Hi Wallace,
For services, at least, in the 2011 NEC, the neutral is still sized
per Table 250.66 (250.24 (C) (1).
I took Allan's suggestion and called Power One tech support back. The
neutral carries no current; it is strictly for sensing.
Drake
At 02:23 PM 6/20/2013, you wrote:
Drake,
Full sized neutrals are now required due to harmonics at least.
The cost over your quote for neutral is fixed. What is the cost for
unknown consequences if you disregard manufacturers specs?
Wallace Stahle
Future Electric Energy Co
P O Box 236
Willits, CA 95490
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
CA Lic.# C10-762093
707-459-0474
On Jun 19, 2013, at 3:26 PM, Drake wrote:
That was my first call. They said use a full size neutral. I'm not
satisfied with that answer. The combined experience and knowledge
on this list far exceeds that of any tech support person.
At 04:27 PM 6/19/2013, you wrote:
Drake,
Why not discuss this with Power One tech support?
Allan
Allan Sindelar
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Positive Energy, Inc., a Certified B CorporationTM
3209 Richards Lane
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112 office 780-2738 cell
<http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>www.positiveenergysolar.com
On 6/19/2013 1:55 PM, Drake wrote:
A very common cable for 100 A service conductors has 2 - #2 AL
wires and 1 - #4 AL for the neutral; 200 A will have 2 - 4/0 AL
wires and 1 - 2/0 for the neutral. If I run # 2 to limit the VD
on the run to the panel and reduce the neutral to #4, #12 copper
phase and neutral will still connect to the inverters. This
would be code for a feeder to a separate structure.
Does the Power One inverter actually have a major imbalance
resulting in substantial neutral currents? If so, it is really a
120 V inverter for VD calculations.
03:37 PM 6/19/2013, you wrote:
Content-Type: multipart/related;
boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00A6_01CE6CE9.D20EFB20"
Content-Language: en-us
Doug,
705.95(B) allows you down size your neutral if it is used solely
for instrumentation and it must be sized equal to or larger than
the EGC but this is not the case. If Power One says a full size
neutral is needed than that means that it is not just a voltage
sensing conductor used for instrumentation and that it does carry current.
I don't believe there are any exceptions in code for downsizing
your neutral in regards to upsizing the conductors to account
for voltage drop but I could be wrong.
--
John Stimac | Corvallis, OR
Renewable Energy Associates LLC
541-754-2001 Office/Fax
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
www.renewableassociates.com
<2221ada.jpg>
From:
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
[ mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Drake
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 6:42
To:
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Full sized neutral - 240 V inverter
Hello Wrenches,
Power One tech support said that full sized neutrals had to be
run to a pair of 240 V, PVI 3.6 inverters. We have a 180 foot
underground run to the service panel.
Why do we need to run a full sized neutral all the way back to
the panel? The wiring to the panel is oversized for voltage
drop. The code allows for reduction of neutral size where
neutral imbalance is less than the current of a phase, which is
usually the case.
Why does a neutral need to be installed that is the size of the
phase wiring where the imbalance should be negligible? Or is
there a lot of neutral current for some reason? Am I missing something?
Thanks
Drake
Drake Chamberlin
Athens Electric LLC
OH License 44810
CO License 3773
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer
740-448-7328
<http://athens-electric.com/>http://athens-electric.com/
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