PV systems microinverters

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goldenco

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Is anyone familiar with microinverters, which attach directly to each PV module in lieu of an inline inverter? Do these comply with article 690.5, and if so, where would the labeling required by 690.5 (C) be located (on each microinverter, at the main dist. panel, etc.)?
 

dbuckley

Senior Member
Originally, these devices were intended to be part of the "guerilla solar" movement and as such they weren't actually intended to comply with anything NEC wise; their express purpose in life was to circumvent regulations that were preventing the adoption of PV.

Put up panel, run extension cable back to a receptical, plug in, reduce electricity consumption a bit, feel the greenness come over you as you become one with the planet...

In NEC speak, could they be considered an appliance...?

Edited to add: do a google for guerilla solar

Also - theres a little bit of history on PV vs NEC in the "code corner" section in this issue of Home Power magazine, page 102 onwards.
 
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SeanD

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I have installed a number of systems with micro inverters (Enphase, specifically). And your best bet is to talk to your local AHJ. When the current code cycles were written micro-inverters didn't exist, so it is hard to know how they will be applied. My local AHJ's consider them AC modules so 690.5 wouldn't apply. Instead 690.6(d) would be applied and met because the Enphase Envoy (Monitoring unit) displays if a ground fault is detected.
 
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