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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Jason,<br>
<br>
It seems to me that two of the exceptions in 240.24 may apply to
your situation. Most significantly (4) For overcurrent devices
adjacent to utilization equipment that they supply, access shall
be permitted to be by portable means. Thus using a latter to
access the ac combiner on the roof should be permitted. There
should also be an accessible disconnect elsewhere (at the panel
feeding the combiner for instance.) That (may) makes the breakers
in the ac combiner supplementary and thus they wouldn't have to be
accessible.<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.bluemountainsolar.com">www.bluemountainsolar.com</a>
</pre>
On 2/8/2013 7:27 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAJJtG3q176sqAXhYnGs0iu=+pnAPKj8RPGG9vQ4Rmrc-LwDacw@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Oh, yes - that is a great application for the
MNPV-AC. I didn't mean to imply there isn't a good use for them.
In this particular instance the three MVPV-AC's are really
subcombiners that get all get tied together in another subpanel
at ground level. They really were not necessary, but made it
more convenient and cost effective.
<div>
<br>
</div>
<div>It's just interesting how Midnite advertises that they can
be mounted as flat as a 3:12 pitch. What application would
allow this mounting angle where it is still readily
accessible? The spec/advertising seems to imply that these can
be roof mounted in an AC string combining application.
<div>
<br>
</div>
<div>The Soladeck combiner with fuses would appear to be
non-code compliant in any situation. I would love for
someone to refute that in a convincing way given the access
requirements in 240.24(A).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><strong
style="color:rgb(128,128,128);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Jason
Szumlanski</strong></div>
<div><em
style="color:rgb(128,128,128);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Fafco
Solar</em></div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 7:31 PM, jay
peltz <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jay@asis.com" target="_blank">jay@asis.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word">Hi Jason,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Is it possible to install them on the side of a
building?</div>
<div>And Dan's suggestion for the remote midnite might
be perfect.</div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
<div>
<br>
</div>
<div>jay</div>
</font></span>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>On Feb 7, 2013, at 3:55 PM, Jason
Szumlanski wrote:</div>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Jay,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I assume you mean pitched roofs, or
not readily accessible flat roofs. This
particular project happens to be a flat
commercial roof, but with no permanent
ladder or hatch. I really didn't have to
use the MNPV6-AC's, but it made sense in
this case (excluding the access issue).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Looks like my options are to remove
the combiners or install a permanent
access. Neither are fun options. Live
and learn...<br>
<br>
<div>
<div
style="font-size:13px;font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<div style="margin:0 0 8px 0">
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080"><strong>Jason
Szumlanski</strong><em> </em></span></div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080"><em>Fafco
Solar</em></span><br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 7,
2013 at 6:27 PM, jay peltz <span
dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jay@asis.com"
target="_blank">jay@asis.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc
solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word">I'm
with your inspector on this.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I don't install fuses or
breakers on roofs</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>jay</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>peltz power</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<div>
<div>
<div>On Feb 7, 2013, at 12:02
PM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:</div>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>While I haven't
completely convinced the
latest inspector about PV
not being mechanical
equipment, I'm running
into another issue.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I decided to try out
the new Midnite MNPV6-AC
combiner for Enphase
circuits. Because there
are overcurrent devices
inside, the inspector
now insists that NEC
240.24(A) applies and
that the enclosure must
be readily accessible,
meaning you have to
reach it without a
ladder. That would seem
to make the MNPV6-AC as
a roof mounted solution,
or Soladeck combiner
boxes, or any other
combiner box
incorporating
overcurrent protection,
pretty much useless on a
pitched roof or flat
roof without a permanent
access ladder or hatch. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>I'm debating whether
to go to battle on this
one or just capitulate. <br>
<br>
</div>
<div>
<div
style="font-size:13px;font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<div style="margin:0 0
8px 0">
<div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080"><strong>Jason Szumlanski</strong><em> </em></span></div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080"><em>Fafco Solar</em></span><br>
</div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080"><em><br>
</em></span></div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><span
style="color:#808080">P.S. To answer benn's question, there is no
definition of
'mechanical,'
but it does
define
'equipment,'
and it's clear
to me that PV
does not fit
the
description.</span></div>
</div>
<div
style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://mbers.re-wrenches.org/"
target="_blank">mbers.re-wrenches.org</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</blockquote>
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