration and allows you to color code because of the
superior performance of black coverings.
Chris
On 4/20/2018 9:00 AM, Dana wrote:
That makes two of us that would like to understand, why #6? I think it
dates to early grounding with grid tie systems.
I remember back to 20+ years ago when the code required that the EGC was
the size of the largest conductor which with 24 volt inverters was OOOO.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
C - [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374
NABCEP # 051112-136www.solarwork.biz <http://www.solarwork.biz>
"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches<[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dave
Angelini Offgrid Solar
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 3:57 PM
To: RE-wrenches<[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Looking for insulated #6 bare standoff
Dana, I understand the need to use #6 in exposed places on the earth. I
have had inspectors require the same wire size that is used to the battery. I
have had them require the same size as the array wiring. I have never seen them
do what they are doing to you so thanks for the info.... Be well! --Dave
The bare #8 is an EGC for #10 USE PV wire on the tracker to the array
mounted combiner box.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
C - [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374
NABCEP # 051112-136www.solarwork.biz <http://www.solarwork.biz>
"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
ï Please consider the environment before printing this email.
-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches<[email protected]>
<mailto:[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Hilton Dier
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 3:39 PM
To:[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Looking for insulated #6 bare standoff
Would #8 meet code? I thought that exposed ground wire had to be #6
minimum.
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Missisquoi River Hydro LLC
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