[RE-wrenches] EGC for Enphases

[Dave Click]

Belated thanks for the replies on this, Jason et al. Sorry for my lack 
of a clear explanation- Jason interpreted me correctly. Apparently this 
Lennox unit was installed without a neutral- I'm awaiting more info from 
the PE.

On 2013/7/5 19:25, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
>
> 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 
> <mailto: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>
>     [mailto: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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