Sheet Metal for DR's [RE-wrenches]

[Ray Walters]

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Hi Travis,

We used the PS2DC with DR inverters, and made our own cutout for the  
DR to butt up to it. Worked well for one inverter but not 2. Midnite  
has a small Cheaper DC enclosure that might work with the DR, you  
have to order it with the special option to get the breaker on the  
left instead of the right side of the box. We've got one in stock,  
but haven't tried it yet. It too wouldn't work for 2 inverters.
The FLEX 1000? might be big enough to cut out 2 holes for the DRs,  
and set it up like the old PSDC. That's probably the way we would  
handle it. Xantrex doesn't have a product still?

We used to get into a lot of cleanup jobs: its a messy business,  
because you want to bring everything up to code, but you don't want  
to break the customer's bank account.
We started offering trade ins on their used equipment (which we  
resell to DIY types, so we don't worry about install) and we try and  
install a whole new power board with new inverters for the customer.  
We often reuse some of their old stuff, but it gets tricky.
We also (Don't tell) occasionally relax on certain aspects of the  
code, since its an old system and not required to meet the latest  
code standards. THink of it like fixing wiring on an old house: you  
don't tear out all the wiring from the walls and replace the load  
center just because it wouldn't pass new construction standards. You  
DO fix any glaring safety problems, and you clearly document what you  
are /and are not responsible for.
  IF its a 12 volt system especially, we might allow the very short  
cable run from the inverter to the DC box to be exposed, if its not  
otherwise subject to damage. (ie., the equipment is in its own  
dedicated room) The cables to the batteries are lower and not  
actually protected by the main breaker, so we put those in conduit  
always.
Its a fine line between putting your name on work thats not up to new  
standards and over doing it.  We always make the system much safer  
than it was, but we relax on some stuff because we have to (try  
wiring up an old Trace U series inverter to 2008 NEC standard and  
you'll see what I mean)
Safe and Code are not always synonymous, but common sense should rule  
the day in the end.
This quandary has actually  led us to take fewer and fewer of these  
rewire jobs over the years, BTW.
Our rule of thumb:  "it costs twice as much to rewire a poor install  
as it would have cost to do it right the first time, and.... its only  
half as good."

I could send you some pics of some of the things we've done off line  
so you could see what we're talking about.

Ray


On Dec 14, 2007, at 6:49 PM, Travis Creswell wrote:

>
>
> Oh Most Knowledgeable Ones,
>
>
>
> We are resurrecting a used system that has two DR’s (3624’s).  It  
> never had
> any sheet metal, just two inverters stuck on the wall with an  
> “explosion” of
> wire coming out every which way.  The classic mess we’ve all seen.   
> If I
> ever find the guy….well…you know what I mean.
>
>
>
> The new owner wants it done right so I need to start over.  What  
> are my
> sheet metal options?  We’ve not had the opportunity to use and  
> Midnight
> stuff and this might be the time?  Does the new FlexWare even marry  
> up to
> DR’s?  A quick look at the FlexWare Guide does not reveal the  
> answer.  Does
> any body have some used or NOS (new old stock) PS2 stuff they’d  
> like to
> sell?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
>
>
> Travis Creswell
>
> Ozark Energy Services
>
>
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> 11:29 AM
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R. Walters
Solarray.com
NABCEP # 04170442	




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