Re: [RE-wrenches] 1000vdc surge/lightning arrestors
Dehn. Good info on their site. https://www.dehn-usa.com/en-us/dehn-spd-configurator Brian > On Jun 24, 2021, at 5:41 PM, Kirk Herander, VSE wrote: > > > Hello, > Can anyone recommend a 1000 v arrestor for a 850 v array? Had a storm event > this week which requires research. Thanks. > > Kirk Herander / kirkh@vermont.solar > Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC > Celebrating our 30th Anniversary 1991-2021!! > www.vermont.solar > dba Vermont Solar Engineering > 802.863.1202 > ___ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] 1000vdc surge/lightning arrestors
Dehn has options as well as lots of good resources. https://www.dehn-usa.com/en-us/dehn-spd-configurator Brian > On Jun 24, 2021, at 5:41 PM, Kirk Herander, VSE wrote: > > > Hello, > Can anyone recommend a 1000 v arrestor for a 850 v array? Had a storm event > this week which requires research. Thanks. > > Kirk Herander / kirkh@vermont.solar > Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC > Celebrating our 30th Anniversary 1991-2021!! > www.vermont.solar > dba Vermont Solar Engineering > 802.863.1202 > ___ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] 1000vdc surge/lightning arrestors
Hello, Can anyone recommend a 1000 v arrestor for a 850 v array? Had a storm event this week which requires research. Thanks. Kirk Herander / kirkh@vermont.solar [mailto:kirkh@vermont.solar] Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC Celebrating our 30th Anniversary 1991-2021!! www.vermont.solar [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.vermontsolarnow.comdata=02%7C01%7C%7C9f0330d75a244870112408d685311841%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C636842843233477645sdata=0NjyuKeQbEK6245SNnk8X4XnP9Q%2B%2BqtvcALkdDghvk4%3Dreserved=0] dba Vermont Solar Engineering 802.863.1202 ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Grounding Top of Pole Mount Array with a Ufer
We always put our assumption in our plan notes, based on our interpretation of 250.52(A)(7). AHJs have never questioned it, and we also tie the pole to any rebar, so its all one big happy grounding electrode. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 6/24/21 6:49 PM, frenergy wrote: Ray, I couldn't agree more, its been my experience over the years that using 20 feet of #4 rebar in a building's footing was kosher and accepted NEC 250.52(3). There's a heck of a lot more surface area in 8" pipe 5-6 feet into the earth than rebar in a foundation footing. The ground at the bottom of the pole footing is also more likely to be damper. Our AHJ has always accepted the steel pole as a ground rodcommon sense prevails sometimes. Bill Feather River Solar Electric Bill Battagin, Owner 4291 Nelson St. Taylorsville, CA 95983 530.284.7849 CA Lic 874049 www.frenergy.net On 6/24/2021 7:31 AM, Ray wrote: Usually a steel pole in concrete has enough surface area to qualify as a plate electrode under 250.52(A)(7). It needs to be at least 2 sq ft and 1/4" thick, and have an electrically conductive surface. So we just drill and tap our ground connection into the pole, near the combiner box. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 6/24/21 8:16 AM, Dana Orzel wrote: For all of our free standing arrays we now use a Ufer clamp to the rebar either cage or just anti spin rebar that is welded to the pole in the concrete, with #4 braided copper up to the pole combiner box, inverter, etc. for our ground. With a pole mount & a concrete base it is way easier & less expensive than a ground rod, & the inspector seems happier with this approach. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003 d...@solarwork.com Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374 NABCEP # 051112-136 www.greatsolarworks.com "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" Please consider the environment before printing this email. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of palumbo1...@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 9:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Top of Pole Mount Array on Ledge Ben, There is a way if the ledge is solid and true. Twice I have done the following with ledge at 18” to 24” below grade. Excavate down to ledge, drill down into the ledge and you will determine the suitability of the following method. Drill for a pattern of many rebar penetrations in to the ledge. Drill to a reasonable depth (as deep into the ledge as you are able) in my case it was based on our drilling tool and bit length capabilities. We used a large sono tube. 42” as a recall, both of these jobs were over 12 years ago and my recall on the exact size may be off. Determine the best adhesive product to use in your drilled holes for the rebar, again my memory fails as to what we used based on recommendation from a local civil engineer. The sono tube height above grade was determined to be 2’ for one TPM12 and 3.5’ above grade for a TPM16. Depth down to the ledge determines how high above grade you need the concrete footing/base. Use rebar lengths that will end a few inches below the finished surface. For grounding you can coil up ground wire and lay it on the surface of the ledge before your concrete pour. I ran the ground wire through a short length of 1/2” or 3/4” PVC conduit, to protect the copper ground wire where it comes out of the concrete. Place the conduit coming out of the concrete with the ground wire just to the side of where the mounting plate base for the TPM will be and fill the PVC conduit with a good caulk sealer to keep air and water out of this hole as a nexus of concrete, and air will corrode the copper. The TPM’s for those two jobs were made of 8” SCHD 80 steel, we had a large plate welded to the bottom with 4 vertical side supports on the pipe up about a foot. Place the appropriate sized anchor bolts in the concrete pour to match your TPM base. Both of these TPM’s have worked out well over the years. Local conditions will determine the suitability of this method. Sent from my iPhone ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Grounding Top of Pole Mount Array with a Ufer
