Bergey OptiCharge charge controller [RE-wrenches]

[Ray Walters]

<x-flowed>
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Save up to $1,500 on your phone bill with Packet8
Free Activation, Free Equipment & First Month Free!
30-day money back guarantee. 1-877-868-1135
http://click.topica.com/caaemrkbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/ TMONE
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Randy;

I always wondered about Bergey and wind gennys in general: they're not 
UL listed, they're not NEC compliant, and they're not covered at all in 
the code.  I thought that if UL listed equipment wasn't available, they 
couldn't require it ( ie flooded batteries, DC to DC converters, 
lightning arrestors).
Wrenches, how does that work when a device is not only not UL listed, 
but not even covered in the code? I originally thought wind was exempt 
from the inspectors jurisdiction, but then something like a Windyboy 
grid tieing in has to be inspected to a point. Its truely an amazingly 
large grey area. How come the NEC never dealt with wind systems?
It doesn't seem fair to require UL listing, when (I  believe) there 
aren't any small wind turbines that are UL listed.
Good luck up there with Washington state Randy. My favorite quote for 
times like these: "To the pioneers go the arrows, to the settlers go the 
spoils". Wrenches on the front lines are still taking arrows 
unfortunately, but if it wasn't for the struggles of the many pioneers 
represented on this list, RE in this country would be no where today.

Hang in there Randy, its really for a good cause.

Ray Walters
 

>
>
> Wrenches,
>
> We recently installed a Bergey Excel-R, the 7.5kW battery charging 
> version of the 10kW wind turbine, near Ellensburg, WA.  The AHJ (WA 
> State Dept. of Labor & Industries) electrical inspector refused to 
> pass the system because the OptiCharge 48v charge controller is not UL 
> listed.  The arguments we presented at the time, and later with the 
> assistance of Bergey, have not been successful in changing the 
> decision of the inspector or his supervisor in Yakima.  The issue has 
> been referred to the office of the Chief Electrical Inspector in 
> Olympia, our state capitol.
>
> Have any of you ever installed a non-UL listed charge controller (PV, 
> wind, or hydro) in WA state and had it passed by L & I inspectors?  If 
> so, please contact me off list.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Randy Brooks
> Brooks Solar, Inc.
> Solar Power for People
>

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Is your computer freezing up or slowing down?
Repair corrupt files and harmful errors - protect your PC
Take a 2-minute PC health check-up at no charge!
http://click.topica.com/caaemrnbz8Qcsbz9JC9f/PC PowerScan
-------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------




</x-flowed>