Re: [RE-wrenches] TL inverter with long DC Feeder

just found this product DC Sun Volt http://www.dcsunvolt.com/DC_Disconnects_Small.html There web page has up to 4 Pole DC disco's but on the phone they said they also have a 6 Pole available and they make custom disco/combiners with the amount of poles you need. Might be relevant to the situation.

[RE-wrenches] TL Code Reference

Hey Wrenchers, Can someone point me towards where the code references the need to disconnect both conductors in an install with transformerless/ungrounded inverters? Thanks Adam Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies 4872 State Route 9G Germantown NY, 12526 www.autonomousenergies.com (518) 567-1468

[RE-wrenches] Corrugated Roof Brackets

Hey Wrenchers, Anyone have feedback or preferences on mounting systems for corrugated roofs? I'm looking at the S-5! CorruBracket http://www.s-5.com/clamps/index_2624.cfm. Its for a very small system on a hunting cabin. The pitch is probably about 20 degrees and and I'm concerned about leaks over

Re: [RE-wrenches] Geda Solarlift

I'd be interested in seeing that homemade designor a link to the home power article. We used a conventional lift for a while...it was pretty noisy, smelly, heavy and loudbut I suppose it was safer than most other ways of getting panels to the roof... On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Benn

[RE-wrenches] 3 Pipe Fittings/Pinning

Does anyone have a products/methods they recommend for pinning 3” galve pipe to rock for a ground mount? I have a situation where I am pretty sure pinning will be our best option for some of the posts, but I’m not finding any kee klamp or similar fittings for 3” pipe. Thanks for any

[RE-wrenches] Working Space

Hey Wrenches, We are installing some inverters in a basement where the height we hang them at is limited by some windows. I'm trying to find a code reference that says how far off the ground the DC/AC disco on the inverter needs to be but am not finding one. Could be that they are in the 3' range.

[RE-wrenches] Wire protection for ground mount

Hey Wrenchers, Does anyone have suggestions for netting/protecting wires behind a ground mount (for keeping hands out of there...not animals). I have seen quite a few home-made'ish looking options on systems around here (screwing hardware cloth onto the back of frames/racking, etc) but am looking

[RE-wrenches] UL 508 Listing

Wrenchers, I am interested in using a 6 Pole DC disconnect for a project with TL inverters. It’s made by a company called DC SunVolt. The data sheet says “Suitable as PV disconnect switch in accordance with Article 690 of NFPA (NEC) UL 508, including the requirements for PV applications. UL

Re: [RE-wrenches] Ground mount for east-west slope

You can use kee klamp swivel fittings with schedule 40 pipe for posts On Friday, August 21, 2015, jerrysgarage01 jerrysgarag...@gmail.com wrote: Wrenches Its been a few years but I have gotten top plates from unirac UL- A racking that was tilited give them a call or even have them fab-ed up

[RE-wrenches] Double Lug Disco

Wrenchers, A customer is having new services put in and wants to prep for solar. Does anyone know of, or have recommendations, on a 200A non fused NEMA disco that they can install so we can easily interconnect on the loadside when we are ready to put the solar in? I thought I had heard somewhere

[RE-wrenches] Fences Schools and Codes

We are doing a ground mount system at a private school. I recommended a fence be put around it and they want to mimic the aesthetic of their current fence, which is a sort of picket fence with rough sawn lumber. I will check with the AHJ but was wondering if anyone knows of code specific to

Re: [RE-wrenches] Fences Schools and Codes

' phone so please excuse grammar and typos. > ------ > From: AE Solar > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','autonomousenerg...@gmail.com');> > Sent: ‎11/‎1/‎2015 18:24 > To: RE-wrenches > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org');

[RE-wrenches] Snow Guards

Hey Wrenchers, I'm looking into snow guards for an array that would shed snow right into a driveway. So far I'm only familiar with Alpine. If anyone has other recommendations let me know? I haven't had to use any sort of snow guard so far, but I guess I should be prepared for winter production

Re: [RE-wrenches] Snow Guards

tric > > ----- Original Message - > *From:* AE Solar <autonomousenerg...@gmail.com> > *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 09, 2015 6:45 AM > *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Snow Guards > > Hey Wrenchers, >

