[RE-wrenches] New Construction Enphase Romex / NM

Jason Szumlanski jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com
Tue Jul 26 12:46:25 PDT 2016


August,

That's exactly what we have been hit with before. I just got good news a
few minutes ago that one major jurisdiction here made the exception to
allow Romex into a Soladeck, and they will even consider Romex in a short
piece of conduit to a roof mounted PVC box. In fact, the person I spoke to
cited the outdoor electrical outlets as a prime example of where Romex is
traditionally allowed into the back of a box in a wet location.

Logic prevails!

Jason


On Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 2:56 PM, August Goers <august at luminalt.com> wrote:

> Hi Jason,
>
>
>
> We’re in a territory where we can’t run Romex (NM) directly into Soladecks
> because of the wet location issue. I actually think inspectors are easing
> up on enforcing this particular code grey area, but nonetheless we haven’t
> run NM directly into Soladecks. I imagine that using a regular NM cable
> clamp connector would work.
>
>
>
> When we do run NM, we terminate it in indoors in a permanently accessible
> box typically located in the attic or on the ceiling or wall by the roof
> penetration location. Then, we run EMT through the roof and to our rooftop
> J-box. THWN-2 is run between these two boxes. Then, the microinverter (or
> ACPV) wire is spliced to the THWN-2 at the rooftop J-box. Yes, this means
> three wire types for each install! We’re using splice cap crimp connectors
> for all of our splices which we’re very happy with:
> http://www.idealindustries.ca/products/wire_termination/terminals_crimps/crimp_connector_splice_cap.php
> - ferrules are available for fine stranded conductors.
>
>
>
> August
>
>
>
> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Jason Szumlanski
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 26, 2016 9:08 AM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] New Construction Enphase Romex / NM
>
>
>
> It seems like most jurisdictions are now allowing a transition to Romex in
> a Soladeck box where the Romex enters the attic immediately and runs in
> protected space all the way back to a load-side interconnection or combiner
> panel. Two issues:
>
>
>
>    - How are you bringing the Romex into the back of the Soladeck?
>    Standard metallic strain relief or strain relief with rubber compression
>    gasket or other means?
>    - Assuming you can't use a Soladeck due to the roof type and are using
>    a standard PVC roof junction box mounted to a rail with conduit to get into
>    the attic, are you transitioning from Enphase cable to THWN-2 in the j-box,
>    then installing a PVC or metallic pass-through box in the attic to
>    transition to Romex? Even though it's a short distance from the j-box to
>    the point where the conduit penetrates the roof plane, it's still a wet
>    location so Romex isn't allowed. In fact, some jurisdictions are requiring
>    this even for Soladeck boxes because they consider the Soladeck an
>    enclosure in a wet location so the inside must also be considered a wet
>    location, making the transition to Romex improper in their opinion.
>
>
>
>
>
> Jason Szumlanski
>
> Florida Solar Design Group
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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