<div dir="ltr">Hi Matt,<div><br></div><div>It is a utility requirement not an AHJ requirement, but you might be right that they are just prohibited in the meter can. I can't find the specific wording in the metering standard at the moment.</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 9:47 AM, Matt Partymiller <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:matt@solar-energy-solutions.com" target="_blank">matt@solar-energy-solutions.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Mac,<br>
<br>
Is this a utility or AHJ prohibition? In most jurisdictions we work in<br>
(not CO) the utilities prohibit taps in the meter base but take no<br>
responsibility for conductors once they leave the meter base.<br>
<br>
Matt<br>
<div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
On Wed, May 11, 2016 11:44 am, Mac Lewis wrote:<br>
> Hi Kirpal,<br>
><br>
><br>
> Sounds like you are well informed but I thought I'd throw this in just in<br>
> case. In Xcel Energy territory in Colorado they specifically prohibit<br>
> piercing taps for solar installations. I'm not sure why, but you may<br>
> want to run it by the utility in case there happens to be some solar<br>
> specific regulation.<br>
><br>
> Good Luck<br>
><br>
><br>
> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 9:36 AM, Kirpal Khalsa <<a href="mailto:solarworks@gmail.com">solarworks@gmail.com</a>><br>
> wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
>> Hi Shasta....Thank you for the reminder. Safety first as they say!!<br>
>> Jason<br>
>> hit the nail on the head....Coordinating with the local utility and<br>
>> inspector is what caused us to go the route of the insulation piercing<br>
>> taps in the first place....We also considered the ConnectDer meter<br>
>> collar.....I am sure we will use it in the future....The local utility<br>
>> has not already approved their use and in the middle of a project we<br>
>> didn't want to break new ground. Luckily for us our experienced<br>
>> electrician will be making the hot taps, I will use the opportunity to<br>
>> remind them about safety.... Cheers!<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> Sunny Regards,<br>
>> Kirpal Khalsa<br>
>> Oregon LRT#25<br>
>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional<br>
>> Oregon Solarworks LLC<br>
>> <a href="http://www.oregonsolarworks.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.oregonsolarworks.com</a> <a href="tel:541-299-0402" value="+15412990402">541-299-0402</a><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM, Shasta Daiku <<a href="mailto:mjmorningstar@gmail.com">mjmorningstar@gmail.com</a>><br>
>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>>> Yes, \u201cI get\u201d that there is inconvenience in coordinating with the<br>
>>> utility and inspectors, permitting, and power disruption. In my world<br>
>>> that\u2019s just a given part of the process. Of course there are<br>
>>> circumstances where disconnecting a utility supply is nearly<br>
>>> unavoidable, for instance, certain industrial processes that run 24/7.<br>
>>> I am aware that the practice of<br>
>>> installing line side taps on energized unfused conductors is common in<br>
>>> the solar industry and always thought it pretty cavalier. I have to<br>
>>> wonder just how many \u201cinstallers\u201d have had real training for live work<br>
>>> and utilize proper personnel safety protection. Part of the classwork<br>
>>> for this type of training is watching/viewing the results of things<br>
>>> gone wrong, even when the best practices are applied. An indelible<br>
>>> impression will certainly be imprinted, and an attitude of "avoiding<br>
>>> the avoidable\u201d second nature.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Michael<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> On May 11, 2016, at 5:24 AM, Jason Szumlanski <<br>
>>> <a href="mailto:jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com">jason@floridasolardesigngroup.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>>><br>
>>> In some jurisdictions and for some utilities, pulling the meter is a<br>
>>> MAJOR ordeal. Some jurisdictions require a "service change" permit on<br>
>>> top of the solar permit just to have the meter pulled. It also<br>
>>> requires getting an inspector out there at the perfect time to have it<br>
>>> inspected so the the utility will re-install the meter. The homeowner<br>
>>> is often without power for several hours, which is usually somewhere<br>
>>> between inconvenient and unacceptable. Insulation piercing taps are<br>
>>> extremely common around here for these reasons. With proper safety<br>
>>> precautions and experience, I don't see any issue specifying and using<br>
>>> them.<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> Jason Szumlanski<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 12:26 AM, Shasta Daiku<br>
