Jason,
It seems to me that two of the exceptions in 240.24 may apply to your
situation. Most significantly (4) For overcurrent devices adjacent to
utilization equipment that they supply, access shall be permitted to be
by portable means. Thus using a latter to access the ac combiner on the
roof should be permitted. There should also be an accessible disconnect
elsewhere (at the panel feeding the combiner for instance.) That (may)
makes the breakers in the ac combiner supplementary and thus they
wouldn't have to be accessible.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
www.bluemountainsolar.com
On 2/8/2013 7:27 AM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
Oh, yes - that is a great application for the MNPV-AC. I didn't mean
to imply there isn't a good use for them. In this particular instance
the three MVPV-AC's are really subcombiners that get all get tied
together in another subpanel at ground level. They really were not
necessary, but made it more convenient and cost effective.
It's just interesting how Midnite advertises that they can be mounted
as flat as a 3:12 pitch. What application would allow this mounting
angle where it is still readily accessible? The spec/advertising seems
to imply that these can be roof mounted in an AC string combining
application.
The Soladeck combiner with fuses would appear to be non-code compliant
in any situation. I would love for someone to refute that in a
convincing way given the access requirements in 240.24(A).
*Jason Szumlanski*
/Fafco Solar/
On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 7:31 PM, jay peltz <j...@asis.com
<mailto:j...@asis.com>> wrote:
Hi Jason,
Is it possible to install them on the side of a building?
And Dan's suggestion for the remote midnite might be perfect.
jay
On Feb 7, 2013, at 3:55 PM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
Jay,
I assume you mean pitched roofs, or not readily accessible flat
roofs. This particular project happens to be a flat commercial
roof, but with no permanent ladder or hatch. I really didn't have
to use the MNPV6-AC's, but it made sense in this case (excluding
the access issue).
Looks like my options are to remove the combiners or install a
permanent access. Neither are fun options. Live and learn...
*Jason Szumlanski*//
/Fafco Solar/
On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 6:27 PM, jay peltz <j...@asis.com
<mailto:j...@asis.com>> wrote:
I'm with your inspector on this.
I don't install fuses or breakers on roofs
jay
peltz power
On Feb 7, 2013, at 12:02 PM, Jason Szumlanski wrote:
While I haven't completely convinced the latest inspector
about PV not being mechanical equipment, I'm running into
another issue.
I decided to try out the new Midnite MNPV6-AC combiner for
Enphase circuits. Because there are overcurrent devices
inside, the inspector now insists that NEC 240.24(A) applies
and that the enclosure must be readily accessible, meaning
you have to reach it without a ladder. That would seem to
make the MNPV6-AC as a roof mounted solution, or Soladeck
combiner boxes, or any other combiner box incorporating
overcurrent protection, pretty much useless on a pitched
roof or flat roof without a permanent access ladder or hatch.
I'm debating whether to go to battle on this one or just
capitulate.
*Jason Szumlanski*//
/Fafco Solar/
/
/
P.S. To answer benn's question, there is no definition of
'mechanical,' but it does define 'equipment,' and it's clear
to me that PV does not fit the description.
mbers.re-wrenches.org <http://mbers.re-wrenches.org/>
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