Ray, I couldn't agree more, its been my experience over the years that using 20 feet of #4 rebar in a building's footing was kosher and accepted NEC 250.52(3). There's a heck of a lot more surface area in 8" pipe 5-6 feet into the earth than rebar in a foundation footing. The ground at the bottom of the pole footing is also more likely to be damper. Our AHJ has always accepted the steel pole as a ground rodcommon sense prevails sometimes. Bill Feather River Solar Electric Bill Battagin, Owner 4291 Nelson St. Taylorsville, CA 95983 530.284.7849 CA Lic 874049 www.frenergy.net On 6/24/2021 7:31 AM, Ray wrote: Usually a steel pole in concrete has enough surface area to qualify as a plate electrode under 250.52(A)(7). It needs to be at least 2 sq ft and 1/4" thick, and have an electrically conductive surface. So we just drill and tap our ground connection into the pole, near the combiner box. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 6/24/21 8:16 AM, Dana Orzel wrote: For all of our free standing arrays we now use a Ufer clamp to the rebar either cage or just anti spin rebar that is welded to the pole in the concrete, with #4 braided copper up to the pole combiner box, inverter, etc. for our ground. With a pole mount & a concrete base it is way easier & less expensive than a ground rod, & the inspector seems happier with this approach. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003 d...@solarwork.com Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374 NABCEP # 051112-136 www.greatsolarworks.com "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" Please consider the environment before printing this email. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of palumbo1...@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 9:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Top of Pole Mount Array on Ledge Ben, There is a way if the ledge is solid and true. Twice I have done the following with ledge at 18” to 24” below grade. Excavate down to ledge, drill down into the ledge and you will determine the suitability of the following method. Drill for a pattern of many rebar penetrations in to the ledge. Drill to a reasonable depth (as deep into the ledge as you are able) in my case it was based on our drilling tool and bit length capabilities. We used a large sono tube. 42” as a recall, both of these jobs were over 12 years ago and my recall on the exact size may be off. Determine the best adhesive product to use in your drilled holes for the rebar, again my memory fails as to what we used based on recommendation from a local civil engineer. The sono tube height above grade was determined to be 2’ for one TPM12 and 3.5’ above grade for a TPM16. Depth down to the ledge determines how high above grade you need the concrete footing/base. Use rebar lengths that will end a few inches below the finished surface. For grounding you can coil up ground wire and lay it on the surface of the ledge before your concrete pour. I ran the ground wire through a short length of 1/2” or 3/4” PVC conduit, to protect the copper ground wire where it comes out of the concrete. Place the conduit coming out of the concrete with the ground wire just to the side of where the mounting plate base for the TPM will be and fill the PVC conduit with a good caulk sealer to keep air and water out of this hole as a nexus of concrete, and air will corrode the copper. The TPM’s for those two jobs were made of 8” SCHD 80 steel, we had a large plate welded to the bottom with 4 vertical side supports on the pipe up about a foot. Place the appropriate sized anchor bolts in the concrete pour to match your TPM base. Both of these TPM’s have worked out well over the years. Local conditions will determine the suitability of this method. Sent from my iPhone -- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] Grounding Top of Pole Mount Array with a Ufer
Usually a steel pole in concrete has enough surface area to qualify as a plate electrode under 250.52(A)(7). It needs to be at least 2 sq ft and 1/4" thick, and have an electrically conductive surface. So we just drill and tap our ground connection into the pole, near the combiner box. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 6/24/21 8:16 AM, Dana Orzel wrote: For all of our free standing arrays we now use a Ufer clamp to the rebar either cage or just anti spin rebar that is welded to the pole in the concrete, with #4 braided copper up to the pole combiner box, inverter, etc. for our ground. With a pole mount & a concrete base it is way easier & less expensive than a ground rod, & the inspector seems happier with this approach. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003 d...@solarwork.com Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374 NABCEP # 051112-136 www.greatsolarworks.com "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" Please consider the environment before printing this email. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of palumbo1...@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 9:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Top of Pole Mount Array on Ledge Ben, There is a way if the ledge is solid and true. Twice I have done the following with ledge at 18” to 24” below grade. Excavate down to ledge, drill down into the ledge and you will determine the suitability of the following method. Drill for a pattern of many rebar penetrations in to the ledge. Drill to a reasonable depth (as deep into the ledge as you are able) in my case it was based on our drilling tool and bit length capabilities. We used a large sono tube. 42” as a recall, both of these jobs were over 12 years ago and my recall on the exact size may be off. Determine the best adhesive product to use in your drilled holes for the rebar, again my memory fails as to what we used based on recommendation from a local civil engineer. The sono tube height above grade was determined to be 2’ for one TPM12 and 3.5’ above grade for a TPM16. Depth down to the ledge determines how high above grade you need the concrete footing/base. Use rebar lengths that will end a few inches below the finished surface. For grounding you can coil up ground wire and lay it on the surface of the ledge before your concrete pour. I ran the ground wire through a short length of 1/2” or 3/4” PVC conduit, to protect the copper ground wire where it comes out of the concrete. Place the conduit coming out of the concrete with the ground wire just to the side of where the mounting plate base for the TPM will be and fill the PVC conduit with a good caulk sealer to keep air and water out of this hole as a nexus of concrete, and air will corrode the copper. The TPM’s for those two jobs were made of 8” SCHD 80 steel, we had a large plate welded to the bottom with 4 vertical side supports on the pipe up about a foot. Place the appropriate sized anchor bolts in the concrete pour to match your TPM base. Both of these TPM’s have worked out well over the years. Local conditions will determine the suitability of this method. