Carport Maximum Voltage 1500V?

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

690.7 talks about buildings and one and two families dwelling but nothing about carports.
Is this considerate a building since there is people passing by under it ???

 

[jaggedben]

I would say it's not a building, just a structure, but the NEC definition could be read to include it. Article 100. It says:

Building: A structure that stands alone or that is separated from adjoining structures by fire walls.

Good luck. In my opinion this is one of the dumber definitions in the NEC.

 

[pv_n00b]

Carports are in a grey area. The NEC pretty much equates structures and buildings. Some AHJs are requiring rapid shutdown on carports because of this. So I would say it's up to the AHJ and how they choose to interpret the NEC.

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

Since there are only 500kW AC I believe we should go 1000V with rapid shutdown. Help and advice will be need it.

 

[Hv&Lv]

The IRC says carports are open on two sides.
what About the metal carports people are having installed?

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

Carports are in a grey area. The NEC pretty much equates structures and buildings. Some AHJs are requiring rapid shutdown on carports because of this. So I would say it's up to the AHJ and how they choose to interpret the NEC.

Since there are only 500kW AC I believe we should go 1000V with rapid shutdown. Help and advice will be need it.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Since there are only 500kW AC I believe we should go 1000V with rapid shutdown. Help and advice will be need it.

I really thought 1500 volts was a mistype.
apparently not. So you want 500kW and 1000 volts in a carport???

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

I really thought 1500 volts was a mistype.
apparently not. So you want 500kW and 1000 volts in a carport???

The layout fits perfectly a 1500V system, but didn't know if allowed on a carport system.
since people constantly walks under it.

 

[jaggedben]

I think you're gonna need to ask the building department that has jurisdiction. We're not gonna settle the issue for you here.

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

I really thought 1500 volts was a mistype.
apparently not. So you want 500kW and 1000 volts in a carport???

is a rapid shut down required ?

 

[ggunn]

I really thought 1500 volts was a mistype.
apparently not. So you want 500kW and 1000 volts in a carport???

1000V isn't a problem on a carport; the only structures that are restricted to 600V or less are one and two family dwellings. I don't know about 1500V, though I know such systems exist.

 

[Hv&Lv]

I’m just kind of confused as to why someone would need 500kW and 1000 volts on a carport...

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

I’m just kind of confused as to why someone would need 500kW and 1000 volts on a carport...

its a portfolio of 17 airports in Mexico, the actual regulation only allows 500kW AC systems. so if you want 1MW you must have 2 services from the Utility company, btw owned by the goberment.

 

[jaggedben]

I’m just kind of confused as to why someone would need 500kW and 1000 volts on a carport...

Think giant, purpose built structures over large parking lots, not just some residential thing. This kind of solar installation is a big thing. Good dual use of parking lot space, also dual purpose as shade structure. And unlike rooftop it doesn't need to be totally leak proof.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Think giant, purpose built structures over large parking lots, not just some residential thing. This kind of solar installation is a big thing. Good dual use of parking lot space, also dual purpose as shade structure. And unlike rooftop it doesn't need to be totally leak proof.

Got you!!
the term carport threw me. We have a solar installation here that is 1MW over a parking lot. Just never heard it called a carport. The cars stay much cooler in the summer under the shade.
makes sense now..

thanks!

 

[PaulMmn]

Cincinnati Zoo has one over one of their parking lots.

 

[ggunn]

Cincinnati Zoo has one over one of their parking lots.

View attachment 2551856

I have designed several of these at 1000VDC but never at 1500VDC.

 

[jaggedben]

I have designed several of these at 1000VDC but never at 1500VDC.

And no experience to share re: rapid shutdown?

 

[ggunn]

And no experience to share re: rapid shutdown?

Rapid shutdown wasn't required on some of them because they weren't on buildings, and some were built before it became an issue. For the one or two that were subject to RSD because they were recent and over rooftop parking we used SolarEdge. One was on the downtown network, which was a forking nightmare.

 

[Emmanuel Dominguez]

Cincinnati Zoo has one over one of their parking lots.

View attachment 2551856

you did that? its sweet