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--></style></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I don’t know about other parts of the country. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If we have a self contained revenue meter – ie the type that cuts off power to the building when it is pulled, then we just pull it for any type of supply side connection or service upgrade. Sometimes we have to cut the utility locking mechanism (we have meter locking rings in our territory) in order to pull the meter. We don’t get the utility involved. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">If the project has a CT style meter where pulling the meter doesn’t cut off power, then we have to setup a disconnect reconnect with the utility for supply side connections. Screwing around in a live panel even with insulation piercing conductors is a risk that is not worth taking. The utility can supply <i>a lot</i> of current on the supply side of a service! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">-August</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jason Szumlanski<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 11, 2016 9:11 AM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] supply side connection - Tap connector recommendations</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Don't kill the messenger. I just answered your "why" question.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In Florida the "installer" (a licensed solar contractor) must subcontract the AC interconnection to a licensed Electrical Contractor if the company is not directly qualified by one. The "installer" would be wise to subcontract that work to a well-qualified EC and make sure the work is done by trained competent staff.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">We do all kinds of dangerous and risky things in this industry. Installing a UL listed tap intended for use under these conditions can be extremely dangerous, but can also be done safely if conducted with the right safety precautions by qualified personnel in my opinion. If a subcontracted EC or any staff member deems the procedure unsafe, we would always err on the side of caution and require a meter pull.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jason</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all"></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 10:12 AM, Shasta Daiku <<a href="mailto:mjmorningstar@gmail.com" target="_blank">mjmorningstar@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Yes, “I get” that there is inconvenience in coordinating with the utility and inspectors, permitting, and power disruption. In my world that’s just a given part of the process. Of course there are circumstances where disconnecting a utility supply is nearly unavoidable, for instance, certain industrial processes that run 24/7. I am aware that the practice of installing line side taps on energized unfused conductors is common in the solar industry and always thought it pretty cavalier. I have to wonder just how many “installers” have had real training for live work and utilize proper personnel safety protection. Part of the classwork for this type of training is watching/viewing the results of things gone wrong, even when the best practices are applied. An indelible impression</p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">will certainly be imprinted, and an attitude of "avoiding the avoidable” second nature.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Michael </p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">On May 11, 2016, at 5:24 AM, Jason Szumlanski <<a href="mailto:jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com" target="_blank">jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com</a>> wrote:</p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">In some jurisdictions and for some utilities, pulling the meter is a MAJOR ordeal. Some jurisdictions require a "service change" permit on top of the solar permit just to have the meter pulled. It also requires getting an inspector out there at the perfect time to have it inspected so the the utility will re-install the meter. The homeowner is often without power for several hours, which is usually somewhere between inconvenient and unacceptable. Insulation piercing taps are extremely common around here for these reasons. With proper safety precautions and experience, I don't see any issue specifying and using them.</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jason Szumlanski</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><br clear="all"></span></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 12:26 AM, Shasta Daiku <<a href="mailto:mjmorningstar@gmail.com" target="_blank">mjmorningstar@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Kirpal, I’m curious what the reason is for making the tap on an energized line. Why not have the meter pulled? While insulation piercing taps are designed for “hot work”, there use for that should be limited to tapping conductors that have OCP, and aren’t under load, with generous working space, like in a piece of switch gear. Even in that situation, making taps on energized conductors should only be done when it’s an absolute necessity. I’ve got a large body of “hot work” under my belt, both line and load side and will say that face shields and hot gloves saved my butt on several occasions and I’ve got a nice scar on my neck from a molten piece of lug from a main breaker that broke apart while I was tightening up it’s mounting screw. Stuff happens. It’s always best to play it safe.</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Michael Morningstar</span></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p><div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">On May 10, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Chris Mason <<a href="mailto:cometenergysystems@gmail.com" target="_blank">cometenergysystems@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">This is what we use - we keep a selection in the van for difficult jobs.</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><div><h1 style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:22.5pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"futura_light_bt","serif";color:#333333">Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG</span></h1></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.5pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"inherit","serif";color:#7f7f7f;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Part #IPCS2001</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"inherit","serif";color:#333333"></span></p></div><div style="margin-top:7.5pt;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.5pt;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"inherit","serif";color:#333333;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG 2/0-4 Main, 10-14 AWG Tap, Dual Rated AL9CU, Torque Limiting Nut</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"inherit","serif";color:#333333"></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:27 PM, Kirpal Khalsa <<a href="mailto:solarworks@gmail.com" target="_blank">solarworks@gmail.com</a>>wrote:</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Hi Folks, </span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">We have a job requiring a supply side connection. Wondering if anyone could share some makes and models for connectors connecting to the wires between a main meter and the main breakers in the electrical panel. Ideally it would be able to be done hot. </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I am also looking into the ConnectDer meter collar but will have to coordinate with the utility for that and am looking to keep things simple. </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Thank you!!!!</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><br clear="all"></span></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Sunny Regards,<br>Kirpal Khalsa</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Oregon LRT#25<br>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional<br>Oregon Solarworks LLC<br><a href="http://www.oregonsolarworks.com/" target="_blank">www.oregonsolarworks.com</a><br><a href="tel:541-299-0402" target="_blank">541-299-0402</a></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><br><br clear="all"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> </span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">-- </span></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Chris Mason</span></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888">NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888"></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#222222">Solar Design Engineer</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888"></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888">Generac Generators Industrial technician</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888"></span></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#888888"> </span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.cometenergysystems.com/" target="_blank">www.cometsolar.com</a></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><a href="tel:264.235.5670" target="_blank">264.235.5670</a></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><a href="tel:869.662.5670" target="_blank">869.662.5670</a></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Skype: netconcepts</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">__________________</span></p></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div></div></body></html>