Hi Jeff, Here in the state of Oregon Pacific Power has given us permission to install systems without the use of an AC disconnect. A small co-op known as central electric co-op has also waived the need to install the AC Disco. Steps in the right direction........ Jeff Blick PV installer Sunlight Solar Inc. 4 NW Franklin Bend, OR 97701 direct: 541-306-4196 fax: 541-322-1911 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.sunlightsolar.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 9:33 AM To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 1, Issue 197
Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.re-wrenches.org/listinfo.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of RE-wrenches digest..." When responding to posts within the Digest, be sure to restore the Subject: line to the original, and please edit out any extraneous lines from the quoted message. Today's Topics: 1. MC Cable tool (marco) 2. Re: Utility Dis-connect ( Jeff Yago) 3. Re: Utility Dis-connect (Allan Sindelar) 4. Re: Protection of Conductors (Geoff Greenfield) 5. FW: : Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits andInvestment Tax Credits Extended (Paul Israel) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 21:08:52 -1000 From: "marco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [RE-wrenches] MC Cable tool To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I'm looking for a gently used MC cable M/F connector tool set for the non-locking connector type. Anybody have one that they'd like to sell me? Thanks, marco Marco Mangelsdorf, Ph.D., President Electrical Contractor License C-26351 69 Railroad Avenue, A-7 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 (808) 969-3281, 934-7462 facsimile ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 06:24:38 -0700 From: " Jeff Yago" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Utility Dis-connect To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" I know installing the totally useless exterior lock-able dis-connect has been a bone of contention for us all, but was a necessary evil to get many utilities to sign onto net metering in their state back in the late 90's. However, now that we have had a few years of showing these are never used, are not needed, linemen would not know if there were in their work area, and are a waste of money, has there been any states or utilities that are giving up on this requirement? If not, any interest in trying to make this requirement go away? Jeff Yago _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 09:01:47 -0600 From: "Allan Sindelar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Utility Dis-connect To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Jeff, "Put simply, the utility-accessible EDS (External Disconnect Switch) is increasingly viewed as redundant and unnecessary for residential and small-commercial PV systems with UL-listed inverters. Eight state PUCs (i.e., Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Utah) have reached this conclusion and eliminated their EDS requirements for systems that meet criteria, and nine state PUCs have decided to leave the EDS decision up to individual utilities. In the states with utility choice, at least five utilities have eliminated the EDS requirement. These states and utilities accounted for more than 80% of total installed PV capacity in the United States in 2006." Evaluating the Rationale for the Utility-Accessible External Disconnect Switch http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/42675.pdf -----Original Message----- I know installing the totally useless exterior lock-able dis-connect has been a bone of contention for us all, but was a necessary evil to get many utilities to sign onto net metering in their state back in the late 90's. However, now that we have had a few years of showing these are never used, are not needed, linemen would not know if there were in their work area, and are a waste of money, has there been any states or utilities that are giving up on this requirement? If not, any interest in trying to make this requirement go away? Jeff Yago _____________________________________________________________ Netscape. Just the Net You Need. _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 08:28:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Geoff Greenfield <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Protection of Conductors To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Cc: 'Randy' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 'Kent Phillips' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 thanks for input Bill, and also for tip on zipties. We have dealt with intermittent groundfaults caused by faulty xlp! Had to spray water on array to "find" it. PITA! Almost makes me want to submerge the spool next time and do my own test. For a brighter energy future, Geoff Greenfield President Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. 340 West State Street, Unit 25 Athens, OH 45701 740.597.3111 Fax 740.597.1548 www.Third-Sun.com Clean Energy - Expertly Installed ----- Bill Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Geoff, > > SS zip ties are good, but you must be very careful not to pull them tight. > They should only be snug, not tight. These SS zip ties have been shown to > cause ground faults in many cases. Commercial rooftops are accessible, but > not readily accessible. Conductors must be supported properly and protected > from physical damage. The conductors must follow structural members. If they > leave structural members, they must be in a raceway of some kind. A variety > of options there. > > Bill. