[RE-wrenches] DC Disconnects incorporated into grid-tie inverters. flammable surfaces

[Drake]

Hello William,

A separable DC disconnect is very important to me, and certainly 
should be standard equipment.

On the issue of flammable materials, I had the same question on an 
installation. A tech support person claimed that flammable referred 
to easily ignitable materials where as combustible referred to 
materials like wood. He told me it was ok to mount their inverter on 
a wood surface, as it was combustible, but not flammable. I've heard 
no more about the subject since. I hope it is true. Looking up the 
words in the dictionary, I don't seem that distinction.

Drake

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


At 11:11 PM 8/6/2015, you wrote:
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>Dear Friends:
>
>I have been pursuing some answers from Solectria on what appear to 
>be significant defects in the design of their residential PVI series 
>inverters.  I have finally received some final answers from them on 
>a few issues and I am waiting on final answers on 
>others.  Unfortunately the answers are not good.
>
>1.    Apparently the electronics portion of the PVI series inverter 
>cannot be separated from the DC disconnect.  If you want to replace 
>that inverter, you need to remove the entire chassis.  This of 
>course exposes the lone service worker to high voltage DC.  The unit 
>looks like it can be separated but they tell me it cannot be.  This 
>reminds me of the Fronius IG series inverter.  I argued with Fronius 
>for an entire day about how idiotic it was to propose tarping panels 
>to protect service workers.  I submit that an inverter without a 
>separatable disconnect requires an outboard DC disconnect or it is 
>not viable.  The DC disconnect adds cost and clutter to any install.
>
>Solectria has an outboard, remotely activated disconnect.  I was 
>hoping to get my hands on one at a recent local sales seminar 
>Solectria held, but the goofball presenting the seminar did not 
>bother bringing one ( I can call him a goof ball because he has 
>since left Solectria.  I would not otherwise call anyone at a 
>manufacturer a name, they are all good people doing the best job 
>they can with the products they are hired to represent).  Anyway, 
>before I bid another Solectria I will price compare with the cost of 
>the remote disconnect included.  I won't install one until I have 
>touched the device to verify it is suitable.
>
>I am taking a poll:  Which GT inverters have included, separatable 
>DC disconnects?  How easy are they to replace?  How important is it 
>to you that the DC disconnect be separatable?
>
>2.    The Solectria PVI installation manual indicates the inverter 
>is not to be mounted to "flammable surfaces."  You cannot mount 
>these inverter on a wood surface, indoors or out.  The bracket is 
>not wide enough to span two studs in most cases, so if you are 
>mounting it inside, you cannot mount it on a plywood backboard and 
>you cannot mount it on the exterior of a wood-sheeted structure.  It 
>is not unlikely that if any trees are near your inverter, a few 
>leaves will likely become lodged behind the inverter over time and 
>they then could burst into flames.  To me this inverter heating 
>seems very limiting.  It makes me think:  do I want to install a 
>fire-starter on or in my customers homes?
>
>Do any of you know of any other inverters that get hot enough to 
>ignite the surface onto which they are mounted?
>
>Thanks for the input.
>
>William Miller
>
>Gradient Cap_mini
>
>Lic 773985
><http://www.millersolar.com/>millersolar.com
>805-438-5600
>
>
>
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