info@sunrocksolar.com
Member
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
We recently had an inspector fail a Residential PV installation
His corrective action required was
We routed the DC conductors into the attic space of the residence, then out through the soffit, and into the attached garage where the main distribution panel and inverter is located. The DC conductors are in metal conduit as soon as they enter the residence. The DC disconnecting means is the SolarEdge inverter integrated DC disconnect.
My response in writing to the inspector was as follows:
"There is an exception in 690.14 (C)(1) which I believe applies in this case. The exception allows the disconnecting means to to be remote from the point of entry so long as the installation complies with 690.31(E). 690.31 (E) requires the PV Source circuits to be contained in metal raceways, MC cable, or metal closures where it enters the dwelling. My interpretation has always been that we can take the PV source circuits directly from the array to the inverter DC disconnect as long as we comply with 690.31 (E). Can you look at this one again and let me know your thoughts."
I spoke with the inspector yesterday to follow up and he is adamant that we need a DC disconnect at the first readily accessible location inside the residence. His suggestion is that this would be in the upstairs hallway of the residence. Alternately he suggests we can run the conduit over the roof top and then down the side of the building and finally into the SolarEdge inverter DC disconnect. For residential installs we typically avoid conduits on the rootop where we can for aesthetic reasons.
I have attached a sketch to add some clarity. I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
His corrective action required was
- Provide a photovoltaic disconnecting mean as required by NEC 690.14 (C) (1)
We routed the DC conductors into the attic space of the residence, then out through the soffit, and into the attached garage where the main distribution panel and inverter is located. The DC conductors are in metal conduit as soon as they enter the residence. The DC disconnecting means is the SolarEdge inverter integrated DC disconnect.
My response in writing to the inspector was as follows:
"There is an exception in 690.14 (C)(1) which I believe applies in this case. The exception allows the disconnecting means to to be remote from the point of entry so long as the installation complies with 690.31(E). 690.31 (E) requires the PV Source circuits to be contained in metal raceways, MC cable, or metal closures where it enters the dwelling. My interpretation has always been that we can take the PV source circuits directly from the array to the inverter DC disconnect as long as we comply with 690.31 (E). Can you look at this one again and let me know your thoughts."
I spoke with the inspector yesterday to follow up and he is adamant that we need a DC disconnect at the first readily accessible location inside the residence. His suggestion is that this would be in the upstairs hallway of the residence. Alternately he suggests we can run the conduit over the roof top and then down the side of the building and finally into the SolarEdge inverter DC disconnect. For residential installs we typically avoid conduits on the rootop where we can for aesthetic reasons.
I have attached a sketch to add some clarity. I would be interested in your thoughts on this.