[RE-wrenches] transformerless inverters and conductor colors

[Marco Mangelsdorf]

It’s my understanding that once one goes into a covered raceway that the double-insulated wire is no longer required.

 

marco

 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jesse Dahl
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2013 6:12 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] transformerless inverters and conductor colors

 

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 <tel:303%20505-8760> 

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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