NABCEP Call for comments [RE-wrenches]

Sun Oct 27 01:20:10 PST 2002

Bob-O,

The DC only system we design are for the State Dept. of Transportation, and
a Traffic control company that works with the DOT. These interface with
cameras and remote warning signal flashers (very big brother). Each sender
and receiver system is about 700w. We only use the DC option because the
computer boards are either 12 or 24 vdc, but they normally take a 110v power
cube adapter. If we switched these from DC to AC and used the power cubes,
would these actually qualify? All systems are inspected by the Dept. of
Transportation Ele inspector, but they are not required to pull permits.....
What about military applications, we just did a job at a Marine base in NC.
They do not pull permits either. The system used a SW4024...what would we do
in cases like these? As most of the business in our area is with government
projects. We have the option for an inverter if we choose, but have no way
of pulling a permit, because the Dept of Transportation is not going to wait
around on the county man to show up along the interstate.
???????

Regards,

Dan Whigham

SC Solar
7073 Henry Harris Road
Lancaster SC 29720
www.scsolar.com
803-802-5522

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection <econnect at snowcrest.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: NABCEP Call for comments [RE-wrenches]

> 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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