[RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown

Tue Jan 21 19:05:41 PST 2014

Mark,

If that relay you mention is rated for the dc voltage, current, AIR, and
temperature it will see, you are good to go. The enclosure would have to be
NEMA 4 or mounted in a vertical NEMA 3R box. Then there is always the
question of how much experience do you have with that product in that
environment in that application. That is a lot to consider.

Products that have been used for several years in listed combiner boxes have
a track record to consider.

Bill.

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mark Frye
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 6:03 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown

OK. So I will have a high rate of acceptance if it buy an Tyco vacuum relay,
and mount it in a Hoffman enclosure, and then put it on my roof?

On 1/21/2014 5:45 PM, Bill Brooks wrote:

Brian,

The requirement is generic. A listed contactor can meet the requirement. A
standard is only necessary for products that want to be innovative in
meeting the 30V, 240VA. Killing all power is an option with existing listed
equipment. NEC 90.4 does not apply.

Bill.

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] On Behalf Of Brian
Mehalic
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 2:36 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Cc: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> 
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown

It was suggested to me that since 690.12(5) requires the equipment to be
listed and identified, and there is no standard for rapid shutdown equipment
to be listed to then 90.3 (.4?...oh why isn't the NEC on my iPad...)says
'revert to the previous version of the NEC' and presto, no need to install
rapid shutdown. I don't like this but the the person suggesting it certainly
has an audience and this will appeal to installers looking to save on cost
wherever possible. 

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 21, 2014, at 5:11 PM, David Brearley
<david.brearley at solarprofessional.com
<mailto:david.brearley at solarprofessional.com> > wrote:

Drake,

The language in 690.12 is the compromise solution that was reached to ensure
continued industry stability. The alternative to the combiner-level shutdown
was module-level shutdown. It took a consolidated industry effort to push
the module-level requirements out one more Code cycle-for the exact reasons
that you touch on below. 

Not sure if this link has been published on the Wrenches list or not, but it
provides some background on the topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUXShMZJorQ

David Brearley

Senior Technical Editor, SolarPro magazine

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional

david.brearley at solarprofessional.com
<mailto:david.brearley at solarprofessional.com> 

Direct: 541.261.6545

On Jan 21, 2014, at 1:12 PM, re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org>  wrote:

From: Drake <drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org
<mailto:drake.chamberlin at redwoodalliance.org> >

Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NEC 2014 690.12 Rapid Shutdown

Date: January 21, 2014 11:36:15 AM CST

To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> >

Reply-To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> >

Bill,

It is good to see that energized conductors are going to be disconnected
near the arrays. I've been an advocate of disconnecting these conductors by
ground fault sensing equipment since ground fault detection was first
implemented in the code. If contactors are to be installed on roofs, it
likely won't be long before both ground faults and arc faults are
automatically cleared. 

When the requirement for AC arc fault branch circuit protection was first
put in the NEC, it was postdated to allow time for the electrical industry
to adapt. This new remote disconnecting requirement does not provide any
lead time.  

As the 2014 NEC is adopted in various jurisdictions, inspectors may feel
that it is necessary to disallow systems without the newly required
disconnect feature. This may result in serious problems for solar companies
and customers, as well as manufacturers. 

The protection of firefighters is essential. The implementation of
renewables is essential also. Insurance claims for weather related, global
warming-triggered climatic disasters are rising exponentially. Extreme
weather related events result in major loss of life and billions of dollars
in property damage. Atmospheric CO2 levels continue to climb from the
burning of fossil fuels. This is a crisis of global proportions. 

My request for code writers is to please take into account the effect that
inserting new rules into the NEC may have on the stability of renewable
energy, and implement new requirements in a way that will allow for a smooth
interface.

Thank you, 

Drake 

Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP Certified Solar PV 
740-448-7328
http://athens-electric.com/

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