[RE-wrenches] electrical permit requirements

[Nick Soleil]

Of course, I provide the CAD drawing with the string sizes listed, the volts, amps, wire sizing, conduit, and breaker panel specs, label details, percentage of bussbar ratings, THWN-2, and an enormous amount of other details.  I do it for my crew, not for the plan checker.  It takes an expert to know the difference between an expert and an amateur installer, but the plan checker is not the expert, and will not be able to determine if;
 - you sized the Vmp to the Average Ambient High Temp (as most manus do???) or to the 30 year high.  
 - They can't verify that the string sizing accounts for degradation of voltage over the life of the system, or
-  That the AC voltage drop is adequate to prevent nuisance shut-offs from high voltages
    So as long as the plan checker can verify that a CAD roof layout has been provided, and other general permit requirements are met, then let us have the permit over the counter at a reasonable fee.

 Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell:   707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax:    707-769-9037




________________________________
From: William Miller <william at millersolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Tue, June 15, 2010 6:02:19 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] electrical permit requirements

 Nick:

Rhetorical questions to follow:

If you do not provide string calculations, how do you verify that Voc
will not exceed NEC limits?  How do you verify DC feeder
ampacities?  Does your jurisdiction not verify such
parameters?   We know you have a handle on these factors, but
how about the Johnny-come-latelies trying to take your business? 
Should they not be kept to uniform standards meant to protect the safety
of the consumer (and ensure fair competition)?

Can you really expect a field inspector or the customer to verify these
parameters?  I believe all of these issues are best handled by
stringent plan check.

What is more important to you:  saving a few bucks in permit fees or
preventing house fires?

William Miller




At 05:01 PM 6/15/2010, you wrote:

Hi Jeff:
>>    My standard permit docs are comprehensive, but do not
>include documentation regarding string sizing, thank goodness.  A
>permit technician/ plan reviewer should not be overseeing string
>sizing.  You should be thankful that the permit fees are so low,
>because that is the best thing a jurisdiction could do to support
>PV!  
>>    Any fly-by-night, incompetent installer can check
>string sizing on the inverter manu's web site.  I would suspect
>that, regardless of the plan review process, the less experienced
>installers will still be accountable to the inspector and their
>customer.
>> 
>>Nick Soleil


      
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