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Geoff > Greenfield > Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 7:19 AM > To: RE-wrenches > Cc: Randy; Kent Phillips > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Protection of Conductors > > Hey wrenchers... we have an internal debate going about a code section > interpretation... "subject to physical damage". Code compliance is a must, > best practice is an expectation (...weighed against material and labor cost > (prevailing wage job)). > > Application is a flat roof with no public access (locked hatch). We are > using DP+W "Power-tube" flat roofing system for the first time... the > question is how to deal with the inter-row N-S wire runs... about 100 gaps > about 24" between the E-W rows of panels. There are plenty of 2"x2" strut > members running under the array N-S. We will "exit" the array field in > ridgid conduit to combiner boxes. > > The flat roof system we usually use has built in wire trays... using this > new system has brought up this question... Our options include dressing the > XLP bundles with SS zip ties alongside the N-S struts, or using Galv. RMC, > strapped, with bushings (or S-80 PVC) at all these walkways... or using > Unistrut (w/cap) as a lay in wireway (to speed up labor (debatable)). > > Below are some of the code references... the basic question seems to be: > does the limited access of this roof keep us out of "subject to physical > damage"? What is a "Readily accessible location?" > > Thanks everyone. > > For a brighter energy future, > > Geoff Greenfield > President > Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. > 340 West State Street, Unit 25 > Athens, OH 45701 > > 740.597.3111 Fax 740.597.1548 > www.Third-Sun.com > > Clean Energy - Expertly Installed > > > > > > Next, one might argue, I suppose, that the racking system itself, acts > > as > > protection and that the conductors should therefore, not be considered > > to > > be exposed. I disagree based on NEC definition. That stated, I > > would > > consider these NEC references for more perspective: > > > > Pretty straightforward NEC 100 Definitions Exposed (as applied to > > wiring > > methods): On or attached to the surface... > > > > NEC 300.4 gives various cases for protection against physical damage > > requirements. Long article. Worth a read. Does not address our > > exact > > case, but I would say that the following methods would be appropriate > > based on similar cases... > > > > NEC 344.10 (A)(1) Galvanized steel and stainless steel RMC. ...shall > > be > > permitted under all atmospheric conditions and occupancies. > > > > NEC 352.10(f) Exposed. PVC conduit shall be permitted for exposed > > work. > > PVC conduit used exposed in areas of physical damage shall be > > identified > > for the use. FPN: PVC conduit, Type Schedule 80, is identified for > > areas > > of physical damage. > > > > Also, > > > > NEC 690.31(A) ...Where photovoltaic source and output circuits > > operating > > at maximum system voltages greater than 30 volts are installed in > > readily > > accesible locations, circuit conductors shall be installed in a > > raceway. > > > > One might argue, then, why don't the module interconnects have to be > > protected, also... > > > > NEC 690.31(B) is really the key to all of this: Single-Conductor > > Cable. > > Single-conductor cable type USE-2, and single-conductor cable listed > > and > > labeled as photovoltaic (PV) wire shall be permitted in exposed > > outdoor > > locations in photovoltaic source circuits FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE > > INTERCONNECTIONS within the photovoltaic array. > > > > So, I suppose that if our source circuit interconnections extend from > > row > > to row, then we can leave those exposed. I don't like it, but it > > would > > probably have to be accepted. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 12:32:50 -0400 From: "Paul Israel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [RE-wrenches] FW: : Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits andInvestment Tax Credits Extended To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" File was rejected ... because I added the SEIA Tax guide. Contact me or go to seia.org if you want the tax guide. Paul N. Israel, President [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.sunlightsolar.com <http://www.sunlightsolar.com/> 541/389-3480 (Oregon) 203/878-9123 x103 (CT) 860/617-6527 (Cell) _____ From: Paul Israel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 9:20 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: RE: [RE-wrenches] : Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits andInvestment Tax Credits Extended Kirpal, Q. Anyone know if the tax credit is able to be carried forward if not able to consumed entirely in one year? On the Commercial side here is the SEIA Tax Manual "bible" passage. 7.2 Carryback and Carryforward of Credits A commercial solar tax credit that a taxpayer cannot use because of the floor can be carried back one year and forward 20 years. However, it appears that only 10% of the 30% solar credit can be carried back before 2006. The remaining 20% of solar credits arising in 2006 cannot be carried back. If a taxpayer ends up carrying unused energy credits forward for 20 years and is still unable to use them, the unused credit can be exercised in the year after the carryforward period ends. However, only half the credit can be used in this situation - the rest is lost. The Residential is "amorphous" at best. Probably best to use it in the year earned. 6. Project Timing Issues, Transition Issues, Progress Expenditures Unlike the commercial solar tax credit, the residential credit is a new credit beginning in 2006. The residential credit rewards spending on solar equipment for the home during 2006 and 2007. The full tax credit basis for the residential credit becomes eligible in the year that installation of the equipment is completed; there is no provision for credits against progress payments, as described in Section 5.2 of the commercial credit section. Thus, it is important for the installation to be completed by December 2007. Since individuals tend to use cash accounting for payment of taxes, it would be a good idea for an individual to also have paid for the equipment by December 2007. Paul N. Israel, President [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.sunlightsolar.com <http://www.sunlightsolar.com/> 541/389-3480 (Oregon) 203/878-9123 x103 (CT) 860/617-6527 (Cell) _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kirpal Khalsa Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 6:40 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] : Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits andInvestment Tax Credits Extended Big relief to have that bill pass...... Anyone know if the tax credit is able to be carried forward if not able to consumed entirely in one year? Thanks!!! Cheers, -- Sunny Regards, Kirpal Khalsa NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer Renewable Energy Systems -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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