oldgeekinnc
New User
- Location
- North Carolina
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
First I want to say I am not an electrician. I am an electrical engineer and overly ambitious diy'er. I have installed my own CT service and relocated the service panels in my house. I also installed a 15kW pv system by myself. None of this would have possible without this forum. I have been lurking here for years but now have a predicament that I can't find an answer for in the forum.
I have a pond 500 feet from the house and want electric service out there to run a well pump and aeration pumps. I have CT service so I can just bury triplex URD to a MB panel with a new GES. Now I would like to add another solar system connected at the new panel to offset my consumption from all those pumps.
Now here's the rub. The utility requires a AC disconnect for the solar next to the meter. I don't have a problem putting a switch at the CT cabinet that disconnects the whole remote service along with the solar. But if I'm reading everything correctly under the 2020 rules, that switch would require the main bonding screw be installed with a GEC. Now if that's correct my solar AC disconnect looks suspiciously like a service entrance and my new underground service conductors are suddenly a feeder. Now I need a 500 foot EGC to my new panel. I don't have to remind anyone about the price of aluminum these days and would really like to avoid that.
I do intend to plead with the inspector when I pull the permit and before I start purchasing material. So my question is can anyone provide me with a good argument for why the disconnect should not be considered a service entrance.
I have a pond 500 feet from the house and want electric service out there to run a well pump and aeration pumps. I have CT service so I can just bury triplex URD to a MB panel with a new GES. Now I would like to add another solar system connected at the new panel to offset my consumption from all those pumps.
Now here's the rub. The utility requires a AC disconnect for the solar next to the meter. I don't have a problem putting a switch at the CT cabinet that disconnects the whole remote service along with the solar. But if I'm reading everything correctly under the 2020 rules, that switch would require the main bonding screw be installed with a GEC. Now if that's correct my solar AC disconnect looks suspiciously like a service entrance and my new underground service conductors are suddenly a feeder. Now I need a 500 foot EGC to my new panel. I don't have to remind anyone about the price of aluminum these days and would really like to avoid that.
I do intend to plead with the inspector when I pull the permit and before I start purchasing material. So my question is can anyone provide me with a good argument for why the disconnect should not be considered a service entrance.
