[RE-wrenches] Wire management devices

Mon Oct 13 19:33:52 PDT 2014

Christopher:

I'm not sure I understand your logic.  It seems you are saying:

1.   Life is dangerous anyway;

2.   Children have been exposed to dangerous voltages due to other people's
poor workmanship or lax enforcement;

3.   Performing safe and code compliant work is hard;

4.   240 VAC is more dangerous than 500 VDC.

5.   Therefore, there is no obligation to address unsafe and code
non-compliant situations in ground-mount PV systems.

If I understand this correctly, we are not going to agree on this one.  I
think it is incumbent on all of us to aspire to higher standards of safety
and I know it means working a little harder.  It can be done.

Sincerely,

William Miller

Lic 773985

millersolar.com

805-438-5600

-----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Christopher Warfel
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 10:34 AM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Wire management devices

I am well aware of all the possibilities of danger in many aspects of life.
This is not a main one in my opinion, and given that there are no good
solutions indicates to me that it is mostly an unsolvable problem unless you
wish to be impractical.  All I asked for were products that could provide a
solution. .  I have inspected in several states with solar programs that
will not enforce securing electrical enclosures in living spaces that have
access to 240 v. I even seen this situation in a children's play room.

I think that is more than a little more serious issue.

On 10/13/2014 11:27 AM, William Miller wrote:

> Christopher:

> 

> I believe strongly that the code requirement to protect PV wires from 

> unauthorized personnel is justified.  Ground mount arrays are 

> essentially jungle gyms and could attract children to climb.  If a 50 

> pound child inadvertently swings on a PV cable across a sharp metal 

> edge the insulation could easily be compromised.  The current limited 

> nature of PV means the current will sink through the short until the 

> short is opened, leaving up to

> 600 volts at fatal amperage exposed to the touch.  Inadequate ground 

> fault interruption technology does little to prevent the problem.

> 

> You cannot legally install a convenience receptacle at any height 

> above ground with the individual conductors exposed, so why should one 

> be allowed to install PV with individual conductors readily accessible?

> 

> I grant you that shielding PV wiring on a ground mount is a difficult 

> process.  It is very unfortunate that the industry has been allowed to 

> evolve without developing decent wire management hardware in the process.

> 

> If you are not aware of the work we have done on wire management 

> solutions, you might visit our website where we share all of our 

> ideas.  We are giving away trade secrets, but I feel a moral 

> obligation to help everyone in the industry deliver a safe product.

> 

> Most sincerely,

> 

> William Miller

> 

> 

> 

> Lic 773985

> millersolar.com

> 805-438-5600

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: RE-wrenches [ <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] 

> On Behalf Of Christopher Warfel

> Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 5:56 AM

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

> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Wire management devices

> 

> Thanks all, I don't see a good solution to what I think is a 

> non-existent problem.  I believe that anyone who wants to pull apart 

> dc subarray conductors is attempting to vandalize. It's not easy to 

> do, and you really have to be wondering why someone would even try. 

> Why don't we put all electrical outlets 8 feet off the ground?

> On 10/13/2014 2:27 AM, William Miller wrote:

>> Friends:

>> 

>> I looked at the Solarmount web site and I don't think the product

>> complies-- the wire management leaves leads exposed.  It's a nice 

>> start,

> however.

>> I was asked by Homepower to do an article on wire management.  I was 

>> flattered they'd ask, but I had to decline because there is so few 

>> options off-the-shelf that I can recommend.

>> 

>> William

>> 

>> Lic 773985

>> millersolar.com

>> 805-438-5600

>> 

>> 

> 

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--

Christopher Warfel, President

ENTECH Engineering, Inc.

PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807

401-466-8978

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