Re: [RE-wrenches] Snow Guards

pitch? where is the bottom of the array with >> respect to the bottom of the roof. How much snow do you get there? >> >> Bill >> Feather River Solar Electric >> >> - Original Message - >> *From:* AE Solar <autonomousenerg...@gmail.com> >>

Re: [RE-wrenches] 300 watt 60 cell

Yeah we just installed some LG 315's and I believe they are now at 320 in a 60 cell On Friday, September 18, 2015, Philip Lawes Insoltech < p...@insoltechsolar.com> wrote: > LG now offers a 315 watt 60 cell module. > > -Original Message- > From: RE-wrenches

[RE-wrenches] DC conduit with AC secondary?

Wrenchers, Anyone know of code violations associated with running DC conduit in the same trench as conduit for AC secondary? Is that allowed? Bad practice even if allowed?Thanks Adam Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies 4872 State Route 9G Germantown NY, 12526 www.autonomousenergies.com (518)

[RE-wrenches] Masdar Panels

Hey Wrenchers, I have a business owner who bought (on a whim?) 2,000 Masdar MPV-S panels a few years back and they have been sitting in the shipping container ever since. Now he wants them installed. From what I've read so far the company went under last year and they only had a 5 year

Re: [RE-wrenches] closets and working space

gt; > > > -August > > Luminalt > > > > *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org');>] > *On Behalf Of *AE Solar > *Sent:* Monday, May 30, 2016 5:08 PM

[RE-wrenches] closets and working space

Hey Wrenches, We'd like to put a combo panel in a coat closet (its shallow and wide) right next to the existing panel. With the doors open (they are pocket doors) it is fine with working space requirements. I know the AHJ will have the ultimate say and am checkin in with them as well but wondering

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solarworld

What's your definition of cheap...and for which size panels? On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, Jerry Shafer wrote: > I deal with Platt as there are very close to the SW factory > Jerry > On Jan 20, 2016 1:58 PM, "Drake"

Re: [RE-wrenches] AFCI trip on metal roof

We had that issue once. It was after a night of heavy rainfall and the error only read for the first few early hours of the day. SMA told us it was a poor connection in an MC4 connector that most likely got some dampness in it... Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies PO Box 1245 Kingston, NY 12402

[RE-wrenches] Winter Battery Maintenance

Hey Wrenchers, A friend wants a very small battery set up at hunting cabin (like under 1kW). It will only be used in the warmer months. I'm wondering what you all recommend for the batteries over the winter. I assume the ideal situation would be that they would be disconnected and brought

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA Rapid Shutdown issues

I know that when I talked to SMA about our first install with the RSD boxes they suggested an order of operations for making all the final connections that might not be mentioned in the install manual. It wAs supposed to help prevent some problem they had been having with the boxes (although I'm

[RE-wrenches] Conduit in a slab

Wrenches, I have a project where the DC run is going through the wall system of the house, down through the slab, out the building underground and into another building. My preference would be to run PVC in the slab and then stub out of it with a metal 90. I'm unclear if that is allowed. Is

Re: [RE-wrenches] Conduit in a slab

.@sindelarsolar.com');> > NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional > NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional > New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician > Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc. > *505 780-2738 cell* > > > On 10/29/2016 6:50 PM, AE Solar wrote: >

[RE-wrenches] Bifacial Panels

Wrenchers, A customer is interested in a bifacial panel for a solar canopy at the entrance of their business. They had looked into Lumos and Supreme. Some time ago I had looked into Prism. Right now I'm considering Sunpreme only because they have panels up to 370 Watts. Honestly though, I've

Re: [RE-wrenches] Retaining Clips

Sorry I should have elaborated more from the beginning. I am using the panel as a service disconnect for a lineside connection (can’t use a fused/bladed disco because of space constraints). Originally I bought a QO 70A panel, but soon realized that the Square D retention clip (PK2MB) is only

Re: [RE-wrenches] Retaining Clips

I'm also just now realizing that if I were to rate my wire from the tap/main panel to my 70A disconnect I would want #6awg wire and the QO breakers only go to #8. Drake if I went from the tap right into the lugs, it would leave those lugs hot and exposed. Is that my only option though? Adam

