[RE-wrenches] Rapid shutdown for pole mounts

Dave Click daveclick at fsec.ucf.edu
Fri Jun 27 10:15:02 PDT 2014


Thanks to Nick for catching a misstatement in my email, corrected below 
in *bold*. I was trying to make a general statement out of his specific 
situation.

On 2014/6/26, 10:20, Dave Click wrote:
> NEC says 10' from the array, defined as "A mechanically integrated 
> assembly of modules or panels with a support structure and foundation, 
> tracker, and other components, as required, to form a direct-current 
> power-producing unit. 70HB14_CH00_FM_pi_xii.pdf " I take this to mean 
> that the "array" definition includes support structure, so you could 
> go 10' from the bottom of the pole?
>
> But that doesn't matter, as rapid shutdown requirements only apply to 
> PV systems *[conductors]* "on or in" buildings; it only applies to a 
> ground-mounted system if you bring the dc all the way into *or 
> onto***a building (*if you are >10' from the array or >5' within the 
> structure*). So, Rapid Shutdown doesn't apply at all to your scenario 
> where only the ac wiring from a pole mount enters the building.
>
> DKC
>
>
> On 2014/6/25, 12:00, Jesse Dahl wrote:
>> Re-reading this rapid shutdown convo.
>>
>>  Does 10' from the array mean from the modules or the "mount"? What 
>> if the array is on a pole, the pole is 15' tall and the inverter is 
>> mounted at the base of the pole?  Since the array (modules) is 15' 
>> from the inverter is rapid shutdown required?
>>
>> Again, since the title of 690.12 is "On Buildings" is it required for 
>> pole mounts where only AC enters the building?  Thoughts?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>> Jesse
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 19, 2014 at 12:22 PM, Dan Fink <danbob88 at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:danbob88 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     Hi Aaron, boB, Wrenches;
>>
>>     I think Aaron brings up a good point, and it's certainly
>>     confusing to me.
>>
>>     The boldface type heading of 690.12 is "Rapid Shutdown of PV
>>     Systems on Buildings"
>>
>>     The body of the 690.12 text begins with "PV system *circuits*
>>     installed on or in buildings shall....."
>>
>>     690.2 defines "Photovoltaic source circuit" as "Circuits between
>>     modules and from modules to the common connection point(s) of the
>>     DC system"
>>
>>     and "Photovoltaic output circuit" as "Circuit conductors between
>>     the PV source circuit(s) and the inverter or DC utilization
>>     equipment."
>>
>>     "PV system" from the heading of 690.12 is not defined in 690.2,
>>     other than that the definition of "Photovoltaic system voltage"
>>      specifically includes both PV output and source circuits.
>>
>>     To me the confusing part of 690.12 is "PV Systems on Buildings"
>>     is that "system" is not defined, and tends to imply rooftop
>>     arrays. But "PV system circuits installed on or in buildings
>>     shall....." is pretty clear. I interpret it to mean anything DC
>>     and PV stuck to the side of building like conduit, etc, or
>>     running inside....which means it applies to ground-mount arrays
>>     too if they terminate outside or inside the building.
>>
>>     What I'm seeing as the easy work-around for us off-grid folk is
>>     the old "power shed" idea containing battery bank, balance of
>>     system, inverter etc....just build it within 10 feet of the PV
>>     array and you're fine.
>>
>>     Any thoughts?
>>
>>
>>     Dan Fink,
>>     Executive Director;
>>     Otherpower
>>     Buckville Energy Consulting
>>     Buckville Publications LLC
>>     NABCEP / IREC accredited Continuing Education Providers
>>     970.672.4342 <tel:970.672.4342>
>>
>>
>>
>>     On Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 3:30 PM, boB at midnitesolar.com
>>     <mailto:boB at midnitesolar.com> <boB at midnitesolar.com
>>     <mailto:boB at midnitesolar.com>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>         Bill Brooks should probably respond to this also, but reading
>>         the NEC, it looks like if the wires
>>         do not go inside the building to run more than 5 feet (as the
>>         crow flies), the the rapid disconnect
>>         does not apply.    OR, less than 10 feet from the array IF
>>         the PV is mounted on that building.
>>
>>         boB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>         On 4/18/2014 1:34 PM, Aaron Mandelkorn wrote:
>>
>>             The rapid shutdown language is so confusing. When looking
>>             at the rapid shutdown language, does PV systems "on" a
>>             building refer to only situations where the array is on a
>>             building; or does it include DC conductors as well. For
>>             example, if the DC conductors from a pole mounted array
>>             run up the side of a building before punching in to the
>>             inverter, does this require rapid shutdown?  Is this PV
>>             system considered "on" a building?
>>
>>             Aaron
>>
>>             Aaron Mandelkorn
>>             Owner/Solar Specialist
>>             Renewable Energy Outfitters
>>             719-221-5249 <tel:719-221-5249>
>>             970-596-3744 <tel:970-596-3744>
>>             www.reosolar.com <http://www.reosolar.com>
>>             reosolar at gmail.com <mailto:reosolar at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
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