<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Its good to hear of interest in other locales to participate more </span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">rigorously</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"> in the inspection process.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">I'm thinking with the recent stories shared here on the list, that if more of this was done, there might be less challenges like systems not operating at their</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">full potential for years of service life to the fires we have heard about.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Building power plants, regardless of their size, should be taken seriously and a complete inspection will mitigate the likelihood of degraded system performance and hazards.</span></font></div><div><font
class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Matt- you feedback on string monitoring the other day ties into this premise. If we had the granular data and as an industry, held ourselves accountable, we would have less failures</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">and all of the other issues related to systems that produce less than desirable results.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"
size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Reason being- from detailed inspections to expected system performance goals, these would be seared in the minds of installers and </span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">continuously</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"> encourage the raising of the bar</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; ">in the installation practices, as the installation to inspection authorities would have examples of what is a good installation and what needs improvement on.</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span
class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; "><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; ">Quality control moving forward is critical to the success of our industry, or we will be out there over the next 4-6 years repairing systems, potentially unnecessarily. </span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; ">Especially true in Q4 of every year, as the mad scramble to install work continues to hit the deadline of Dec 31st, even though this year you have some flexibility</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; ">with the treasury grant of installing 5%. Still doesn't address our ability to have someone inspect
systems here that has a comprehensive way of identifying</span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt; ">a systems efficacy over time.</span></font></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: black; "><br><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Andrew Truitt <atruitt@gmail.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Mon, November 15, 2010 5:45:56 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Inspectors on ladders and roofs<br></font><br>
<br>In many jurisdictions in Maryland the inspectors require photos of the array showing grounding, wire management, footings, etc... Like Mr. Nelson, my experience in the Bay Area (back in '04-'05) was that the installer was responsible for supplying an OSHA compliant means to access the roof for the inspector. Not exactly sure why the difference, but I think it has to do with the fact that MD inspectors aren't as familiar with the technology / equipment. Clearly photos are not equivalent to getting on the roof - I've examined systems that passed these type of "inspections" with loose ground lugs, poor wire management, and leaky footings.<br>
<br clear="all"><br><span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0);">For a brighter energy future,<br><br>Andrew Truitt</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br>NABCEP Certified PV Installer<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">™</span> (ID# 032407-66)</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0);"></span><span style="color:rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br>
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<br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 7:53 PM, Mike Nelson <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:mdelectricsolar@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:mdelectricsolar@gmail.com">mdelectricsolar@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex;">
<div>Keith,</div>
<div>Here in rural Mendocino & Sonoma county, our inspectors love to climb on the roof, and look at everything. I've opened combiner boxes, explained WEEBS, talked about sub-structure in the roof, etc. I always get to the job early on inspection day, and set up a ladder in an easy to climb location. I welcome the opportunity to interface with the inspectors, and hear their side, which usually includes alot of questions, and some interesting stories.</div>
<div>Michael D. Nelson</div>
<div>MD Electric & Solar</div>
<div>Gualala Ca.<br><br></div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><div><div></div><div class="h5">On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 6:37 PM, Keith Cronin <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:electrichi01@yahoo.com" target="_blank" href="mailto:electrichi01@yahoo.com">electrichi01@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div></div><blockquote style="border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;" class="gmail_quote"><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<div>
<div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">
<div>
<div style="margin:0px;"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="border-bottom-style:none;background-color:transparent;">Wrenches</span>....</span></font></div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br></span></font></div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Today, when I ran into one of our electrical inspectors, we had a discussion about having the ability to have </span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:13px;">thorough</span></font><font face="arial,
helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;"> inspections for solar.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin:0px;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;">In our </span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><span style="font-size:13px;">jurisdictional</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="font-size:10pt;">, they are not allowed/required to go on to the roof.</span></font></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">So, how do they ever get to see all of the grounding and mounting methods used on a roof and verify whether or not they are adequate?</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">Sure, they ask to open the electrical infrastructure on the ground, but what about the stuff on top? Combiner box check? </div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">Wiring routed in a way that meets the standard?</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">What's it like by you?</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">Thanks</div>
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;"><br></div><font color="#888888">
<div style="margin:0px;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:10pt;">Keith</div></font></div>
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