[RE-wrenches] Retaining Clips

Wrenchers, I’m trying to find a 60A 2 Pole Breaker Box that has a compatible retaining clip. The QO retaining clip (PK2MBCP) seems to only be compatible with their 4-8 circuit load centers. What are my options? Thanks! Thanks Adam ___ List sponsored

Re: [RE-wrenches] Retaining Clips

OK thanks August. 2014 NEC 705.12(D) (5) is the answer I was looking for. I wasn't aware that I didn't need the retention clip. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks everyone. On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 9:00 PM, Drake wrote: > Hi Adam, > > It ok for the main lugs

Re: [RE-wrenches] Disposal of large scale PV installation?

I'm just following up on this thread late. We are located not too far from the array that was coming down and ended up putting in a bid to do the demolition/removal of the panels. The contract was won by someone else, so I'm not sure where those specific panels will end up, but it was definitely

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solarworld 285 watt end frames

With Solarworld/SnapNRack we run wires in the rail and use clips on the long edge of the frame when needed. SnapNRack has a clip that fits in the upper rail groove to hold wires down into it. The snap n rack part you are referencing (I think they call it 'box frame adapter') is good if you want to

[RE-wrenches] Racking for solar canopy

Wrenches, We are doing some small solar canopies (bifacial panels on wooden purgola type substructures) and looking for racking ideas. The solution offered to us right now is by a company called structural solar, and is nice because it is sleek, offers a place to hide all the wires, and creates a

Re: [RE-wrenches] Puerto Rico

Wrenches, Is anyone aware of any existing or future efforts that solar techs can tap into in order to lend a hand either here or over in PR? I had been pursuing a project out of NY that is going to be sending equipment (they are still accepting dontions) and technicians down later this week but

Re: [RE-wrenches] AFCI problems with SMA RSB

Was it raining on the days you got the error? We had that problem on a system during low light (beginning or end of a day) on days when it was raining (although I think it was actually an arc fault message). It was unrelated to an RSB (didn't exist yet). There is a thread about it here somewhere I

[RE-wrenches] Flashing for flat roofs

Wrenchers, We have a residential system that will sit on a small roof section that has minimal pitch (5 degrees) and has been roofed with rollout asphalt roofing. Anyone have good products they recommend for flashing attachment points? Was going to have it re-done with EPDM. Thanks for any

Re: [RE-wrenches] Squirrel Guards for Solarworld 2.0 Frames

SnapNRack makes a ‘box frame adapter’ that will let you use their netting on panels that don’t have the lip on the panel frame On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 11:53 AM Kevin Eigel wrote: > HI Nick: > > We have used the solatrim on Solarworld modules, and it works well, >

[RE-wrenches] grounding on metal roofs

wrenchers, what methods are you all using for grounding on metal roofs? thanks adam Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies PO Box 1245 Kingston, NY 12402 www.autonomousenergies.com (518) 567-1468 ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address:

Re: [RE-wrenches] grounding on metal roofs

www.autonomousenergies.com (518) 567-1468 On Sun, Jun 17, 2018 at 1:46 PM, glenn.b...@glbcc.com wrote: > We use the Ilsco SGB-4 ground lug on every pan under the array for > residential systems. > > -Glenn > > *Sent from my Verizon LG Smartphone* > > -- Original message-- > *From: *

[RE-wrenches] Prism Solar Panels Failing

Hey Wrenchers, We just did our first install with Prism Solar bi-facial panels (Bi-48 286's). So far two panels have shattered already. Both were from mild impacts (the battery of a drill hitting the panel with not much force behind it). The system is only about 6 weeks old. I'm in contact with

Re: [RE-wrenches] Bi-Directional / Netmetering question

The Enphase CTs are directional. There is an arrow on them. I believe it’s supposed to point towards the load side for both consumption and production but not positive off the top of my head. On Wed, Aug 15, 2018 at 7:10 PM Kirpal wrote: > Jason...not sure about the Enphase consumption

Re: [RE-wrenches] Enphase IQ series inverters

one thing that's cool with the new IQ system is that you have the option to not only monitor your production, but also your consumption. in order to do this you will need to run a CT to the lineside of your MSP, so even if you use a dedicated load center for Enphase equip, be prepared to run wire

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA WLAN?

