[RE-wrenches] transformerless inverters and conductor colors

[Jesse Dahl]

Marco,

You said that after your "j-box" you will transition to THHN/THWN. Wouldn't you still need to use PVWire or some type of jacketed cable all the way to the inverter?  

Jesse

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 23, 2013, at 4:09 PM, Brian Mehalic <brian at solarenergy.org> wrote:

> The 2014 NEC addresses this in a change in 215.12(C)(2), "Feeders Supplies from Direct-Current Systems".  (There is similar language in 210.5(C)(2) in regards to branch circuits).  I know many folks won't be on the 2014 cycle for some time, but at least it is defined now.
> 
> Conductors 6 AWG or smaller have to be identified by polarity at all termination, connection, and splice points as in one of 3 ways:
> 
> Ungrounded, positive polarity 
> 1: red
> 2: red stripe along entire length (conductor cannot be white, gray, black or green)
> 3: "+", "POS", or "POSITIVE" marked at least every 24 inches (again conductor cannot be white, gray, black or green)
> 
> Ungrounded, negative polarity
> 1: black
> 2: black stripe along entire length (conductor cannot be white, gray, red or green)
> 3: "-", "NEG", or "NEGATIVE" marked at least every 24 inches (again conductor cannot be white, gray, red or green)
> 
> Additionally, the methods used must be documented and "readily available or...permanently posted" at the equipment.
> 
> Cheers,
> Brian Mehalic 
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installation Professional™ R031508-59
> IREC ISPQ Certified Affiliated Instructor/PV US-0132
> 
> PV Curriculum Developer and Instructor
> Solar Energy International
> http://www.solarenergy.org
> 
> 
> On Mon, Sep 23, 2013 at 3:59 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
>> Hi Marco;
>> 
>> Article 200.7 specifically prohibits using white wire for anything but grounded conductors.  This came up last year on a large project with an ungrounded array, that also had white incorrectly specified in the plans.  The appropriate colors would be red for positive, and black for negative. 
>> R.Ray Walters
>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer, 
>> Licensed Master Electrician
>> Solar Design Engineer
>> 303 505-8760
>> On 9/23/2013 1:27 PM, Marco Mangelsdorf wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> We’re doing more and more installs with TL inverters (SMA and P1).
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I’m using double-insulated wire from the array string to the first enclosure, as in j-box, and then transitioning to standard THHN/THWN wire.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I recently purchased some of that #10 double-insulated wire, getting a spool of black and white.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Then after receiving the two spools it occurred to me: since the array is ungrounded, as far as there being no grounded conductor in the circuit, did I blow it by getting a spool of white wire?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> What sayeth you all?  Can I not use that white wire in those array circuits for TL inverters?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> 
>>> marco
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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