Of course, I provide the CAD drawing with the string sizes listed, the volts, amps, wire sizing, conduit, and breaker panel specs, label details, percentage of bussbar ratings, THWN-2, and an enormous amount of other details. I do it for my crew, not for the plan checker. It takes an expert to know the difference between an expert and an amateur installer, but the plan checker is not the expert, and will not be able to determine if; - you sized the Vmp to the Average Ambient High Temp (as most manus do???) or to the 30 year high. - They can't verify that the string sizing accounts for degradation of voltage over the life of the system, or - That the AC voltage drop is adequate to prevent nuisance shut-offs from high voltages So as long as the plan checker can verify that a CAD roof layout has been provided, and other general permit requirements are met, then let us have the permit over the counter at a reasonable fee.
Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax: 707-769-9037 ________________________________ From: William Miller <will...@millersolar.com> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> Sent: Tue, June 15, 2010 6:02:19 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] electrical permit requirements Nick: Rhetorical questions to follow: If you do not provide string calculations, how do you verify that Voc will not exceed NEC limits? How do you verify DC feeder ampacities? Does your jurisdiction not verify such parameters? We know you have a handle on these factors, but how about the Johnny-come-latelies trying to take your business? Should they not be kept to uniform standards meant to protect the safety of the consumer (and ensure fair competition)? Can you really expect a field inspector or the customer to verify these parameters? I believe all of these issues are best handled by stringent plan check. What is more important to you: saving a few bucks in permit fees or preventing house fires? William Miller At 05:01 PM 6/15/2010, you wrote: Hi Jeff: >> My standard permit docs are comprehensive, but do not >include documentation regarding string sizing, thank goodness. A >permit technician/ plan reviewer should not be overseeing string >sizing. You should be thankful that the permit fees are so low, >because that is the best thing a jurisdiction could do to support >PV! >> Any fly-by-night, incompetent installer can check >string sizing on the inverter manu's web site. I would suspect >that, regardless of the plan review process, the less experienced >installers will still be accountable to the inspector and their >customer. >> >>Nick Soleil
_______________________________________________ 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