[RE-wrenches] Article 690, or The Haves Vs. Have Nots

Tue Apr 29 14:03:05 PDT 2014

I'm glad everyone is having so much fun with that pic, as scary as it 
was.  We could make a contest out of it: "How many code violations can 
you find in this picture?"
and let Bill judge the answers.  Believe me, there are more pictures, 
where that came from.
Sorry, I do not know what those cylinders are.  In a higher resolution 
photo, they appear to have AC power cords coming out of them.  Those are 
HUP batteries under all the tools and extra parts.  I hope they remember 
to water the batteries.....

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 4/29/2014 2:12 PM, markf at berkeleysolar.com wrote:
> Any idea what the two silver cylinders in the upper left of the photo are
> (sitting on top of the battery box)?
>
>
>> Hi Bill;
>>
>> The 2014 NEC (coupled with rampant misinterpretation)  is accelerating
>> an ever widening gap between those that have "code" and those that can't
>> afford it.  On one side, US installers are forced to keep up with all
>> the code changes, AHJs that don't understand solar, and sky rocketing
>> insurance rates, all for the privilege to compete with the likes of
>> Solar City, only to reap the ever shrinking profit margins in the end.
>> On the opposite front of solar are an ever increasing army of Do It
>> Yourself Idiots (DIYI ?!) that are hooking inverters directly to large
>> battery banks with car jumper cables, or plugging GT inverters into the
>> grid with male/ male extension cords.   (there really should be a law
>> against that)
>> So, apparently I work in the Purgatory of Solar, fixing imminently
>> dangerous situations, and not really caring so much lately about the
>> nuances of interpretation of the 2014 code.
>> For my money, 2008 code mixed with some 2011 as needed, seemed to be
>> plenty safe without throwing the baby out with the bath water.
>>
>> I'm glad to see you bring some sanity back to the playing field. I
>> always appreciate your comments.
>>
>> How about this Flying Cable, Dual Radian Install to stoke your code
>> interpreting abilities:
>>
>> The more you look, the wronger it gets.....the buss block in the air on
>> the right carries several KW of PV array current.....
>> mmm, mmm, what's cookin'
>>
>> R.Ray Walters
>>
>> PS, I already had the project in Mexico, before this thread came out......
>>
>> On 4/28/2014 5:57 PM, Bill Brooks wrote:
>>> Read 690.9(D) and 690.34. Not sure where this "hysteria---run for the
>>> border" sentiment is coming from.
>>>
>>> *690.9(D) Photovoltaic Source and Output Circuits. *Listed PV
>>>
>>> overcurrent devices shall be required to provide overcurrent
>>>
>>> protection in PV source and output circuits. The overcurrent
>>>
>>> devices shall be accessible but shall not be required to
>>>
>>> be readily accessible.
>>>
>>> *690.34 Access to Boxes. *Junction, pull, and outlet boxes
>>>
>>> located behind modules or panels shall be so installed that
>>>
>>> the wiring contained in them can be rendered accessible
>>>
>>> directly or by displacement of a module(s) or panel(s) secured
>>>
>>> by removable fasteners and connected by a flexible
>>>
>>> wiring system.
>>>
>>> This is not a change. Please help me understand the concern.
>>>
>>> Bill Brooks.
>>>
>>> *From:*re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Ray
>>> Walters
>>> *Sent:* Monday, April 28, 2014 2:23 PM
>>> *To:* RE-wrenches
>>> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] (no subject)
>>>
>>> Interesting so does "require a tool" include taking a screw off the
>>> cover plate of the combiner box, too?
>>> What a game changer.  I'm going to Mexico for my next project; I'll
>>> actually enjoy even more being the sole AHJ on the project.
>>>
>>> R.Ray Walters
>>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>>> Licensed Master Electrician
>>> Solar Design Engineer
>>> 303 505-8760
>>>
>>> On 4/28/2014 2:52 PM, Michael Morningstar wrote:
>>>
>>>      Readily accessible is now defined in the 2014 NEC. Installing
>>>      OCPD's underneath a module is a major faux paux, and I can't
>>>      imagine any AHJ thinking otherwise. Having to remove a module in
>>>      order to reset a breaker, what a drag.
>>>
>>>      "Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal or
>>>      inspection without requiring those concerned to use a tool, to
>>>      climb over, remove obstacle or other."
>>>
>>>      Michael
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      On Apr 28, 2014, at 10:29 AM, William Miller
>>>      <william at millersolar.com <mailto:william at millersolar.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>          You call it a solar panel, I call it a glass j-box cover plate.
>>>
>>>          William
>>>
>>>          Miller Solar
>>>
>>>
>>>              On Apr 28, 2014, at 9:21 AM, Jason Szumlanski
>>>              <jason at fafcosolar.com <mailto:jason at fafcosolar.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>              If that is the interpretation,
>>>              I don't see how the breakers are "readily accessible" in a
>>>              SolaDeck
>>>              mounted anywhere, regardless of whether it is under a
>>>              module. It
>>>              requires removal of four screws (using a tool) to access
>>>              the breakers
>>>              inside the enclosure. It's all up to the AHJ. It has not
>>>              been an issue
>>>              locally here. I can see how other jurisdictions may not
>>>              concur.
>>>
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