[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
scot.arey at solarcentex.com
Sat Mar 7 13:44:48 PST 2026
You have identified a good friction point. A code inspector might say '705, blah blah...690 says it deals with "array circuit (s), inverter (s), and..." '
But I think you are absolutely right to look at 705 for "Wiring Methods." The paragraph (C) covers the Enphase MC cable but it is (A) that says can use wiring methods approved elsewhere in code and that means Chapter 3.
Phew...
[cid:8d7fa9ec-b3f4-4c6c-9412-823a4dff36b8]
Howard "Scot" Arey
Owner, Solar CenTex
254-300-1228
________________________________
From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> on behalf of Zeke Yewdall via RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2026 10:16 AM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Zeke Yewdall <zeke at darkforestsolar.com>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023
I think he's having trouble with the definitions of different circuits.
Figure 705.1 shows a diagram showing where the inverter output circuit is, which is what he's talking about, not a PV output circuit or a PV source circuit, which is what most of 690 addresses, and are shown in the figures in 690... however it is confusing when they throw in current rating for an inverter output circuit in 690.8.
I can't quickly find any references to requirements for inverter output circuits, other than all of the stuff in 705 about interconnecting them.
The language about the over 150 volts to ground is from 690.7(D) back in 2011... not sure when they removed it, but it's not in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 books I have handy....
Zeke
On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 9:07 PM <re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org>> wrote:
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Today's Topics:
1. Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments and my
response. City is on NEC 2023 (scot.arey at solarcentex.com<mailto:scot.arey at solarcentex.com>)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2026 03:29:56 +0000
From: "scot.arey at solarcentex.com<mailto:scot.arey at solarcentex.com>" <scot.arey at solarcentex.com<mailto:scot.arey at solarcentex.com>>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org<mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of it? His
comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023
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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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Zeke Yewdall
PV Engineer
NABCEP #031508-89
zeke at darkforestsolar.com<mailto:zeke at darkforestsolar.com>
303-523-3592
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