>>> <<a href="mailto:mjmorningstar@gmail.com">mjmorningstar@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>> wrote:<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>>> Kirpal, I\u2019m curious what the reason is for making the tap on an<br>
>>>> energized line. Why not have the meter pulled? While insulation<br>
>>>> piercing taps are designed for \u201chot work\u201d, there use for that should<br>
>>>> be limited to tapping conductors that have OCP, and aren\u2019t under<br>
>>>> load, with generous working space, like in a piece of switch gear.<br>
>>>> Even in that situation,<br>
>>>> making taps on energized conductors should only be done when it\u2019s an<br>
>>>> absolute necessity. I\u2019ve got a large body of \u201chot work\u201d under my<br>
>>>> belt, both line and load side and will say that face shields and hot<br>
>>>> gloves saved my butt on several occasions and I\u2019ve got a nice scar<br>
>>>> on my neck from a molten piece of lug from a main breaker that broke<br>
>>>> apart while I was tightening up it\u2019s mounting screw. Stuff happens.<br>
>>>> It\u2019s always best to play it safe.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Michael Morningstar<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> On May 10, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Chris Mason<br>
>>>> <<a href="mailto:cometenergysystems@gmail.com">cometenergysystems@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>> wrote:<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> This is what we use - we keep a selection in the van for difficult<br>
>>>> jobs.<br>
>>>><br>
>>>> Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG<br>
>>>> Part #IPCS2001<br>
>>>> Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG 2/0-4 Main, 10-14 AWG Tap,<br>
>>>> Dual<br>
>>>> Rated AL9CU, Torque Limiting Nut<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:27 PM, Kirpal Khalsa<br>
>>>> <<a href="mailto:solarworks@gmail.com">solarworks@gmail.com</a>><br>
>>>> wrote:<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>>> Hi Folks,<br>
>>>>> We have a job requiring a supply side connection. Wondering if<br>
>>>>> anyone could share some makes and models for connectors connecting<br>
>>>>> to the wires between a main meter and the main breakers in the<br>
>>>>> electrical panel. Ideally it would be able to be done hot.<br>
>>>>> I am also looking into the ConnectDer meter collar but will have<br>
>>>>> to coordinate with the utility for that and am looking to keep<br>
>>>>> things simple. Thank you!!!!<br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>> Sunny Regards,<br>
>>>>> Kirpal Khalsa<br>
>>>>> Oregon LRT#25<br>
>>>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional<br>
>>>>> Oregon Solarworks LLC<br>
>>>>> <a href="http://www.oregonsolarworks.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.oregonsolarworks.com</a> <a href="tel:541-299-0402" value="+15412990402">541-299-0402</a><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
>>>> --<br>
>>>> Chris Mason<br>
>>>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer\u2122<br>
>>>> Solar Design Engineer<br>
>>>> Generac Generators Industrial technician<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
</div></div>>>>> <a href="http://www.cometsolar.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.cometsolar.com</a> <<a href="http://www.cometenergysystems.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.cometenergysystems.com/</a>> <a href="tel:264.235.5670" value="+12642355670">264.235.5670</a><br>
<div><div class="h5">>>>> <a href="tel:869.662.5670" value="+18696625670">869.662.5670</a><br>
>>>> Skype: netconcepts<br>
>>>><br>
>>>><br>
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> --<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> Mac Lewis<br>
><br>
><br>
</span>> *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*<br>
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</span><span class="im HOEnZb">Matthew Partymiller<br>
Solar Energy Solutions LLC<br>
<a href="tel:%28877%29%20312-7456" value="+18773127456">(877) 312-7456</a><br>
<a href="mailto:matt@solar-energy-solutions.com">matt@solar-energy-solutions.com</a><br>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature"><div><br></div><div><font color="#305A78" face="'times new roman', serif"><br></font></div><div><br></div>Mac Lewis<br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium;color:rgb(255,153,0)"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="3"><p align="left"><font color="#000000" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:small"><span style="font-family:arial;font-weight:normal;color:rgb(48,90,120)"><font face="'times new roman', serif">"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." </font><span style="font-weight:700;color:rgb(104,104,104)"><font face="'times new roman', serif">-Sócrates</font></span></span></span></font></p></font></b></span></div>
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