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 23, 2021, at 6:39 PM, Ben's Solar and Battery wrote: Hi Wrenches, We typically use SunModo ground mounts with ground screws which we can put just about anywhere as our screw guy has a rock drill. We have one customer who is dead set on a top of pole mount array and will not settle for a typical ground mount with multiple posts. There is shallow ledge all over her property and we feel that digging multiple large holes to find one spot where we might be able to get deep enough would be a waste of time and resources. We have called an underground locator who uses ground penetrating radar and he scanned a few spots, but was unable to give us a good location based on soil types. What are you guys doing in this situation? Are there any alternatives, such as a pole mount with large base and ground screws? I hate saying it can't be done! Thanks! Ben ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address:
[RE-wrenches] Enphase Meter Wizard Mandatory as of July 15
I just received this email, as I'm sure many of you have. I would encourage you to reach out to your Enphase rep and push back on this insane decision. The installer toolkit has enough quirks, bugs, delays, and issues already. Adding more delay by enforcing the meter wizard is not installer friendly for those of us who actually know what we are doing. Jason Szumlanski Florida Solar Design Group ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
[RE-wrenches] Grounding Top of Pole Mount Array with a Ufer
For all of our free standing arrays we now use a Ufer clamp to the rebar either cage or just anti spin rebar that is welded to the pole in the concrete, with #4 braided copper up to the pole combiner box, inverter, etc. for our ground. With a pole mount & a concrete base it is way easier & less expensive than a ground rod, & the inspector seems happier with this approach. Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003 d...@solarwork.com Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374 NABCEP # 051112-136 www.greatsolarworks.com "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" Please consider the environment before printing this email. -Original Message- From: RE-wrenches On Behalf Of palumbo1...@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 9:33 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Top of Pole Mount Array on Ledge Ben, There is a way if the ledge is solid and true. Twice I have done the following with ledge at 18” to 24” below grade. Excavate down to ledge, drill down into the ledge and you will determine the suitability of the following method. Drill for a pattern of many rebar penetrations in to the ledge. Drill to a reasonable depth (as deep into the ledge as you are able) in my case it was based on our drilling tool and bit length capabilities. We used a large sono tube. 42” as a recall, both of these jobs were over 12 years ago and my recall on the exact size may be off. Determine the best adhesive product to use in your drilled holes for the rebar, again my memory fails as to what we used based on recommendation from a local civil engineer. The sono tube height above grade was determined to be 2’ for one TPM12 and 3.5’ above grade for a TPM16. Depth down to the ledge determines how high above grade you need the concrete footing/base. Use rebar lengths that will end a few inches below the finished surface. For grounding you can coil up ground wire and lay it on the surface of the ledge before your concrete pour. I ran the ground wire through a short length of 1/2” or 3/4” PVC conduit, to protect the copper ground wire where it comes out of the concrete. Place the conduit coming out of the concrete with the ground wire just to the side of where the mounting plate base for the TPM will be and fill the PVC conduit with a good caulk sealer to keep air and water out of this hole as a nexus of concrete, and air will corrode the copper. The TPM’s for those two jobs were made of 8” SCHD 80 steel, we had a large plate welded to the bottom with 4 vertical side supports on the pipe up about a foot. Place the appropriate sized anchor bolts in the concrete pour to match your TPM base. Both of these TPM’s have worked out well over the years. Local conditions will determine the suitability of this method. Sent from my iPhone > On Jun 23, 2021, at 6:39 PM, Ben's Solar and Battery > wrote: > > Hi Wrenches, > > We typically use SunModo ground mounts with ground screws which we can put > just about anywhere as our screw guy has a rock drill. > We have one customer who is dead set on a top of pole mount array and will > not settle for a typical ground mount with multiple posts. > There is shallow ledge all over her property and we feel that digging > multiple large holes to find one spot where we might be able to get deep > enough would be a waste of time and resources. We have called an underground > locator who uses ground penetrating radar and he scanned a few spots, but was > unable to give us a good location based on soil types. > What are you guys doing in this situation? Are there any alternatives, such > as a pole mount with large base and ground screws? > I hate saying it can't be done! > > Thanks! > Ben > ___ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
