Carflex revisited [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

Bob-O,

I guess I'm glad you're so passionate about your position--as I said on four
or five emails, if the AHJ passes it you are more than welcome to install
it. I'm not being RIGID, it's impossible to bend that stuff. I'm being
FLEXIBLE and trying to find solutions to things that need solutions when we
get under very close scrutiny. I don't disagree with your reasons for
wanting to use it--you should have to justify why you think it is right--you
should have adequate products available so there is no need for discussion
and wrenches are free to install the way they prefer and meets the code.

Let's look for common ground instead of looking for differences. Let's agree
to leave FNC as a topic until someone comes up with a better solution.

Bill.


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection
[mailto:econnect at snowcrest.net]
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 12:02 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: RE: Carflex revisited [RE-wrenches]


Bill, etal,
I disagree strongly. Flexible Nonmetallic Conduit (FNC) not only
looks better and more professional than USE or Tray cable, but it
seals out moisture FAR better than those wiring methods. We assume
it's installed properly, which is actually easier to do than Tray or
USE. USE comes only in black, whereas THW or THHN comes in black,
red, white, and lots of other colors if you want to get crazy.
Half inch FNC can easily take three #10 THHN conductors. These make
it FAR easier AND CHEAPER to series or series-parallel a subarray. It
is also safer as there is less likelihood of a screw up then when
using all black conductors with (hopefully) correctly marked phasing
tape. Individual wire gland nuts ain't cheap. Sometimes you need up
to FIVE or SIX of the buggers on a single J-box. Astropower, ASE, etc
need to get with the program. EVERY other device in a PV system is
either conduit ready or they don't get UL listed. I guess those manus
are "special"?
Ever restrip a piece of USE that has been in the weather for awhile?
Forget it. The copper strands are always discolored, never clean and
bright. I don't know what that means exactly, but it ain't good.
And the main reason to use it is this: MOST inspectors like it far
better. Exposed individual conductors are forbidden in most
applications per the NEC. It is far easier-and better- to go with
what they know than to retrain them for no good reason. We are not
talking safety hazard here, Bill. One could make a case for just the
opposite. Your holding tight on this 60/80 Carflex thing is rigidity
beyond reason.
You want to educate inspectors to your way of wiring by telling them
that my way is bad? That doesn't sound like we're on the same side at
all, does it?
BTW, the only other PE that I know who takes these kinds of positions
is J.Wiles. Must be something in the water.
bob-O

>All this emotion over flexible conduit. I still believe Tray Cable or USE-2
>is cheaper and better. Why is everyone so intent on using conduit in the
>array? I will follow with a response to Drake and Bob-O concerns later.
>
>Bill.

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