Bad Installation?

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edflake

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I have a installation where the contractor was to add 3 additional 500 MCM cables (solar) to an existing system that had 3-500 MCM cables.

This is what I got...see attached.. Looks as though two three lug components where linked by a cut ground rod.....

Thoughts?
 

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So the current from (3) sets of 500 KCM is flowing through a piece of ground rod. And what is the rated ampacity of a ground rod? I'd say its zero.

But are there lugs available for this box or disconnect that will land 6 sets?
 
edflake said:
The disconnect switch has only 4 lugs per phase.....hence the contraption...
Click to expand...

I agree you got bad work, but if the contractor didn't have any other options, what is a person supposed to do? If the whole disconnect needed replaced with a larger disconnect that had enough lugs to land all the wires, that's what the contractor should been asked to do.

jumper said:
Okay, not a piece of cut ground rod. Big difference.

I can see maybe using one if I was desparate, but two stacked like that. Eek!!

Maybe it is just me it just looks wrong.

I cannot find a 6 port for 500s lug set with that bolt pattern.
Click to expand...

I agree, I don't like the stacking. I doubt if one stud is rated for the current (3) sets of 500 KCM can carry, and that is what the top one is being asked to do.

Unless all the extra wire was just added to reduce voltage drop, and its not required for current carrying capacity? Is that possibly the case here?
 
I don't have a major issue with it since we are agreed that there is not actually a chunk of ground rod there.

It does seem ugly but I can't come up with a code violation or something that is inherently unsafe with what was done.
 
jumper said:
True, but if one has to go this route a single extension lug would have been my preference.

View attachment 18403
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
If you are going to get picky (and I often do), for parallel sets or wires rather than multiple destinations a conductor landed on the second or third level piggybacked lug will not have the same effective resistance as one landed right on the first lug set.
 
The intended power block to be used....

The intended power block to be used....

3 solar in , 3 load in......3 out to panel per phase....(3 spare)
 
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