Irreversible Splice+Junction Box+solar

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shocknocka

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San Diego, CA, USA
Hi guys,
I am new here so bare with me. I had an inspection today for a ground mount PV system. We failed because we did not use An irreversible splice inside the junction box. We have a continuous Bare copper run connecting the modules, rails, the structure and two ground rods located at the array that eventually runs into a junction box. The Bare copper was spliced with a split bolt to THHN and ran into the DC ground port in the inverter. Another ground was run from the AC port in the inverter into the Main service Panel. The MSP has its own ground rod and a uffer. My questions are:
What code reference mandates an irreversible Splice inside of the junction box if any?
Does a split bolt meet code requirement for the connection?
If not, what type, make and model, of splice will work and where can i find them?

Thank you?

Extra info-i believe we are covered under 690.47(C) for grounding type. Combined GEC to EGC by UL approved bonding jumper inside inverter.
 
Article 250.64(C) talks of the grounding electrode conductor being continuous. Being in a jb has nothing to do with it - it states continuous so IMO that means no splices anywhere unless they are irreversible. A split bolt is not considered irreversible.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Article 250.64(C) talks of the grounding electrode conductor being continuous. Being in a jb has nothing to do with it - it states continuous so IMO that means no splices anywhere unless they are irreversible. A split bolt is not considered irreversible.
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You should have been ok since it's nothing mor than an equipment ground, you could have used a wire nut if you liked. Maybe the fact that there are 2 ground rods in the equation is the reason he's considering it a GEC rather than a EGC, either way he's wrong.

I'm a solar installer myself and have run into this problem too.
 
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AdamS,
What has been your experience in regards to the solution. Do you strategically argue with the AHJ or do you avoid the situation and always install an irreversible crimp whenever necessary?
 
shocknocka said:
AdamS,
What has been your experience in regards to the solution. Do you strategically argue with the AHJ or do you avoid the situation and always install an irreversible crimp whenever necessary?
Click to expand...
Sad to say that sometimes you gotta go with their call for the sake of passing inspection even though the inspector is absolutely wrong. In one instance I took it to a superior at city hall but it was so time consuming and a hassle even though I got them to sign off.

PV array to the inverter is a EGC. Inverter to the main panel is a GEC, I don't know why some can't figure that out. Another kicker is you don't have to irreversibly splice the Pv GEC, you can land it right onto the bus bar, some of them will try and call you on that too.
 
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