Inverter placement question

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rexowner said:
This SMA inverter datasheet:

http://download.sma.de/smaprosa/dateien/4229/SB700U_FLYER-20-BE_4004.pdf

states:

Compliance UL 1741, E210376, UL 1998,
IEEE 519, IEEE 929,
ANSI C62.41 C1 & C3,
FCC part 15 A & B


Cool.

So to go back to the OP question, this manual does advise how much clearence should be maintained around the unit. It is 8" above the unit if normal operating environment and good ventillation is available. It warns for additional ventillation if the unit is mounted in a cabinet or closet.

It warns that the surfaces are limited to 153F, in other words they can be a combustion hazard and based on the efficiency of the unit a 700W unit puts out as much as 60W heat.

Wire connections are listed as 90C*.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
weressl said:
Cool.

So to go back to the OP question, this manual does advise how much clearence should be maintained around the unit. It is 8" above the unit if normal operating environment and good ventillation is available. It warns for additional ventillation if the unit is mounted in a cabinet or closet.

Well it's good we have an engineer here. ;) :D

Back from post 12

iwire said:
Stacking electrical equipment and shoe horning it in is both normal and legal assuming the end result complies with 110.26. (And any ventilation needs)

So as I stated.

In straight forward terms, the answer is no. It does not violate the NEC assuming compliance with 110.26. :smile:

Not everything has to be overthought or complicated, most questions can be answerd very easily. :cool:
 

iwire

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Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
weressl said:
These are POTENTIAL answers, since we do not know what is written in the manual or if the actual unit is listed or not.

I'am sorry, I must have missed where the OP asked about the listing.;)
 

DownRiverGUy

Member
Location
Canton, MI
The competition rules state that ALL electrical equipment MUST be UL (or equivalent) listed to be used.

Xantrex, SMA, and Outback are all PV Inverter manufactures and all of their equipment is UL listed.
 
iwire said:
I'am sorry, I must have missed where the OP asked about the listing.;)

Wouldn't lack of listing prohibit the installation of this unit as per the NEC? If it could be installed, then installation instructions are also exempt, thus not need to be followed as far as the Code is concerned.

Even though the OP only asked about NEC violations, there were a host of reasons given why it would not be a good practice, design or engineering solution. NEC is only part of a good installation.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
weressl said:
Wouldn't lack of listing prohibit the installation of this unit as per the NEC?

Most likely (and now we know it is) but why assume it was not?


there were a host of reasons given why it would not be a good practice, design or engineering solution. NEC is only part of a good installation.

Of course there are other issues but he only asked about 1.

We could go on forever about other issues but until the OP asks it seems just a waste of time.
 
iwire said:
Most likely (and now we know it is) but why assume it was not?.

No Bob, we do not know that. The SMA inverter was posted by another person tahn the OP. We still do not know what his or her device is.


iwire said:
Of course there are other issues but he only asked about 1.

We could go on forever about other issues but until the OP asks it seems just a waste of time.

I disagree.

All of this a learning experience and thus far more valuable than the actual advice to the OP only.

On the other hand, for some, the less facts there are the easier the answer is.
 

DownRiverGUy

Member
Location
Canton, MI
The competition rules state that the electrical system must meet all NEC standards (not sure if they're using 2008 or 2005 this year). This includes UL or equivalent markings for all equipment used.

The big manufacture?s equipment are all UL listed. Xantrex, SMA (SunnyBoy), Outback Power.

The person posting may not want to show the equipment because that information may get out to other teams.
 
DownRiverGUy said:
The competition rules state that the electrical system must meet all NEC standards (not sure if they're using 2008 or 2005 this year). This includes UL or equivalent markings for all equipment used.

The big manufacture?s equipment are all UL listed. Xantrex, SMA (SunnyBoy), Outback Power.

The person posting may not want to show the equipment because that information may get out to other teams.

What competition? That the OP's question concerns a cometition was a speculative post by somebody, never verified by the OP.
 

newenergy

Member
There are lots of listed inverters. http://www.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/inverter.php
All of these should be.

Inverters function better out of the heat. Mounting low could be better for this, but if there is more shade from an eave it could be better higher.

A lot of inverters have an integrated disconnect. If that's the case it has to be readily accessible (or additional disconnects are needed). The inverter itself doesn't have to be readily accessible (it can be mounted on the roof) if the disconnects are separate.
 
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