<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">HI BIll;<div><br></div><div>I'm still slightly confused: </div><div>I think you are saying that the #8 can go straight to the service panel grounding buss? (as per 690.47(C)6&8) </div><div><br></div><div>What about 690.47 (D) that requires an array ground to go to a supplemental electrode installed "as close as practicable to the array....."</div><div>For Enphase, can we apply Exception 1 "....electrode not required, where the load served by the array is integral with the array" ?</div><div><br></div><div><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div>R. Walters</div><div><a href="mailto:ray@solarray.com">ray@solarray.com</a></div><div>Solar Engineer</div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><div><br class="khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span>
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<br><div><div>On Sep 14, 2010, at 9:41 AM, Bill Brooks wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; "><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">Mark and Rebekah,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">The term “continuous” is a requirement for any circuit and implies electrical continuity and current-carrying capability. Both the GEC and EGC must be continuous or you don’t got one. It is not defined in NEC Article 100.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">What most people are referring to when they say that a GEC must be continuous is “unbroken” or the NEC talks about “irreversibly spliced.” Splicing of a GEC is usually a last resort because there is no other option. For instance, multiple bonding jumpers coming off of multiple inverters would need to be irreversibly spliced to the main GEC that should proceed unbroken from the farthest inverter from the grounding electrode. 250.66 for ac and 250.166 for dc are consistent in requiring the minimum GEC to be 8AWG copper. Since the GEC for Enphase starts at the inverter on the roof, you must have a minimum of 8AWG running among the microinverters and down to the grounding electrode system. In the 2008 NEC and 2011 NEC, this conductor can serve the purpose of the ac EGC as well and can be terminated on the service panel grounding bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">Bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(181, 196, 223); border-top-width: 1pt; padding-top: 3pt; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; ">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Rebekah Hren<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tuesday, September 14, 2010 7:25 AM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [RE-wrenches] GEC for Enphase inverters<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p> </o:p></div><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">The code does require the GEC to be continuous (250.64C), and I believe that the AC EGC for the Enphase metal inverter cases is in fact the same as the DC GEC since the point of system bonding on the DC side is inside the inverter. <o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">See art. 100 definitions:<b>Grounding Electrode Conductor. A conductor used to</b><o:p></o:p></div></div><p class="p1" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><b>connect the system grounded conductor...to a point on the grounding electrode</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="p1" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><b>system.</b><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br>So this means that for Enphase systems the AC EGC (which is also the DC GEC) should be at minimum 8 awg (250.66) and continuous? Seems like it to me. <o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; ">Rebekah Hren<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><br><br>--- On<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Tue, 9/14/10, Mark Frye<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i><<a href="mailto:markf@berkeleysolar.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">markf@berkeleysolar.com</a>></i></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>wrote:<o:p></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><br>From: Mark Frye <<a href="mailto:markf@berkeleysolar.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">markf@berkeleysolar.com</a>><br>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] GEC for Enphase inverters<br>To: "'RE-wrenches'" <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 10:05 AM<o:p></o:p></p><div id="yiv1974489623"><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="yiv1974489623468365813-14092010"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: blue; ">I believe the AC GEC runs from; the point where the ungrounded current carrying conductor is bonded to the enclosure of the service enterance equipment; to the connection to the ground electrode system. Conductors that run from the service enterance equipment, thru the premis to the Enphase are bonding jumpers that are not required to be continuous.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Mark Frye</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Berkeley Solar Electric Systems</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">303 Redbud Way</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">Nevada City, CA 95959</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">(530) 401-8024</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><a href="http://www.berkeleysolar.com/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; ">www.berkeleysolar.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "> <o:p></o:p></div></div><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center; "><hr size="2" width="100%" align="center"></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; ">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>William Miller<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Monday, September 13, 2010 9:46 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[RE-wrenches] GEC for Enphase inverters</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; ">Friends:<br><br>According to the 2005 NEC 250.64(C), the GEC for an AC system needs to be continuous without splices unless they are irreversible. I am not clear where this conductor starts and ends. Is it from the ground buss in a sub-panel to the disconnect switch on the roof, or to each inverter?<br><br>Also, non-reversible splices need to be listed for use in grounding systems. Any suggestions on make and model of splices so listed?<br><br>Any advise from those more experienced is much appreciated.<br><br>William Miller<o:p></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><u>Please note new e-mail address and domain:<br><br></u>William Miller<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Miller Solar<br>Voice :805-438-5600<br>email:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">william@millersolar.com</a><br><a href="http://millersolar.com/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://millersolar.com<br></a>License No. C-10-773985<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; "><br>-----Inline Attachment Follows-----<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 12pt; ">_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<br><br>List Address:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="x-msg://324/mc/compose?to=RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Options & settings:<br><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List-Archive:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" target="_blank" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>List sponsored by Home Power magazine<br><br>List Address:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>Options & settings:<br><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List-Archive:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a><br><br>List rules & etiquette:<br><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a><br><br>Check out participant bios:<br><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a><br><br></div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>