Either but 5 is preferable. On Mon, Jan 28, 2019 at 11:18 AM Kirk Herander wrote: > What frequency does the Sunnyboy Inverter (SB7.7-US) Wi-Fi use to > connect-operate on? 2.4 or 5 GHz? Or both? Can’t find the answer anywhere > in the SMA documentation. Thanks. > > Kirk Herander > > >

Re: [RE-wrenches] 12v solar direct greenhouse fan

Maybe try Snap Fan Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies PO Box 1245 Kingston, NY 12402 www.autonomousenergies.com (518) 567-1468 On Fri, May 17, 2019 at 8:40 AM David Palumbo wrote: > I have an old off grid customer looking for a greenhouse fan, about

Re: [RE-wrenches] Bi-facial modules

We did a small project with Prism two years ago. In the end (3) of our (30) panels shattered over the course of the first year. Learning curve all around. Be very careful, the edges are super fragile and a mild impact can cause the whole panel to shatter (their engineers said that once an

Re: [RE-wrenches] protecting wire below 8'

Kirk, Not sure if this helps but 690.31(A) “where PV source and output circuits operating at max system voltages greater than 30v are installed in readily accessible locations, circuit conductors shall be guarded or installed in a raceway” It doesn’t mention 8’ but mentions “readily accessible”.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Edge...continuous saga of 181/183 hardware failures...moving on to another inverter.

interested to know if folks are having issues with specific models or it's all across the board? if it's all across the board, i (like jay) would be interested to know what people are moving on towards. especially for smaller commercial 3phase projects. adam On Thu, Jul 23, 2020 at 11:57 AM MiJo

[RE-wrenches] TS4R-F Feedback

Wrenchers, Does anyone have feedback on using TS4R-F for rapid shutdown? It was a tough run for us with RMA's on the SMA Rapid Shutdown boxes. We never messed around with Tigo but have followed threads here, and recently had an SMA tech tell me "he wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy". Probably

[RE-wrenches] Bad Diodes in QCells?

Wrenchers, Wondering if anyone has had any experience with bad diodes in QCell panels. Two of our projects this summer had panels that were putting out half of their rated voltage. At first it seemed like it was a defect from the factory, and it was caught upon commissioning the system, but I'm

Re: [RE-wrenches] looking for a glass-on-glass, frameless module; bifacial preferred but not essential

Scot, We have used Prism Solar for glass on glass pergolas. Not sure if the price is any better than Lumos. Im not totally in love with the custom racking option that they pointed us towards though...if you go that route give a shout for what we learned installing it... AK Www.prismsolar.com On

[RE-wrenches] Buchanan Crimps in Outdoor Boxes

Wrenchers, Some point back we transitioned from polaris lugs to buchanan crimps/caps (doping our wires in noalox) for our jbox splices. I know there have been a few conversations on here about this. Seems like a much more robust connection than anything we have used prior. But now we have an

Re: [RE-wrenches] custom DC disconnect sought

DC Sunvolt doesn’t show anything like that on their website but years ago we used to by stuff from them and I think I remember that they can make discos to your specs ? https://shop.dcsunvolt.com/Small-DC-Disconnects_c4.htm?page=2 On Fri, Aug 6, 2021 at 2:43 PM Marco Mangelsdorf wrote: > Aloha

Re: [RE-wrenches] Strange noises from the roof

Jason, We had a similar situation with a SnapNRack UR-40 system. Homeowner said everyone once and a while they would hear a sound like "an acorn hitting the roof". It was pretty sporadic, but at least a few times a day. Install happened in late fall when there can be decent temperature changes

[RE-wrenches] Pitch Pockets

Anyone have a favorite pitch pocket they use for flat roofs? We have a larger residential system with an EPDM flat roof (decking, 2" of rigid insulation, then EPDM). We are trying to keep the array as low to the roof as possible. We've used Chemlink E-Curbs to seal around stand-off's in the past,

