Solar Lockout and the IBEW's need for a huge jug of prune juice [RE-wrenches

[Matt Lafferty]

Marco asks:

>  "anyone heard of any horror stories of a botched PV installation done by
a union electrician?"

Marco / Wrenches:

I promise to keep this short....

YES I HAVE!  Too many to count.  Historically and recently.

By far, my observations, inspections and post-installation evaluations have
demonstrated that the IBEW Installation Contractors used locally are not
superior, but sadly inferior.  This statement is not intended to paint all
IBEW organizations with one brush.

The most alarming issues are basic NEC issues, not the obscure PV issues.

Things like inadequately supported conduits, loose connections, loose
fittings, abortions (I don't have a better word) for getting into the
customer's service panel, improper bonding methods, islanded non-bonded
metallic raceways, installation of equipment directly above gas meters,
installation of equipment without proper clearance requirements being met.

My other non-electrical concerns from these inspections are:

Roof attachments, flashing installations, attrociously un-aesthetic conduit
installations and a general "I'm really a Union Electrician so I'm not
supposed to know about these other things anyway" approach.

Well, I promised to keep it short so I will conclude with a short
diatribe....(expletives deleted for the general protection of sensitive
eyes)

If a union and the associated apprenticeship & training programs are
intended to elevate the quality of the industry in which it exists, why are
the union installed systems the least code-compliant, sloppiest, most prone
to Correction Notices, and headache generators?  Why are the highest paid,
purportedly best qualified installers so stupid?  Why don't these "well
trained" people understand basic series & parallel circuitry?  (This is
especially interesting to me since I have to go through a training curve
with all my installers on this topic.  Other installers readily learn with
an open mind.  The union guys seem to have a "Yeah, I get it" attitude
because they don't want to be embarrassed.)

Why can't union electricians get into and out of service panel in a neat &
workmanlike manner?  What is so difficult about mounting equipment in an
accessible and serviceable location & manner?  Is there a union rule that
says, "Our guys shall not use caulking guns or be required to seal up the
holes we create in exterior walls while probing for studs, and furthermore
shall not be responsible for actually locating studs anyway"?  Why can't
union electricians read a standard 1-line drawing and understand that the
drawing represents the electrical relationship, not the physical location,
of the various components?  What is it about union electricians that
precludes them from having an eye for aesthetics?  Why do they repeat the
same crap job after job?

OK.  I don't feel better yet, but I will stop now.

Of note:  The RFB I am writing now is specifically geared to Non-Public
Works installations.  This eliminates the prevailing wage requirements.  We
are able to do this only on Customer Purchased systems that are not
installed on Public Agency sites.  We are very excited about this for many
reasons.  Time will tell.

Pray for Sun!

-Matt Lafferty
pvpro at attbi.com

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