690.13(C) 2017 NEC

[shortcircuit2]

Below is the revised 690.13(C)...

(C) Suitable for Use. If the PV system is connected to the supply side of the service disconnecting means as permitted in 230.82(6), the PV system disconnecting means shall be listed as suitable for use as service equipment.

So now we have flipped the 2014 NEC requirement...shall not be required to be suitable, to shall be suitable in 2017. That's great. But it falls short of requiring what it should have, and that is all the requirements a PV disconnect should have when connected to the line side of a service disconnect...like the Main Bonding Jumper that the disconnect is supplied with when listed as suitable for use as service equipment.



Then, in reading the revised 690.31(G) in the 2017 NEC, which is only revised to specify PV system DC circuits rather than source and output circuits...it still requires the DC circuits inside a building to be run in metal raceways, metal enclosures or MC cable from the point of penetration to the first readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall comply with 690.13(B) & (C). BUT, now 690.13(C) says shall be listed as suitable for use as service equipment. How to we apply this rule to the disconnect 690.31 is referring too?

 

[jaggedben]

Below is the revised 690.13(C)...

(C) Suitable for Use. If the PV system is connected to the supply side of the service disconnecting means as permitted in 230.82(6), the PV system disconnecting means shall be listed as suitable for use as service equipment.

So now we have flipped the 2014 NEC requirement...shall not be required to be suitable, to shall be suitable in 2017. That's great. But it falls short of requiring what it should have, and that is all the requirements a PV disconnect should have when connected to the line side of a service disconnect...like the Main Bonding Jumper that the disconnect is supplied with when listed as suitable for use as service equipment.



Then, in reading the revised 690.31(G) in the 2017 NEC, which is only revised to specify PV system DC circuits rather than source and output circuits...it still requires the DC circuits inside a building to be run in metal raceways, metal enclosures or MC cable from the point of penetration to the first readily accessible disconnecting means. The disconnecting means shall comply with 690.13(B) & (C). BUT, now 690.13(C) says shall be listed as suitable for use as service equipment. How to we apply this rule to the disconnect 690.31 is referring too?

So ... Since the DC disconnect will never be connected to the supply side of the service disconnecting means, it does not have to be suitable for use as service equipment to comply with 690.13(C). It was bad editing, but doesn't really entail an unintended requirement. In the next cycle they can go ahead and remove the reference to (C) in 690.31(G).