Re: [RE-wrenches] Key for SMA rapid shutdown controller

I thought someone at SMA told me once that it was a generic key made by Eaton(?) and could be picked up from any distributor? Adam Katzman Autonomous Energies PO Box 1245 Kingston, NY 12402 www.autonomousenergies.com (518) 567-1468 On Tue, Dec 14, 2021 at 9:02 PM Jason Szumlanski <

Re: [RE-wrenches] Monitoring on Remote Sites

Hey all, Thanks for all the good info and sorry for the slow reply. I meant to mention in the first post that line of sight is an issue. It’s probably a quarter mile (maybe less) through forested terrain to the nearest building on the property that has WiFi. There is also a decent elevation

[RE-wrenches] Monitoring on Remote Sites

Wrenchers, We have a project on a large property, where the install site has no internet (there is internet much further away on the property, and on a different service) and cell reception is pretty bad. We attempted to use SMA Cell Modem Kits (sunny boy inverters), but couldn't get a good enough

[RE-wrenches] APSystems Micros

Wrenches Anyone have experience/thoughts on the APSystems 2:1 single phase micros. I don’t see much in the archives and the internet has some mixed reviews. I’m mostly on the Enphase band wagon, but interested in knowing if APS could be considered as a more cost efficient option for larger single

Re: [RE-wrenches] Fronius USA available 2023 & 2024 ?

I was trying to expand on an older fronius install and asked my greentech rep about when they might have their UL1741SB line out and he said he “hadn’t heard from fronius in a while and wouldn’t be surprised if fronius wasn’t a company in a year or two”. So more or less the same info you heard

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Roof Jack

We just used a few of these recently. Seemed easy enough and plan on using more on an upcoming project. We had easy access to the vent in the attic which probably helped. Only complaint was that I was worried about the vent cap (provided) blowing off and eventually having debris get in there and

[RE-wrenches] Sunlight Backup

Wrenches, Interested to hear if anyone has been using Sunlight Backup, and if so, how the experience has been (for you as well as for your clients). Thanks Adam Adam Katzman (he/him) Autonomous Energies | Owner/Operator www.AutonomousEnergies.com (518) 567-1468

Re: [RE-wrenches] Bonding Metal Roofs Part II

> On Mon, Jun 5, 2023 at 8:28 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via >> RE-wrenches wrote: >> >>> Hey Adam, >>> >>> Creative solution #1 Do not install solar on any roof if you can ground >>> mount it. >>> >>> Is this He Adam or the Him

[RE-wrenches] Bonding Metal Roofs Part II

Hey all, I had started a thread about bonding to metal roofs in 2018 but can't figure out how to respond via the archive. I know some things have changed since then, so I'm circling back and starting a new thread. In NY one of our inspection agencies (NYSERDA) requires bonding of metal roof

[RE-wrenches] SMA Tech Support

Hey all, After the typical 1 hour wait to get up to Level 2 for SMA tech support, the tech mentioned there might be some option where you get registered (or possibly pay) to bypass Level 1? Or somehow get more streamlined service? He didn't know how or where to access that service. Has anyone

[RE-wrenches] Enphase Gateway causing lamp to flicker

Wrenches We have a project where the homeowner has some of those bedside lamps where you touch them to turn them on/off/dim (rather than having a switch). It seems like when the Enphase Gateway is powered up it causes the lights to freak out. Once we flip the breaker to the Gateway off the lamp

Re: [RE-wrenches] SMA String inverters

We haven’t used the -41s for just over a year, because they aren’t UL1741SB compliant (which became required here in NY last January). Additionally, the last time we did use the -41s we discovered (upon receiving the units) that they weren’t WiFi compatible anymore (due to some parts shortages)

Re: [RE-wrenches] USDA Rural Development fund

We were able to access that a few years ago for a brewery project and were granted the money. I used a grant writer who works with solar companies specifically on accessing that funding. Their intake online walked you through what you may or may not be eligible for. They were great to work with

Re: [RE-wrenches] Ironridge ballasted BX on the ground

Are helical piles overkill for what you are trying to do? They can be unscrewed when you are done so nothing is left behind. Adam Katzman (he/him) Autonomous Energies | Owner/Operator www.AutonomousEnergies.com (518) 567-1468 On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 4:17 PM