"Plainly Visible" NEC 706.4

[Elect117]

I got plans that have the battery system located underneath the PV array. This is my first time looking over plans with batteries in them so I was reading through 706 when I noticed 706.4 requires that the nameplate be "plainly visible" and could not find a definition for it. My concern now, is that putting the batteries underneath the array makes the nameplate not longer plainly visible. The angle of the solar cell and the mounting bracket wont provide much room for reading that label without a camera.

NEC2020

Yotta Energy's Eco-System: Comprehensive Solar Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future — Yotta Energy

Discover the future of renewable energy storage with Yotta Energy's innovative solutions. Our thermally regulated, panel-level smart batteries are revolutionizing the way energy is stored, located, and utilized, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Explore our ecosystem to learn mor

www.yottaenergy.com

Side note, who decided that ESS batteries are not storage batteries. It is the weirdest distinction. I know fly-wheels exist, but to say batteries used for ESS are not batteries storing energy is wild. The difference between them, in the NEC handbook, being support systems (racks), Charge controller, and inverters, and does not have a listing as ESS. When I see the ESS install instructions, it requires a mounting apparatus (rack) and inverter. Sounds like someone probably paid quiet a bit to get that listing made so that they could get their own classification.

 

[pv_n00b]

Since the term "plainly visible" is not defined in the NEC, leaving it is up to the AHJ to determine. With a system like the Yotta it seems like it would be difficult to comply with any reasonable interpretation but these are being installed so the AHJs must be okay with it for the most part. But there may be AHJs that would not allow it, best to ask first.

 

[BackCountry]

I got plans that have the battery system located underneath the PV array. This is my first time looking over plans with batteries in them so I was reading through 706 when I noticed 706.4 requires that the nameplate be "plainly visible" and could not find a definition for it. My concern now, is that putting the batteries underneath the array makes the nameplate not longer plainly visible. The angle of the solar cell and the mounting bracket wont provide much room for reading that label without a camera.

NEC2020

Yotta Energy's Eco-System: Comprehensive Solar Energy Solutions for a Sustainable Future — Yotta Energy

Discover the future of renewable energy storage with Yotta Energy's innovative solutions. Our thermally regulated, panel-level smart batteries are revolutionizing the way energy is stored, located, and utilized, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Explore our ecosystem to learn mor

www.yottaenergy.com

Side note, who decided that ESS batteries are not storage batteries. It is the weirdest distinction. I know fly-wheels exist, but to say batteries used for ESS are not batteries storing energy is wild. The difference between them, in the NEC handbook, being support systems (racks), Charge controller, and inverters, and does not have a listing as ESS. When I see the ESS install instructions, it requires a mounting apparatus (rack) and inverter. Sounds like someone probably paid quiet a bit to get that listing made so that they could get their own classification.

I suppose you could argue that each battery is part of the overall ESS. The nameplate is no less visible on the roof than the micro inverter and PV module itself. Further, since these are DC coupled or really PV coupled (since they go between the module itself and the micro inverter) they’re a bit of a unique case.