LOCATION FOR PV DISCONNECTING MEANS(690.15A is confusing) nec 2017

[Designer101]

As per my knowledge the disconnecting means can be operated remote if they are placed within 10 ft. of the of the inverter. In my case inverter is located inside garage and ac disconnect is located outside by main panel, they are within 10 ft but not within a sight of inverter, now AHJ wants another redundant Ac disconnect by inverter.
690.15 ( A ) is Confusing as it says first within 10 ft and within line of sight of equipment and again says can be operated remotely. I have AHJ that Is not show understanding, what ae you views in this ???

 

[jaggedben]

A remotely operated disconnecting means would be something like a shut trip breaker. A device to operate the shunt trip would have to be within sight of the inverter. If you are just using a normal disconnect then it is not capable of remote operation, and it has to be within sight. Your disconnect isn't, so you'd need another one that is.

 

[Designer101]

A remotely operated disconnecting means would be something like a shut trip breaker. A device to operate the shunt trip would have to be within sight of the inverter. If you are just using a normal disconnect then it is not capable of remote operation, and it has to be within sight. Your disconnect isn't, so you'd need another one that is.

okay that makes sense thank you for your insight., but still so many ahj doesnot want two ac disconnect if one is outside by main panel

 

[Carultch]

okay that makes sense thank you for your insight., but still so many ahj doesnot want two ac disconnect if one is outside by main panel

Your example describes multiple disconnects in series, rather than parallel. This isn't an issue like the maximum of 6 service disconnects, where you need to shut off all 6 of them to shut down the service. In your example, you can operate any individual one of the disconnects, when necessary to turn off the circuit.

The NEC has no rule against having more disconnects on the same circuit than required. You could put 10 redundant disconnects in a row, all wired to shut off the same circuit, and it would still be NEC compliant. You wouldn't want to do this, because it is in your best interest to be strategic with how you place your disconnects, in order to only install them where necessary. It is very common that one properly placed disconnect can accomplish multiple requirements in the same device.