[RE-wrenches] Source Circuit Disconnect - 690.14 (C)(1)

Christopher Warfel cwarfel at entech-engineering.com
Wed Jan 6 08:41:50 PST 2016


The inspector is missing one of the most often used exceptions for 
running dc conductors inside buildings. There are many presentations 
showing this method and many pictures also.

On 1/4/2016 3:46 PM, Dana wrote:
>
> Our inspectors are OK with building entrance (before disconnect) as 
> long as it is metal conduit _before _it enters the building envelope 
> and is metal conduit all the way to the disconnect on the exterior.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dana Orzel
>
> Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136
>
> E - dana at solarwork.com  - Web - solarwork.com
>
> O - 970.626.5253  C - 208.721.7003
>
> "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
>
> *P*Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] 
> *On Behalf Of *Daniel Young
> *Sent:* Monday, January 04, 2016 12:05 PM
> *To:* 'RE-wrenches'
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Source Circuit Disconnect - 690.14 (C)(1)
>
> You could show them the 2011 or 2014 NEC, both of which clarify this 
> (rather than making a new rule), so the inspector might accept this 
> rational. The numbers are a bit different now in the 2014 code (and 
> there is an error in the referencing, the exception in 690.13 (A) 
> points to 690.31 (F), where it’s actually in 690.31 (G)). But both 
> 2011 and 2014 solve the circular reference issue with the 2008 code.
>
> In 2008, the code says (690.14 C 1) a disconnect needs to be at the 
> point of penetration, unless it follows the rule (690.31 E) where DC 
> is installed in metallic conduit, and complies with the first rule 
> (690.14) that requires the disconnect be at the point of penetration, 
> unless it follows the rule (690.31 E)…… round and round we go.
>
> Common sense would seem to acknowledge that the exception allows you 
> to locate the disconnect elsewhere, but we have dealt with a few 
> inspectors in the area that feel like they want a disconnect anyway. I 
> think it was a simple fix in those cases, we submitted an objection 
> (with code references) in writing, and just put a disconnect in to 
> close the permit.
>
> With Regards,
>
> Daniel Young,
>
> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional^TM : Cert #031508-90
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] 
> *On Behalf Of *Carl Adams
> *Sent:* Monday, January 04, 2016 10:59 AM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Source Circuit Disconnect - 690.14 (C)(1)
>
> Fellow Wrenches,
>
> We recently failed an inspection on a new PV installation
>
> We are operating under the 2008 code
>
> I have attached a small sketch of our conduit routing to clarify things.
>
> Inspectors note post inspection ...provide a photovoltaic 
> disconnecting means per 690.14 (C)(1)
>
> During his inspection the inspector was unhappy that we had entered 
> the attic space with the DC source circuits, saying we should have run 
> the conduit across the roof and kept it outside. Since we entered the 
> building we would need to add a DC disconnect in the attic to meet 
> code.  My thought is that we fall under the exception listed 
> (690.31(E)) since all source circuit internal to the dwelling are in 
> metallic raceways.  I'd like to hear other wrenches chime in on this.
>
> Our reason for routing things as we did was to keep the installation 
> aesthetics first class and minimize unsightly conduit runs.
>
> Code section follows
>
> 690.14 Additional Provisions. Photovoltaic disconnecting
>
> means shall comply with 690.14(A) through (D).690.14
>
> (C) Requirements for Disconnecting Means. Means
>
> shall be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building
>
> or other structure from the photovoltaic system conductors.
>
> (1) Location. The photovoltaic disconnecting means shall
>
> be installed at a readily accessible location either on the
>
> outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point
>
> of entrance of the system conductors.
>
> Exception: Installations that comply with 690.31(E) shall
>
> be permitted to have the disconnecting means located remote
>
> from the point of entry of the system conductors.
>
> The photovoltaic system disconnecting means shall not
>
> be installed in bathrooms.
>
>  690.31 (E) reads as follows
>
> (E) Direct-Current Photovoltaic Source and Output
>
> Circuits Inside a Building. Where direct-current photovoltaic
>
> source or output circuits of a utility-interactive inverter
>
> from a building-integrated or other photovoltaic system are
>
> run inside a building or structure, they shall be contained in
>
> metal raceways, or metal enclosures, from the point of penetration
>
> of the surface of the building or structure to the
>
> first readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting
>
> means shall comply with 690.14(A) through (D).
>
> With Regards
>
> Carl Adams, President
>
> SunRock Solar, LLC
>
> 513.290.9072 <tel:513.290.9072> (cell)
>
> 513.766.6025 <tel:513.766.6025> (office)
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
> Version: 2015.0.6176 / Virus Database: 4489/11287 - Release Date: 12/30/15
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>

-- 
Christopher Warfel, President
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
401-466-8978

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20160106/fc82d4d1/attachment-0002.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: cwarfel.vcf
Type: text/x-vcard
Size: 100 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20160106/fc82d4d1/attachment-0004.vcf>


More information about the RE-wrenches mailing list