Solar Carport Sub Panel

[harborrick]

Can anyone direct me to an exception in the code for have the sub panel above 6’7” to highest breaker on solar carports.
We have been raising the panel board for theft reasons
Thank You

 

[Carultch]

404.8(A) as the general rule, requires that the center of the grip on the operating handle of a switch or breaker in its highest position can be no more than 6 ft 7 in above the floor or working platform. Exception 2 permits your switch to be more than 6'-7", but only when it is installed adjacent to the corresponding equipment supplied, and is accessible by portable means such as a ladder.

Exception 2 would permit an individual inverter's disconnect to be much higher than the general rule on disconnect height, and this is confirmed with 705.70 (formerly 690.15), provided that there is also another disconnecting means that is readily accessible. I do not see how it could apply to a panelboard with a group of breakers for inverters that are likely remotely located from this panelboard on a different column.

 

[jaggedben]

...

Exception 2 would permit an individual inverter's disconnect to be much higher than the general rule on disconnect height, and this is confirmed with 705.70 (formerly 690.15), provided that there is also another disconnecting means that is readily accessible. I do not see how it could apply to a panelboard with a group of breakers for inverters that are likely remotely located from this panelboard on a different column.

I think Exception 2 could apply to multiple inverters if all the inverters are up on that carport structure, e.g. microinverters or a handful of string inverters on one large carport. I agree it's problematic if the panelboard also feeds circuits that come back down to the ground.

@harborrick Are you really afraid of people stealing panelboards? Did it happen? Are these fancy panelboards or something? Just curious.