Solar conduit question...

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Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
a friend of mine just called with a question:

new build, per the request of the solar contractor, he put in a
1 1/2" flex out of the panel up into the attic, as a stub for the
solar contractor to finish up with later.

the combo inspector for the AHJ shot it down, saying it needed
to be rigid conduit, meaning non flexible, as opposed to GRC.
so the inspector wants emt instead of flex.

the reason given was that it was DC.

i've not done any residential solar, so i'm wondering... is this
required?

thanks.


randy
 
jumper

jumper

Senior Member
Location
3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
690.31(G) seems to say a metallic raceway may be needed, but does not negate/outlaw flex by any means.

Solar is not my gig, so I can easily be mistaken.
(G) Direct-Current Photovoltaic Source and Direct-
Current Output Circuits on or Inside a Building.

Where dc PV source or dc PV output circuits from building-
integrated systems or other PV systems are run inside a
building or structure, they shall be contained in metal race-
ways, Type MC metal-clad cable that complies with
250.118(10), or metal enclosures from the point of penetra-
tion of the surface of the building or structure to the first
readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting
means shall comply with 690.13(B) and (C) and 690.15(A)
and (B). The wiring methods shall comply with the addi-
tional installation requirements in 690.31(G)(1) through (4).
Click to expand...
 
Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
jumper said:
690.31(G) seems to say a metallic raceway may be needed, but does not negate/outlaw flex by any means.

Solar is not my gig, so I can easily be mistaken.
Click to expand...

yeah, my friend and i were discussing this, and my conclusion
is that WERE it to be a DC PV source, hooking it to an AC
panel would present more problems than EMT would solve.

the conclusion reached is that the combo inspector in question
may be clueless.

thanks for the code reference, however.
 
J

jaggedben

Senior Member
Location
Northern California
Occupation
Solar and Energy Storage Installer
His knowledge might just be out-of-date. I think until the 2008 or 2011 code only RMC, IMC or EMT were allowed for DC PV inside buildings. But I agree he is wrong. Evidently since the conduit runs directly to the panel it is also AC (for microinverters) and not DC.

[Edit: deleted other comments since you said work was done at request of solar contract. Hopefully they know what they're doing.]
 
C

cookerobert21

Member
Location
East Yaphank New York
I have been installing pv system ls for 6 years I have used flex on a number of jobs inside this is not against code at all in any code cycle I've had issues with inspectors with no solar experience and would run wild with different things that they would want installed that was not necessary you have to nip it in the bud right away before it gets out of hand

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Sierrasparky

Sierrasparky

Senior Member
Location
USA
Occupation
Electrician ,contractor
So FMC is no longer a raceway or conduit? well they better change the definition.

Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC). A raceway of circular
cross section made of helically wound, formed,
interlocked metal strip.
 
C

Carultch

Senior Member
Location
Massachusetts
Sierrasparky said:
So FMC is no longer a raceway or conduit? well they better change the definition.

Flexible Metal Conduit (FMC). A raceway of circular
cross section made of helically wound, formed,
interlocked metal strip.
Click to expand...

I could understand metal clad cable not being a "raceway" or "conduit" simply because of semantics, but I cannot understand flexible metal CONDUIT not being a "raceway" or "conduit".

Even though metal clad cable is the same "stuff" as flexible metal conduit, except factory assembled as a complete feeder, instead of field assembled as first conduit / then wire.
 
R

rudiseldb

Member
Location
Oregon City
I'm an AHJ in Oregon. We use 2014 NEC but the state has made their own changes to the NEC. One state Mississippi uses the 2005 NEC and some states don't use it at all. You really need to talk with your local inspector.


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The_Archer

The_Archer

Member
Location
New York
Can Liquid tight non metallic conduit be used for solar inverter outdoors

Can Liquid tight non metallic conduit be used for solar inverter outdoors

Can LFNMC Liquid tight non metallic conduit be used for the DC circuits of a solar inverter in an outdoor application?
 
M

mtanio24

Member
Location
Philadelphia
Randy

Randy

Fulthrotl said:
a friend of mine just called with a question:

new build, per the request of the solar contractor, he put in a
1 1/2" flex out of the panel up into the attic, as a stub for the
solar contractor to finish up with later.

the combo inspector for the AHJ shot it down, saying it needed
to be rigid conduit, meaning non flexible, as opposed to GRC.
so the inspector wants emt instead of flex.

the reason given was that it was DC.

i've not done any residential solar, so i'm wondering... is this
required?

thanks.


randy
Click to expand...


Yes its required.. But if he penetrate to the side of the house using flex there wouldn't be
a problem.. Make sure he's not penetrating to the concrete foundation of the house. If he will, he should use rigid conduit or emt.
 
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