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Friends:<br><br>
I am embarking on a 10 Kw ground mount grid-tie installation. The
client prepared for this installation some time ago by stubbing a PVC
conduit underground towards the future location of the PV array.
Prior to beginning this job, an excavation contractor intercepted the
empty conduit with a backhoe.<br><br>
No harm was done because this conduit was empty. Had this conduit
been filled with PV feeders, it would have been very necessary to be able
to disconnect the PV arrays, both for safety and to prevent a brush fire
in our very dry climate.<br><br>
The inverters will be located in a pump house about 130 feet from the PV
arrays. I would not normally put disconnects at the array and they
are not required. This scenario, however, has caused me to
reconsider. The design now calls for a disconnect at each row of
modules. I feel that it would not be prudent to delete this
important safety item.<br><br>
I wish there were a better selection of compact, low profile
disconnects suitable for a roof-top installation. I have put
external handle disconnects on roof but they look terrible. I may
specify touch-safe fuse holders inside of a Sola Deck for future comp
roof jobs. I am not sure what we will do with tile roofs.<br><br>
It seems to me that every source of power should have a means of
disconnection as close to the source as possible. This is just
common sense.<br><br>
William Miller<br><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3><u>Please note new e-mail address and domain:<br><br>
</u>William Miller <br>
Miller Solar<br>
Voice :805-438-5600<br>
email: william@millersolar.com<br>
<a href="http://millersolar.com/" eudora="autourl">http://millersolar.com<br>
</a>License No. C-10-773985<br>
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