Article 700 clarification - 2 Inverters - Branch Conduit

[Dave F]

Can anyone shed a little light on a question I have? We have two seperate inverters and I'm wondering if I can combine branch conductors from the two different inverters into the same branch conduit? - - I realize that it might not be deemed the safest practice BUT I can't see anything in the 2005-2011 NEC that does not allow it. Ideas?

 

[iwire]

We have two seperate inverters and I'm wondering if I can combine branch conductors from the two different inverters into the same branch conduit?

No

I can't see anything in the 2005-2011 NEC that does not allow it. Ideas?

In my opinion each inverter is a source and their wiring must remain separated.

700.9(B)Wiring. Wiring of two or more emergency circuits
supplied from the same source shall be permitted in the
same raceway, cable, box, or cabinet. Wiring from an emergency
source or emergency source distribution overcurrent
protection to emergency loads shall be kept entirely independent
of all other wiring and equipment, unless otherwise
permitted in (1) through (5):

 

[ggunn]

In my opinion each inverter is a source and their wiring must remain separated.

We combine the output of inverters quite often in the PV world. The way we usually do it is in an aggregation panel, which is just a load center with a backfed breaker for each inverter and no load breakers.

EDIT: I just saw that he was asking about combining wires in a conduit, not combining the inverters' output. I wouldn't know about that. Sorry for the mis-read.

 

[iwire]

We combine the output of inverters quite often in the PV world.

Yes, but he is not asking about PV inverters, I believe he is asking about emergency back up inverters used to provide power for required egress lighting.

There are different rules for that.