[RE-wrenches] TC-ER Cable for PV Source Curcuit

[jay]

I once worked with someone when they were brought in to fix an orphaned system would do a survey of the system.  List every issue and what it would take to fix.  Some were non negotiable, had to fix like the electrical issue you show.  Others  might be something that he’d be ok with the owner signing off that it could be an issue say with racking or suspect panels or unknown condition of the batteries,  the inverters or maybe messy wiring but not unsafe etc.  
If they said no, he walked because he didn’t want to be held accountable as he would have been the last to touch it and any issues would be his after that.

Good luck.  






> On May 31, 2025, at 11:03 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> 
> Subtitle: can you please burn my house down?
> 
> I ran across a home with a complete mess of TC-ER Cable used for DC circuits operating at ~450V. I know you can't run TC-ER in conduit unless it has an EGC in the cable jacket, and you certainly can't suspend it from the ceiling like in the attached pictures, but it got me thinking...
> 
> Would it be acceptable to use TC-ER between array sections where not subject to physical damage and where properly secured, supported, and terminated? I know the answers are going to come back as why not just use Type PV, or THWN in conduit, and do it "right," but I'm still curious. I have a feeling I'm going to find a whole lot more TC-ER on this island where a guy had free reign with no AHJ inspections. I found a neighbor with TC-ER running unprotected and improperly supported through an attic with a green THWN EGC following alongside. The TC-ER just pokes through the roof with some goop around it. I really don't want to touch these systems without correcting egregious fire safety issues. It's tough making that argument to people when their house hasn't burned down for the last X years since it was installed. 
> 
> P.S. Yes, in the lower right of one of these images, those are the battery cables running outdoors, completely unprotected from physical damage. Total hack job. 
> 
> 
> 
> Jason Szumlanski 
> Florida Solar Design Group 
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