[RE-wrenches] Ground Mount Screening

[Bill Brooks]

Mark,

The fact is you can't legally walk up and touch NM cable anymore. Whenever
your house was built, that may have been code compliant, but not since the
early 1990s has that been allowed. You may think a wooden lattice work is
insufficient protection, but the code disagrees with you as a minimum
standard. You can build all the chain link fences you want around your PV
systems. Not me. It is a waste of money. The code is addressing the issue of
"readily accessible." Darwin awards are plentiful for people who want to get
themselves into trouble. We just have to make it a little more difficult for
unsuspecting kids using the underside of a PV array for a play fort. You
obviously haven't been to one of my code trainings in a long time. Maybe
it's time for a refresher.

The 30V limit has to do with the voltage at which serious shock can occur in
wet environments. Most people are familiar with the 50V limit by OSHA, but
that is for dry environments. In the UL standards for shock hazard, the
voltage limit is 30V. Now you know.

Bill.

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mark Frye
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 3:37 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Ground Mount Screening

You know, I can go down into my unfinished basement, through an unlocked
full height door.  The wiring in this space is fully Code compliant. And
yet, I can walk over and put my bare hand right onto a piece NM cable that
has 200A of 240 VAC running on it.

But God forbid I should be able to walk over to a PV array and put my hand
on a piece of double insulated PV wire with 10A of 30VDC running on it.

I don't get it.
 
Mark Frye
Berkeley Solar Electric Systems
303 Redbud Way
Nevada City,  CA 95959
(530) 401-8024
www.berkeleysolar.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jason
Szumlanski
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 3:26 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Ground Mount Screening

Maybe they should require that extension cords be in conduit. :) where do
you draw the line? If lattice is good enough, is fiberglass screen okay? How
about bird netting or orange construction fence?

Seriously though, we have never been required to use a lattice or fenced
enclosure for a ground rack around here to pass inspection. It would be nice
if a rack manufacturer came up with a slick and cost effective (cheap)
method to cover the back of the panels /racks without losing air flow and
meeting code requirements. I would install that regardless of lax local
interpretation. 

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar

_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine

List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org

Options & settings:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List-Archive:
http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org

List rules & etiquette:
www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm

Check out participant bios:
www.members.re-wrenches.org