six motions of the hand [RE-wrenches]

[Darryl Thayer]

Thanks Richard for the advice.

The last point of the parrallel breakers is I need a
disconnect to the battery, which is larger than 250
amp DC.  So I was going to just use two each 250 amp
Outback breakers and tie the handles together. and
feed each set of parrallel conductors from the
breakers to the batteries.  I have actually done this
before several times and never been called on it. 
However I have been told by Robin at Outback that Code
240-8 does not allow it.  Because this is a showcase
installation I am afraid that I might get called.  Has
anyone faced this?

Daryl

 
--- Richard L Ratico <Richard.L.Ratico at VALLEY.NET>
wrote:
> Darryl,
> 
> I Apologize. Perhaps I should have tried to be more
> helpful.
> 
> --- You wrote:
> >Actually that is where it came from.  The inspector
> >wants no more than 6 motions of the hand to turnoff
> >all sources of of power to the Solar related
> >equipment.  And wants all of these six motions
> grouped
> >together.
> 
> "6 motions of the hand", I believe, is at least
> pre-1996 NEC "code speak". I
> only have copies of the '96, '99, and 2003 editions
> of the NEC. The language of
> the 2003 edition of the NEC Handbook, in
> Article230.71, page 142,
> reads, "The service disconnecting means ... shall
> consist of not more than six
> switches or sets of circuit breakers, or a
> combination of not more than six
> switches and circuit breakers, mounted in a single
> enclosure, in a group of
> separate enclosures, or in or on a switchboard.
> There shall be no more than six
> sets of disconnects per service grouped in any one
> location." 
> 
> Your inspector is probably considering the solar
> electric system to be a
> "Parallel power production system"  
> (( Article 230-2(A)(5)  )) and therefore it is an
> "additional service",
> permitted to have it's own six disconnects. 
> 
> Article 100, Definitions, does not define "group".
> Websters says, among others,
> "an assemblage of objects                           
>                                                     
>              
>              regarded as a unit.  
> 
> >what I am after is this gets kind of complex, and
> was
> >wondering what others thought of to handle the
> problem
> >or if I am the  only one whos inspector has brought
> it
> >up.
> 
> Everyones's inspector should have brought it up. It
> is a very specific
> requirement. The intent is to allow someone to
> quickly and conveniently shut off
> all incoming sources of power to the building,
> particularly in an emergency. The
> code allows some flexibility by not requiring only
> one, single main disconnect.
> 
> >My inspector wants it and I was wondering if other
> >faced it and had addressed this in some neat way. 
> I
> >think my inspector is open to some flexability, I
> have
> >a meeting this Friday.---
> 
> How you address it, besides good workmanship, would
> depend on what specific
> equipment you are using.
> For instance, in some Sunny Boy installations, a
> single, three pole Square D
> safety switch can apparently be used to
> simultaneously disconnect three
> ungrounded conductors. 
> 
> In my previous post I meant to  suggest"
> brainstorming" with your electrical
> inspector to cooperatively develope a solution
> acceptable to all parties. That's
> not to suggest you have him do your job, designing
> the system. 
> 
> Regardless of what the NEC reads, it gives final
> authority to your electrical
> inspector. That's quite a bit of power, and
> responsibility. There is absolutely
> nothing to be gained by getting in a pissing contest
> with your inspector. A very
> small perecentage of inspectors thrive on it. They
> always win. It's good to be
> on good terms with your inspector. 
> 
> >I am also going to propose the paralleling of 250
> amp
> >breakers, I have done in the past, many years ago,
> and
> >the code changes, does anyone know?  I do not want
> to
> >propose if there is something wrong.
> --- end of quote ---
> 
> Not sure what you mean by this.
> 
> Dick Ratico
> Solarwind Electric
> 
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