[RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023

[scot.arey at solarcentex.com]

Read and reply only if you want to stick it to an inspector 🙂

System is 19 modules with Enphase IQ8: NM through attic and he insists it must be guarded or in conduit. His comment back to me on why he failed the inspection and I tried to tell him that the IQ8 output is not a PV source circuit.


Good afternoon,  I have just read your email and would like to inform you that your code reference is spot on.  690.6 A PV Source Circuit refers to a NRTL  Listed assembly and is exclusive to the wiring from the Panel to the Microinverter, it as a listed assembly is not subject to the DC rules of 690..  690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt from the rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states, “Circuits over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family dwellings, live parts in PV source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible to other than qualified persons while energized.  The commentary for this code states, Conduit, closed cabinets, or enclosures that require tools to open them are means of limiting access to qualified persons only.  These circuits are production and not utilization circuits and therefore must be protected from physical damage and errant tampering.  As was noted at Plan Review

Dd

My proposed response:

I have read your reply and believe you have mis-cited code references. You wrote:

"690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt from the rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states, “Circuits over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family dwellings, live parts in PV source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible to other than qualified persons while energized."

690.6b is here.
[cid:1554f576-5063-4098-a38c-3a8291b6699d]
690.7 (D) does not reference "circuits over 150-volts..." but is pasted here. This is a reference to marking of direct current (DC) PV circuits. This does not apply because the inverter output circuit is not a "DC PV Circuit."

[cid:5e6c0708-cbd2-4be2-82c4-44f97a1db3d2]
________________________________


The section that almost refers to "PV output circuits over 150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible" is not in NEC 2023 which is what Temple uses. I have pasted the 2020 language, which is not the language you cite to me, and even that is referring to "PV source and output" circuits and the NEC  2020 definition of "PV source and output" deals with DC. I have pasted and highlighted that definition below.

[cid:407b334f-2b4d-4975-8f4a-22d82c45293c]



[cid:2f2cd9f6-90e8-4b1e-a1d6-62dbf28e2fd0]
[cid:fb85f1f2-2846-4c4a-807c-b3085e9bbe29]


So we are left with the fact that an inverter output circuit is alternating current, as defined under NEC 2023. Definition in Section 100:

[cid:4bd3f0a1-dd27-4c5b-a5c7-335f132f38cd]


We are left with Chapter 3 wiring to address this AC circuit. There is no NEC 2023 reference to "These circuits are production and not utilization circuits and therefore must be protected from physical damage and errant tampering." Simply not in code.

If you insist I put the AC wire in conduit, please tell me the requirement. If it's "I just want it in conduit" then just ell me that. But there is little to justify it in NEC 2023.





Howard "Scot" Arey
Owner, Solar CenTex

NABCEP PV Installation Professional
TECL 29755
254-300-1228
[cid:f2ce8538-438b-48d0-92e0-1e00d98cc434]

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