[RE-wrenches] EGC for Enphases

[August Goers]

Hi Jason,



That helps clarify the situation a little bit. I'm not familiar with the
Lennox product. That said, Enphase M190 cabling has a line 1, line 2, and
neutral (I believe blue colored) then you add a ground. The neutral and
ground should not connect. That is consistent with what you said below in
your recommendation.



Best,



August





*From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski
*Sent:* Friday, July 05, 2013 4:25 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] EGC for Enphases



I think what Dave is saying is that the enphase cable neutral is connected
to the EGC in the roof mounted j-box, and no neutral is run to the Lennox
panel or disconnect. While the neutral should not carry line current under
normal operation, Enphase calls it a neutral - look up the NEC definition
of neutral. I can see an AHJ having reservations about this, whether the
"combined Neutral/EGC/GEC" is bare or insulated.

I would not waste time trying to argue this with the AHJ. I would bring
three current carrying conductors plus a combined EGC/GEC to the main
distribution panel, just like every other Enphase job we do.

I spend a fair amount of time explaining how this solar powered air
conditioner is nothing revolutionary, except for the creative marketing.
Anyone out there try to team up with a HVAC company to market any A/C unit
as solar powered?

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar

On Jul 5, 2013 5:14 PM, "August Goers" <august at luminalt.com> wrote:

Hi Dave,

I'm not sure I'm understanding your scenario clearly but I'll take a crack
at it. The Enphase system should have a bare #6 GEC for each micro and can
then transition to a #8 green GEC once in conduit and run all the way back
to the main ground electrode system. The #6 and #8 should be irreversibly
crimped together since the GEC needs to be continuous. Certainly it is not
okay for the neutral in the Lennox panel to be bare unless it is somehow a
main panel. You could run the DC GEC along with the other conductors and
it can serve as a dual purpose GEC and equipment grounding conductor per
2011 NEC 690.47(C)(3).

Best,

August
-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Click
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 6:26 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] EGC for Enphases

All,

I was just looking at small 4-module Andalay (Enphase 190) system tying
into one of the Lennox solar-ready air conditioners. The engineer had
specified the 690.47(C) GEC be run directly from the array down to the
existing electrode. Running from the inverters is a 2+G wire to the Lennox
panel; they are using the uninsulated ground as the circuit neutral. It
seems to me that this violates 200.7 (grounded conductor marked white or
grey). Also, 250.134(B) (EGC run with circuit conductors), about which the
engineer states "I have been studying the NEC on this and I believe that
the intent is to permit the ground to be carried with the current carrying
conductors, not require."

Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Dave
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