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<p>I wouldn't blame the inspector, I would blame the NEC. All the
changes, moving stuff back and forth, stuff being a requirement
and then not a requirement, and then another code iteration, its a
requirement again? (array grounding?!?) Everyone is confused,
installers and inspectors alike. AND, that seem to be the goal for
certain members of the NEC. Mission accomplished: total
confusion. </p>
<p>Specifically: while I agree that splitting 690 into other
sections like 705 was a good idea, the execution was poor. The
language is poor. Diagrams and additional info in the handbook
that should clear up some of the confusion? Also poor.
Considering the stakes and the size of the industry, this is just
ridiculous. </p>
<p>Mean while to make it even tougher, local jurisdictions are
stepping in with their own additional requirements, to the point
that it takes longer and more work to get a permit approved, than
it takes to do the actual installation. Goal: make solar less
affordable? Mission accomplished. </p>
<p>End result: more and more homeowners are just buying "kits" on
the internet and getting their beer drinking buddy to help
install. </p>
<p>Is solar safer now? NO </p>
<p>Are home electrical systems safer now? NO</p>
<p>Is the solar industry and electrical industry as a whole worse
off? YES</p>
<p>I know we have some good folks on the NEC that are honest and
working hard, but they are being foiled at every turn by folks
with ulterior motives and ulterior funding sources. Meanwhile, if
the current administration wants to improve electrical safety and
save American jobs, how about stopping the flood of non UL listed
garbage hitting Amazon?</p>
<p>Ray Walters<br>
Remote Solar</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/7/2026 9:16 AM, Zeke Yewdall via
RE-wrenches wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CANC8fmRe5uLgXV23dD-9OK3Ohfom6OX4Tt0qpvRcvri=VPz4YA@mail.gmail.com">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>I think he's having trouble with the definitions of
different circuits.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Figure 705.1 shows a diagram showing where the inverter
output circuit is, which is what he's talking about, not a
PV output circuit or a PV source circuit, which is what most
of 690 addresses, and are shown in the figures in 690...
however it is confusing when they throw in current rating
for an inverter output circuit in 690.8.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I can't quickly find any references to requirements for
inverter output circuits, other than all of the stuff in 705
about interconnecting them.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The language about the over 150 volts to ground is from
690.7(D) back in 2011... not sure when they removed it, but
it's not in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 books I have handy....</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Zeke</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at
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target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">re-wrenches-request@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<br>
Today's Topics:<br>
<br>
1. Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments
and my<br>
response. City is on NEC 2023 (<a
href="mailto:scot.arey@solarcentex.com" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">scot.arey@solarcentex.com</a>)<br>
<br>
<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 1<br>
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2026 03:29:56 +0000<br>
From: "<a href="mailto:scot.arey@solarcentex.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">scot.arey@solarcentex.com</a>"
<<a href="mailto:scot.arey@solarcentex.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">scot.arey@solarcentex.com</a>><br>
To: RE-wrenches <<a
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of
it? His<br>
comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<<a
href="mailto:BYAPR02MB4086C40A4CCA00A78023A4C0F27BA@BYAPR02MB4086.namprd02.prod.outlook.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">BYAPR02MB4086C40A4CCA00A78023A4C0F27BA@BYAPR02MB4086.namprd02.prod.outlook.com</a>><br>
<br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
Read and reply only if you want to stick it to an
inspector ?<br>
<br>
System is 19 modules with Enphase IQ8: NM through attic
and he insists it must be guarded or in conduit. His
comment back to me on why he failed the inspection and I
tried to tell him that the IQ8 output is not a PV source
circuit.<br>
<br>
<br>
Good afternoon, I have just read your email and would
like to inform you that your code reference is spot on.
690.6 A PV Source Circuit refers to a NRTL Listed
assembly and is exclusive to the wiring from the Panel to
the Microinverter, it as a listed assembly is not subject
to the DC rules of 690.. 690.6 b refers to the Inverter
Output Circuit and is not exempt from the rules of 690.7
Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states,
?Circuits over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family
dwellings, live parts in PV source circuits and PV output
circuits over 150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible
to other than qualified persons while energized. The
commentary for this code states, Conduit, closed cabinets,
or enclosures that require tools to open them are means of
limiting access to qualified persons only. These circuits
are production and not utilization circuits and therefore
must be protected from physical damage and errant
tampering. As was noted at Plan Review<br>
<br>
Dd<br>
<br>
My proposed response:<br>
<br>
I have read your reply and believe you have mis-cited code
references. You wrote:<br>
<br>
"690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not
exempt from the rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements,
Specifically D which states, ?Circuits over 150 volts to
ground. In one and two family dwellings, live parts in PV
source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts to
ground Shall Not be accessible to other than qualified
persons while energized."<br>
<br>
690.6b is here.<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:1554f576-5063-4098-a38c-3a8291b6699d">cid:1554f576-5063-4098-a38c-3a8291b6699d</a>]<br>
690.7 (D) does not reference "circuits over 150-volts..."
but is pasted here. This is a reference to marking of
direct current (DC) PV circuits. This does not apply
because the inverter output circuit is not a "DC PV
Circuit."<br>
<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:5e6c0708-cbd2-4be2-82c4-44f97a1db3d2">cid:5e6c0708-cbd2-4be2-82c4-44f97a1db3d2</a>]<br>
________________________________<br>
<br>
<br>
The section that almost refers to "PV output circuits over
150 volts to ground Shall Not be accessible" is not in NEC
2023 which is what Temple uses. I have pasted the 2020
language, which is not the language you cite to me, and
even that is referring to "PV source and output" circuits
and the NEC 2020 definition of "PV source and output"
deals with DC. I have pasted and highlighted that
definition below.<br>
<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:407b334f-2b4d-4975-8f4a-22d82c45293c">cid:407b334f-2b4d-4975-8f4a-22d82c45293c</a>]<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:2f2cd9f6-90e8-4b1e-a1d6-62dbf28e2fd0">cid:2f2cd9f6-90e8-4b1e-a1d6-62dbf28e2fd0</a>]<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:fb85f1f2-2846-4c4a-807c-b3085e9bbe29">cid:fb85f1f2-2846-4c4a-807c-b3085e9bbe29</a>]<br>
<br>
<br>
So we are left with the fact that an inverter output
circuit is alternating current, as defined under NEC 2023.
Definition in Section 100:<br>
<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:4bd3f0a1-dd27-4c5b-a5c7-335f132f38cd">cid:4bd3f0a1-dd27-4c5b-a5c7-335f132f38cd</a>]<br>
<br>
<br>
We are left with Chapter 3 wiring to address this AC
circuit. There is no NEC 2023 reference to "These circuits
are production and not utilization circuits and therefore
must be protected from physical damage and errant
tampering." Simply not in code.<br>
<br>
If you insist I put the AC wire in conduit, please tell me
the requirement. If it's "I just want it in conduit" then
just ell me that. But there is little to justify it in NEC
2023.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Howard "Scot" Arey<br>
Owner, Solar CenTex<br>
<br>
NABCEP PV Installation Professional<br>
TECL 29755<br>
254-300-1228<br>
[<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="cid:f2ce8538-438b-48d0-92e0-1e00d98cc434">cid:f2ce8538-438b-48d0-92e0-1e00d98cc434</a>]<br>
<br>
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<br>
<span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br>
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">Zeke Yewdall
<div>PV Engineer</div>
<div>NABCEP #031508-89</div>
<div><a href="mailto:zeke@darkforestsolar.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">zeke@darkforestsolar.com</a></div>
<div>303-523-3592</div>
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