NABCEP Call for comments [RE-wrenches]

[Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection]

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Dan,

>If you have training certification from a "established school" for example
>Florida Solar Energy Center, and you have x# of installations , you can be
>grandfathered in. If this is not the case or has changed please tell me.

Yes and no. You will qualify to sit for the test, but you still have 
to pass it. No one is grandfathered from taking the test- no one. I 
like that part.

>  I  do have an issue , When neither the State nor the Utilities  allow for
>net metering or grid tie. A person would not be able to fulfill the
>obligations of this
>new organization.
>So would this mean, if you cannot grid tie/ net meter currently,
>that if a state finally passed a law where you could net meter/grid tie,
>that no one would be
>qualified for x# of years to be able to install?

No. This requirement has be changed. Permitted, inspected, offgrid 
systems having an inverter qualify. DC only offgrid systems will not. 
We don't think folks who install only solar gate openers and path 
lights should have a certification.

>Where would these qualified people come from? Out of state.
>They (the union) could control the market for 4 years?

This is a HUGE concern for me as well. I do not intend to let ANYONE 
control our market. Not the unions, not the manus, not even us. 
Whether I can be effective in doing that is another story, but bet 
the farm that I'll give it my best shot. And-if I fail, double the 
bet on me opening my big mouth and spilling the beans in every venue 
I can.
Bob-O

>
>Bob-o,
>
>Answer to you question. I do not install all DC systems, though I do design
>allot of them. I have installed the systems where the PV & SW40xx is used as
>a primary ,   and the grid is the backup, for battery systems. I do try to
>obtain the older chips for the SW units when I can, they seem to work
>better. All systems are inspected by the local authority / military
>inspectors (very strict).
>
>In SC, anyone can pull the permit for a PV system under 50v, but you better
>have a limited contractors license and get approval from the local authority
>first. This usually means you have to hold them by the hand and walk them
>through the system. .It may sound sarcastic, but the first comment I had
>from an inspector preparing to get a permit for PV was "Does your code book
>have pictures" Yep ...sure does I replied...."Well if it looks like those
>pictures we'll be ok".
>Kind of scared the hell out of me.
>
>
>After being in business, I found that certification is a good thing.....hold
>on before I get squashed.....I went to FSEC and took the Grid Tie training
>that they offer, they had a final test (I believe part of the state
>electrical exam) which you took in order to get "certified" for grid tie
>systems. It is required for anyone who wants to be able to get credit for
>the state rebate program. No certification and your customer does not get
>refund (I think this was how it worked.)
>The major drawback to this is that they never covered battery
>systems......This leaves allot to be said. Certification would only be a
>small part of the uses for PV. To say one was qualified to install PV and
>all he/she was familiar with was grid tie, would be an embarrassment for our
>industry.
>
>Regards,
>
>Dan Whigham
>
>SC Solar
>7073 Henry Harris Road
>Lancaster SC 29720
>www.scsolar.com
>803-802-5522

-- 
Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection
PO Box 203, Hornbrook, CA 96044
800.945.7587 or 530.475.3402
fax 530-475-3401
www.electronconnection.com

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