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<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>Peter,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>I'd like to take issue with one point you
make. The EDS is a utility requirement only, and is not required by Code. The
breaker (or if it's a line tap, the adjacent fused disconnect) serves the full
function of the Code-required disconnect and overcurrent protection. So keep the
AHJ out of this issue, as that only gives the utility a greater illusion of
legitimacy, and makes your own job harder. It seems to me that this is a utility
issue only, and should be treated as such.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>Andrew,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>PNM in New Mexico has required EDS's (here
they're called Customer Generation Disconnects, or CGDs), but they're optionally
exempt under 10kW per new state regs. They allow it to be located elsewhere if a
plaque and map are at the meter. Their website has changed re PV, and I can't
find a link to send you. Frank at PNM may be able to help, although he's very
busy these days: 505 362-7736.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>Your better approach is to defend the lack
of need for the EDS. The utility won't budge, but if they see it's
unnecessary, the location might then be flexible. See <A
href="http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/42675.pdf">http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/42675.pdf</A> for
an NREL report you can use.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=437534406-14012009></SPAN><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
class=437534406-14012009><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT><SPAN class=437534406-14012009>Allan at Positive
Energy</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT><SPAN class=437534406-14012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
class=437534406-14012009> </SPAN>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>ASAP
POWER! 2<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 13, 2009 1:34 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
'RE-wrenches'<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] signage for remote External
Disconnect Switches<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=875482319-13012009><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#000080 size=2>Andrew, </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=875482319-13012009><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#000080 size=2>Agree with purposes 1), 2). You'll have to
continue patiently educating both AHJ's and utilities meanwhile.
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=875482319-13012009><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000080
size=2>Most likely you would have to show the AHJ documentation of the utility's
allowed variance. Request a variance with a formal letter and fax it
to them. Show a complete site diagram showing a line of sight
from subpanel'd EDS location to the meter location if you can. If you
cannot, show on diagram distance and location of point to where you can show a
line of sight not through a structure. Let them know the diagram will be
an engraved or raised letter placard at proper letter size to be placed at
the EDS location.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
class=875482319-13012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000080 size=2><SPAN class=875482319-13012009>Peter
D.</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Andrew
Truitt<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:12 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] signage for remote External
Disconnect Switches<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid"><BR>I
have come to a conclusion: Utility companies serve two (2) purposes: 1)
To safely and profitably distribute electrical power and 2) To drive PV
integrators insane. <BR><BR>The particular utility of which I speak,
Allegheny Power, was responsible for convincing the Maryland PUC for requiring
External Disconnect Switches on PV installs if they are to be eligible for REC
generation. Now they have finally gotten around to inspecting a system
we installed a year ago where the EDS was located on the opposite side of the
house from the meter (we made our interconnection at a sub-panel) and they are
requiring us to move it back to the meter location (or install a 200A external
service disconnect).<BR><BR>Does anyone know of any documentation from a
utility or AHJ that accepts a weatherproof label (or plack) on the meter
indicating the location of the EDS when it is not convienient for the meter
and EDS to be co-located?<BR><BR><BR>Andrew Truitt<BR>Standard Solar
Inc.<BR><FONT color=#888888><BR><BR clear=all><BR>-- <BR>"Don't get me wrong:
I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion to fission. And it just
so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor safely banked a few million
miles from us. It delivers more than we could ever use in just about 8
minutes. And it's wireless!"<BR><BR>~William
McDonough<BR><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR
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