becoming an inter-tie system [RE-wrenches]

[Drake Chamberlin - Electrical Energy]

<x-flowed>Hi Jay,

I don't know of any proposed changes to the code with respect to the array 
ground fault protection.  If the RE Lab can get funding, this is one of the 
areas that we would like to do independent research on.

Best regards,

Drake

At 07:17 PM 02/20/2001 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi Drake,
>
>I agree with you and so have most of the electricans that I have talked 
>to.  Just
>doesn't seem to make electrical sense.  If it opened the circuit at the array
>then sure, but like you said, now you have people on the roof to check
>equipment-- not good.  No the exsisting equipment doesn't work, its 
>expensive and
>a pain.  I might point out that Both Trace and AEI have the GFI built into 
>their
>batterless inverters, it makes it pretty easy.
>
>Any chance of getting it removed from the next code?  IS there any 
>thinking along
>those lines.??
>
>later,
>
>jay
>
>Peltz Power
>
>Drake Chamberlin - Electrical Energy wrote:
>
> > Hi Wrenches,
> >
> > The new DC ground fault technology is certainly much better than the old
> > Pulse systems.  But I still have a major problem with it.
> >
> > If the device is to protect the wood framing between the solar modules and
> > the charge control, it needs to be mounted on the roof.  If the wire were
> > to become shorted (for example with a nail through a cable) the current
> > would continue to circulate between the nail and the array.  Heating could
> > result, especially with a large array.
> >
> > A roof mounted ground fault device would likely pose more danger to home
> > owners who might climb on the roof to correct nuisance tripping than it
> > would eliminate danger from fire.  I suppose a device could be developed
> > that would have a reset in the power room and ground fault protection by
> > the array.
> >
> > I believe that better protection could be afforded by using armored cable
> > or conduit to protect the circuit.
> >
> > Have there been any recorded fires from roof mounted arrays?  If there
> > really are fire hazards from roof mounted arrays, they should be addressed
> > effectively.  I am skeptical about the effectiveness of the current
> > technology.
> >
> > I also doubt that a roof mounted array is as dangerous as a 240 volt
> > service drop coming from a pole, capable of delivering 10,000 amps.  There
> > seems to be a tendency to require RE installations to be 10 times safer
> > than grid connected systems.  Why is that?
> >
> > Drake
> >

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