[RE-wrenches] Dangerous installs/installers..

[Jason Szumlanski]

Yeah – it can be scary. Retrofits/fix-its are the worst, but can be fun and profitable at times. Starting from scratch is usually the answer, reusing components if practical.

 

Word of caution… be careful not to harshly criticize work in front of the customer. Sometimes they claim that “another idiot PV installer” did the system, when in fact it was a DIY installation. You can be matter of fact about the safety hazards and code violations, but I’ve seen the look on a person’s face who obviously did it himself as I tore the system apart. 

 

Jason Szumlanski

Fafco Solar 

 

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of dan at foxfire-energy.com
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 7:58 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Dangerous installs/installers..

 

Welcome to the Rodeo partner.. 

 


Dan Brown
Foxfire Energy Corp.
Renewable Energy Systems
(802)-483-2564
www.Foxfire-Energy.com
NABCEP #092907-44

 

	-------- Original Message --------
	Subject: [RE-wrenches] Dangerous installs/installers..
	From: Jesse Dahl <dahlsolar at gmail.com>
	Date: Sat, May 07, 2011 2:45 am
	To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>

	Wrenches,
	
	 The other day on my travels, I came across a very scary small stand-alone hunting shack install.  All the wiring is cut extension cords and some UF, the cable from the charge controller to the batteries is an extension cord with the 14s paralleled.   mice chewed wire, splices taped and laid on the ground, mis matched modules (least of the problems). not a disco or OCPD to be seen. 
	
	Also a 500W wind generator 100 yards from the battery bank, feed with #10s and then spliced to #12s (most of it just laying on the ground.  
	
	Now I think the owner should have some responsibility to stop work when the see things this awful, but what can/should we as an industry do about this? What do we say to people that install stuff like this? Take them to court?
	
	A small 2500w with surge of 5000w inverter was used here with 6 paralleled 12V deep cycle batteries. Powering a few lights and a vacuum at first, a well pump was added later. I could see the lights and vacuum, but a pump?  How do you go about wiring the output of an inverter like this?  From a receptacle on the inverter to what? This guy cut an extension cord off and splice it to some NM and ran it inside to the loads. No breaker, I just can't get over the fact this guy sleeps at night...
	
	
	

	
	
	

	You should see the photos of this mess...
	
	
	Thank you for your thoughts,
	
	
	
	Jesse
	
	Sent from my iPhone

	
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