AC Disconnect distance from equipment

[jon1672001]

I'm in Florida. I'm reading 69.15 in 2020 NEC. Normally our disconnect goes beside the meter and directly into the combiner box. 10 foot rule compliance. On a multiplex with a meter bank, the house is approximately 65 feet away from the meter bank. I don't think that the disconnect should go there. it should be attached to the residence where the solar is, right? If that's the case, how do I stay in compliance? It looks like in 690.15 (C) that I can put the disconnect on the house as long as it is lockable? IS that correct?

I've looked in other threads for a similar situation, but couldn't find one. Anybody want to chime in?

 

[pv_n00b]

The disconnects discussed in 690.15 are for isolating PV equipment for maintenance or replacement. If it is more that 10' away form the equipment or out of line of sight then it can be lockable. The idea being that while someone is working on the equipment they can eight see the disconnect or lock it out.
The disconnect that is at the utility POI is the one referenced in 690.13 and 705.20. The NEC is not specific about locating the utility disconnect other than to require that it be readily accessible. But the utility can have a say where this disconnect is located and often requires that it be close to the service disconnect.

 

[jon1672001]

Thanks for the reply. The utility company is what I'm concerned about. They change county by county here. And why mount a disconnect next to a meter on a separate building almost 100 feet away? Seems crazy.

 

[pv_n00b]

They want the disconnect next to the service disconnect for convenience, particularly in residential applications. I'm assuming the service disconnect and the meter are together at this site. What kind of interconnection are you doing? A supply side or load side? I'm just guessing here but it sounds like there is a multi-meter bank with a main CB after each meter. From there the feeder goes to distribution panels on each building.

 

[jon1672001]

They want the disconnect next to the service disconnect for convenience, particularly in residential applications. I'm assuming the service disconnect and the meter are together at this site. What kind of interconnection are you doing? A supply side or load side? I'm just guessing here but it sounds like there is a multi-meter bank with a main CB after each meter. From there the feeder goes to distribution panels on each building.

Yes. Doing a supply side tap. Mulit meter bank in a common area with a 125 main under each meter. I was going to install a main breaker in the panel in the residence and tap before the lugs. But if I mount the disconnect outside of the residence, it will be over 70 feet from the meter bank, and not in direct line of sight.

 

[jaggedben]

Yes. Doing a supply side tap. Mulit meter bank in a common area with a 125 main under each meter. I was going to install a main breaker in the panel in the residence and tap before the lugs. But if I mount the disconnect outside of the residence, it will be over 70 feet from the meter bank, and not in direct line of sight.

To clarify terms: A "supply side tap" typically means on the supply side of the (other) service disconnect, i.e. on the supply side of the 125A breaker after the meter. The solution you were going to do is what I'd call a load side tap. (And I don't see why it's necessary vs. just a breaker in the panel, but lacking enough info to say.)

This really comes down to whether the utility has a stringent requirement for a disconnect within a close distance of the meter. If they do, then you need to do a tap (supply side or load side) near the meter and put a the disconnect there, and run the PV output as a separate circuit to the house. The breakers in the combiner box can serve as PV disconnect at the house (and presumably rapid shutdown, assuming it's outside). There's no need for another disconnect at the house. The NEC does not require bladed disconnects, typically that's only a utility requirement. (FWIW around here the utility would not require any disconnect for a single phase service and meter 320A or less (typically), so we typically wouldn't install any disconnects additional to the circuit breakers.)

If the utility is not stringent and allows a disconnect at the house, but still wants a bladed disconnect like they usually do, then you can save having to install the extra circuit to the house and do something like Panel>Disconnect>Combiner Box.