[RE-wrenches] Mounting height

Jarmo.Venalainen at schneider-electric.com Jarmo.Venalainen at schneider-electric.com
Thu Oct 23 10:25:46 PDT 2014


Hi:

Prior to my current role in training I was working in product development. 
 Regarding minimum mounting clearances, inverter manufacturers are 
required to test their equipment so that no component inside goes above 
its rated temperature during normal operation at a specified ambient 
temperature.  At temperatures above that the unit must behave in ways 
which maintains the internal temperatures of all components within their 
spec, (typically the inverter derates).

The test for what gets published is done in a set-up where there are walls 
on both sides, top and bottom, but the very front surface of the enclosure 
is left open at a distance of 36" as shown in the diagram below.



As a rule of thumb when comparing inverter specs, looking at the minimum 
clearances and specified normal ambient temperature will give you a good 
indication of how well the unit dissipates heat.  If the manufacturer 
specifies very tight clearances at a higher ambient temp, then you know 
that the device is able to dissipate heat well and will in fact run cooler 
if given more room to breathe.

As inverter manufacturers we don't, (and really cant), stay abreast of all 
the installation codes which apply in the US and throughout the rest of 
the world.  What we do is to try to make sure the our bottom clearance 
minimum is less than what is allowed in the codes.

JARMO

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 


Jarmo Venalainen  |   Schneider Electric   |  Solar Business  |   CANADA | 
  Training & Development Specialist - Senior 
Phone: +604-422-2528  |   Fax: +604-420-1591  |   Mobile: +604-505-0291 
Email: jarmo.venalainen at schneider-electric.com  |   Site: www.SEsolar.com 
|   Address: 3700 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, BC V5G4M1 


*** Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail 




From:
Dave Click <daveclick at fsec.ucf.edu>
To:
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org, 
Date:
10/23/2014 09:45 AM
Subject:
Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height
Sent by:
"RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>



I believe that I was told in a 2005-ish Xantrex GT training that their 
minimum clearance (~30") requirement came from the need to be above lawn 
sprinklers. I can't remember offhand seeing this reason given in any 
recent manual, so any bottom clearances required in the manual may apply 
to you even if you're inside.


On 2014/10/23 0:59, frenergy wrote:
Bob-O, Peter, Garrison,
 
        I appreciate the responses, will proceed accordingly.  I have seen 
some references to minimum distance to floor in some manuals.  Thank you,
 
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Garrison Riegel 
To: 'RE-wrenches' 
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

Bill,
 
See 2011 NEC 690.14(D) or 2014 NEC 690.15(A) Utility-Interactive Inverters 
Mounted in Not Readily Accessible Locations.  Basically there is no 
maximum height restriction for inverters but there are a number of 
requirements for AC and DC disconnecting means.  See NEC 404.8 for maximum 
disconnect height of 6’ 7”…although exception No. 2 may allow the 
disconnect to be accessible by portable means.  I don’t know of any 
minimum height requirements in the code, although most (all?) string and 
microinverter manufacturers specify a required clearance below the 
inverter.  I suppose that would be the minimum. 
 
Garrison   
 
Garrison Riegel
Project Manager | Solar Service Inc
[p] 847-677-0950 | garrison at solarserviceinc.com
 
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™
 
 
From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On 
Behalf Of frenergy
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 11:02 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height
 
Wrenches,
 
        I can't seem to find a reference to the heights allowable for 
inverter installs, either minimum or maximum (need both).  For that 
matter, AC combiners, DC discos, any switchgear related to the 
inverter(s).
 
        Any help appreciated.
 
Bill
Feather River Solar Electric
solar powered since 1982
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