Module wiring safety [RE-wrenches]

[William Miller]

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Friends:

I guess there is one fundamental question (at least as I see it):  1. Are 
high voltage wires safe when not enclosed in conduit?

In addition, some are asking:  2. Are PV installers being held to a higher 
standard than for other electrical installations (or at least, will they be 
under the 2008 code)?

I think the obvious answers are no and no.

Take a look at question 2 first:  What other electrical system can any of 
you cite that allows high voltage wire to be exposed to the general public 
and not be protected by conduit?  I can not think of one.  Try running a 
branch circuit in THHN stapled to the outside of your next job and see if 
it passes inspection.  Heck, it's not even allowed inside a wall.  You have 
to use jacketed cable and only for limited applications.  So, no, enclosing 
high voltage wire in conduit is not unique to the 2008 PV code.

Further, if electrical installations of any type accessible by the general 
public require conduit and have for decades, why is this?  Well I surmise 
that it is because high voltage electricity is DANGEROUS!  That answers 
question number 1.

No, I can not cite an example of someone being killed by a PV system, but 
you can't deny it is possible, and do you want your system to be the first 
one?  I fear that the human involved will not be the only fatality-- so 
will the industry.  Envision your next 100 or more residential sales calls 
after this hits the news.  Again, that fatality may never happen, but I 
can't understand the resistance to making damn sure it doesn't.  I'm in 
favor of the industry regulating itself, but that has to occur before the 
accident.

Also, the era of high voltage string arrays has been with us for only a few 
years.  So if your logic is based on the statement, "No one has been killed 
yet,"  that is not logic, that's gambling.

What gets me is that the bottom line here appears to be:  the bottom 
line.  Many are apparently under the impression that exposed wiring is 
significantly cheaper than protected wiring so they will fight tooth and 
nail to maintain this practice.  With module J-boxes and a little 
experimentation, we were able to do it cheaper, faster and better.

I'm all for an industry task force to review the options, but I think this 
has happened already and the report is out-- it's in the 2008 code.  I 
suggest we not fight it but embrace it for the wisdom it is.

William Miller


-- _________________________________
William Miller
Miller Power and Communications
Voice :805-438-5600     Fax: 805-438-4607
email: wrmiller at mpandc.com
http://mpandc.com
License No. C-10-773985


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