Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Robin had a comment on the breaker issue... I'll just copy and paste since he says it better than I can for this kind of stuff. boB Square D breakers are thermal breakers and are never used on PV combiners. I am not familiar with any solar applications where thermal breakers are used on a r

Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 6, Issue 423

William and David, This particular problem goes away with arc fault detection. The longer we wait to introduce arc fault detection into our systems, the more we will have opportunities for news reports such as the one William brings forward. Wire ties are not the problem. Could a wire tie cause

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Dan Hydraulic actuated breakers like the Classic Heiniman GJ,used in off grid battery based systems ( now made by Carlon and Airpax, since Henimans's patent ran out) it is very critical that they be used in the vertical position as is marked on the breaker's chassis. I know this from experience

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Fellow Wrenches: Per NEMA Standards Publication 250-1997 "Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts Maximum)", a NEMA 3-R enclosure is designed to provide a DEGREE of protection against 45 degree angled rain. When testing for compliance, there can be

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

If the box is NEMA 3R, it needs to be mounted vertically to shed water. If it is a sealed NEMA 4X rated unit, it can be mounted at any angle. At 02:49 PM 11/11/2013, you wrote: Hi Wrenches, There is no "implication" other than confirming how the disco is tested, and thus certified. It probabl

Re: [RE-wrenches] House fire news

I had a customer and a potential customer bring this to my attention. Bad press and misinformation in this industry is rampant. Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 1:09 PM, William Miller wrote: > Friends: > > > > This was brought to my attention: > http://on.aol.com/video/

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Hi Wrenches, There is no "implication" other than confirming how the disco is tested, and thus certified. It probably makes no difference electrically which position the unit is mounted, but AHJs may have differing opinions on whether this would be permitted. Rgds, ___

Re: [RE-wrenches] House fire news

I've always found much of BIPV using amorphous technology to be somewhat less safe.  Ever see the Unisolar BIPV setup, with all the parallel connections made loose in the attic?  Yuk. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master

[RE-wrenches] House fire news

Wow was that news story hard to watch with all the fear mongering. They generalized one brand to all solar panels when they asked the big question about safety. Similarly for Marco's question--- we cannot generalize all BIPV systems and judge from problems with one brand. That said, I agree with Wi

Re: [RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 6, Issue 423

William, Thanks for posting a link to that story. Here's more background on the tile roof integrated PV system recall and warranty fiasco: http://runonsun.com/~runons5/blogs/blog1.php/solworks/safety/suntech-recalls-solar-roofing-tiles http://runonsun.com/~runons5/blogs/blog1.php/ranting/cente

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Bob O..thank you, you got to the heart of my original questionI am not questioning the OCPD ratingsjust the can mounted at a slope equivalent to the roof slope.Typically if we have rooftop OCPD they are high voltage fuse holders and fuses or the Outback and Midnite solar breakers...

[RE-wrenches] House fire news

Brings up an obvious question: are BIPV systems more of a fire risk than standard modules mounted on top of the roof systems. Opinions? marco Friends: This was brought to my attention: http://on.aol.com/video/are-solar-panels-a-fire-hazard--518000682?hp=1

[RE-wrenches] House fire news

Friends: This was brought to my attention: http://on.aol.com/video/are-solar-panels-a-fire-hazard--518000682?hp=1 &playlist=127173&icid=maing-gri

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Dan, I think this thread applied not to OCDs but to an unfused 600VDC disconnect can mounted on a roof which is less than vertical. Bob-O On Nov 11, 2013, at 9:21 AM, Exeltech wrote: Wrenches, There appears to be some misinformation getting into this thread. The "trip" mechanism within standard

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

Wrenches, There appears to be some misinformation getting into this thread. The "trip" mechanism within standard thermal over-current protective devices ("OCP devices") is mechanically spring-loaded, and is triggered by heat. Eric mentions below that Square D breakers are tested in a vertical o

Re: [RE-wrenches] Square D Disconnects mounted on the slope of the roof.

It can look better when coming straight up like a chimney or stack. At 02:45 PM 11/9/2013, you wrote: Drake...we have made mounting brackets to make box vertical before but our customers complained about aesthetics.Hence the search for a parallel to the roof slope mounting box quest..Bo