Cable tray wiring size

[69gp]

I have come across several solar sites In MA where cable tray is used in the field on a landfill cap. Most of these sites are 1000 volt DC and 1500 Volt DC. The cables installed consist of 2-500 MCM cables per combiner box which meets the code as the conductors are over 1/0. There is also a low voltage cable in the cable tray for some 120 volt control power. This meets the code as it is a 300 volt jacket and the cable tray has a divider in it. What is not meeting the code from what I can see is that there are a lot of single conductor#10 string wires going from the CB to the array. These sites were built in 2014, 2016 and 2019. I could find no exception to be able to run a the #10 wire in the cable tray. Is there an exception somewhere that I am missing?

All sites were engineered and approved by the AHJ. Not sure if there is any recourse to go after the contractor to correct this if it is a code violation. Estimated there to be at least 20 meg of wiring in this fashion.

The problem onsite is rabbits chewing on the string wires. That's a different story.

 

[Jpflex]

Interesting hopefully this gets answered as I will be doing some cable tray work soon. Hopefully this gets answered

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The language in 690.31(C)(2), in the 2014 code, permits single conductors of any size to be installed in cable tray as long as the conductors are PV source or output circuits.

Cable Tray. PV source circuits and PV output circuits using single-conductor cable listed and labeled as photovoltaic (PV) wire of all sizes, with or without a cable tray marking/rating, shall be permitted in cable trays installed in outdoor locations, provided that the cables are supported at intervals not to exceed 300 mm (12 in.) and secured at intervals not to exceed 1.4 m (4.5 ft).

This is an example of a rule in Chapter 6 modifying a rule in Chapter 3, as permitted by 90.3.

 

[Rick 0920]

The language in 690.31(C)(2), in the 2014 code, permits single conductors of any size to be installed in cable tray as long as the conductors are PV source or output circuits.


This is an example of a rule in Chapter 6 modifying a rule in Chapter 3, as permitted by 90.3.

So the conductors do not have to be marked TC as long as they are marked PV? Interesting, Thanks for that info Don.