I wouldn't blame the inspector, I would blame the NEC. All the changes,
moving stuff back and forth, stuff being a requirement and then not a
requirement, and then another code iteration, its a requirement again?
(array grounding?!?) Everyone is confused, installers and inspectors
alike. AND, that seem to be the goal for certain members of the NEC.
Mission accomplished: total confusion.
Specifically: while I agree that splitting 690 into other sections like
705 was a good idea, the execution was poor. The language is poor.
Diagrams and additional info in the handbook that should clear up some
of the confusion? Also poor. Considering the stakes and the size of the
industry, this is just ridiculous.
Mean while to make it even tougher, local jurisdictions are stepping in
with their own additional requirements, to the point that it takes
longer and more work to get a permit approved, than it takes to do the
actual installation. Goal: make solar less affordable? Mission
accomplished.
End result: more and more homeowners are just buying "kits" on the
internet and getting their beer drinking buddy to help install.
Is solar safer now? NO
Are home electrical systems safer now? NO
Is the solar industry and electrical industry as a whole worse off? YES
I know we have some good folks on the NEC that are honest and working
hard, but they are being foiled at every turn by folks with ulterior
motives and ulterior funding sources. Meanwhile, if the current
administration wants to improve electrical safety and save American
jobs, how about stopping the flood of non UL listed garbage hitting Amazon?
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
On 3/7/2026 9:16 AM, Zeke Yewdall via RE-wrenches wrote:
I think he's having trouble with the definitions of different circuits.
Figure 705.1 shows a diagram showing where the inverter output circuit
is, which is what he's talking about, not a PV output circuit or a PV
source circuit, which is what most of 690 addresses, and are shown in
the figures in 690... however it is confusing when they throw in
current rating for an inverter output circuit in 690.8.
I can't quickly find any references to requirements for inverter
output circuits, other than all of the stuff in 705 about
interconnecting them.
The language about the over 150 volts to ground is from 690.7(D) back
in 2011... not sure when they removed it, but it's not in the 2020,
2023, or 2026 books I have handy....
Zeke
On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 9:07 PM
<[email protected]> wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments and my
response. City is on NEC 2023 ([email protected])
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2026 03:29:56 +0000
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of it? His
comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023
Message-ID:
<byapr02mb4086c40a4cca00a78023a4c0f2...@byapr02mb4086.namprd02.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Read and reply only if you want to stick it to an inspector ?
System is 19 modules with Enphase IQ8: NM through attic and he
insists it must be guarded or in conduit. His comment back to me
on why he failed the inspection and I tried to tell him that the
IQ8 output is not a PV source circuit.
Good afternoon, I have just read your email and would like to
inform you that your code reference is spot on. 690.6 A PV Source
Circuit refers to a NRTL Listed assembly and is exclusive to the
wiring from the Panel to the Microinverter, it as a listed
assembly is not subject to the DC rules of 690.. 690.6 b refers
to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt from the rules of
690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states, ?Circuits
over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family dwellings, live
parts in PV source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts
to ground Shall Not be accessible to other than qualified persons
while energized. The commentary for this code states, Conduit,
closed cabinets, or enclosures that require tools to open them are
means of limiting access to qualified persons only. These
circuits are production and not utilization circuits and therefore
must be protected from physical damage and errant tampering. As
was noted at Plan Review
Dd
My proposed response:
I have read your reply and believe you have mis-cited code
references. You wrote:
"690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt
from the rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which
states, ?Circuits over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family
dwellings, live parts in PV source circuits and PV output circuits
over 150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible to other than
qualified persons while energized."
690.6b is here.
[cid:1554f576-5063-4098-a38c-3a8291b6699d]
690.7 (D) does not reference "circuits over 150-volts..." but is
pasted here. This is a reference to marking of direct current (DC)
PV circuits. This does not apply because the inverter output
circuit is not a "DC PV Circuit."
[cid:5e6c0708-cbd2-4be2-82c4-44f97a1db3d2]
________________________________
The section that almost refers to "PV output circuits over 150
volts to ground Shall Not be accessible" is not in NEC 2023 which
is what Temple uses. I have pasted the 2020 language, which is not
the language you cite to me, and even that is referring to "PV
source and output" circuits and the NEC 2020 definition of "PV
source and output" deals with DC. I have pasted and highlighted
that definition below.
[cid:407b334f-2b4d-4975-8f4a-22d82c45293c]
[cid:2f2cd9f6-90e8-4b1e-a1d6-62dbf28e2fd0]
[cid:fb85f1f2-2846-4c4a-807c-b3085e9bbe29]
So we are left with the fact that an inverter output circuit is
alternating current, as defined under NEC 2023. Definition in
Section 100:
[cid:4bd3f0a1-dd27-4c5b-a5c7-335f132f38cd]
We are left with Chapter 3 wiring to address this AC circuit.
There is no NEC 2023 reference to "These circuits are production
and not utilization circuits and therefore must be protected from
physical damage and errant tampering." Simply not in code.
If you insist I put the AC wire in conduit, please tell me the
requirement. If it's "I just want it in conduit" then just ell me
that. But there is little to justify it in NEC 2023.
Howard "Scot" Arey
Owner, Solar CenTex
NABCEP PV Installation Professional
TECL 29755
254-300-1228
[cid:f2ce8538-438b-48d0-92e0-1e00d98cc434]
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*******************************************
--
Zeke Yewdall
PV Engineer
NABCEP #031508-89
[email protected]
303-523-3592
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