[RE-wrenches] Ground Mount Screening

[Bill Loesch]

Bill B.,

With all due respect, I have been to one of your code trainings (in 2010). I
can not remember _any_ discussion whatsoever regarding screening. We
accomplished only a very small fraction of the advertised training contents.
What we did get was a full helping of the Target fire (in Bakersfield)
scenario and the Brooks version of the accident report.

What, for me, was a waste of money, was paying to listen to your version of
the accident report rather than your established expertise in current code
matters.

As much as you may want to change the code rules for (hopefully) the better,
your code trainings are not, IMHO, the forum best suited for that exercise.

Respectfully,

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Brooks" <billbrooks7 at yahoo.com>
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 5:55 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Ground Mount Screening


> 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
>
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