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

[Christopher Warfel]

I'd say you have it covered.  Chris

On 3/6/2026 10:29 PM, scot.arey--- via RE-wrenches wrote:
> 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.
> 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."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> So we are left with the fact that an inverter output circuit is 
> alternating current, as defined under NEC 2023. Definition in Section 100:
>
>
> 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
>
>
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-- 
Christopher Warfel, PE
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
(401) 447-5773
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