I think he's having trouble with the definitions of different circuits. Figure 705.1 shows a diagram showing where the inverter output circuit is, which is what he's talking about, not a PV output circuit or a PV source circuit, which is what most of 690 addresses, and are shown in the figures in 690... however it is confusing when they throw in current rating for an inverter output circuit in 690.8.
I can't quickly find any references to requirements for inverter output circuits, other than all of the stuff in 705 about interconnecting them. The language about the over 150 volts to ground is from 690.7(D) back in 2011... not sure when they removed it, but it's not in the 2020, 2023, or 2026 books I have handy.... Zeke On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 9:07 PM <[email protected]> wrote: > Send RE-wrenches mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > 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 exact original, and please edit out any extraneous > lines from the quoted message. > > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Is this city inspector just full of it? His comments and my > response. City is on NEC 2023 ([email protected]) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2026 03:29:56 +0000 > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > To: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Is this city inspector just full of it? His > comments and my response. City is on NEC 2023 > Message-ID: > < > byapr02mb4086c40a4cca00a78023a4c0f2...@byapr02mb4086.namprd02.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Read and reply only if you want to stick it to an inspector ? > > System is 19 modules with Enphase IQ8: NM through attic and he insists it > must be guarded or in conduit. His comment back to me on why he failed the > inspection and I tried to tell him that the IQ8 output is not a PV source > circuit. > > > Good afternoon, I have just read your email and would like to inform you > that your code reference is spot on. 690.6 A PV Source Circuit refers to a > NRTL Listed assembly and is exclusive to the wiring from the Panel to the > Microinverter, it as a listed assembly is not subject to the DC rules of > 690.. 690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt from > the rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states, > ?Circuits over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family dwellings, live > parts in PV source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts to ground > Shall Not be accessible to other than qualified persons while energized. > The commentary for this code states, Conduit, closed cabinets, or > enclosures that require tools to open them are means of limiting access to > qualified persons only. These circuits are production and not utilization > circuits and therefore must be protected from physical damage and errant > tampering. As was noted at Plan Review > > Dd > > My proposed response: > > I have read your reply and believe you have mis-cited code references. You > wrote: > > "690.6 b refers to the Inverter Output Circuit and is not exempt from the > rules of 690.7 Circuit Requirements, Specifically D which states, ?Circuits > over 150 volts to ground. In one and two family dwellings, live parts in PV > source circuits and PV output circuits over 150 volts to ground Shall Not > be accessible to other than qualified persons while energized." > > 690.6b is here. > [cid:1554f576-5063-4098-a38c-3a8291b6699d] > 690.7 (D) does not reference "circuits over 150-volts..." but is pasted > here. This is a reference to marking of direct current (DC) PV circuits. > This does not apply because the inverter output circuit is not a "DC PV > Circuit." > > [cid:5e6c0708-cbd2-4be2-82c4-44f97a1db3d2] > ________________________________ > > > The section that almost refers to "PV output circuits over 150 volts to > ground Shall Not be accessible" is not in NEC 2023 which is what Temple > uses. I have pasted the 2020 language, which is not the language you cite > to me, and even that is referring to "PV source and output" circuits and > the NEC 2020 definition of "PV source and output" deals with DC. I have > pasted and highlighted that definition below. > > [cid:407b334f-2b4d-4975-8f4a-22d82c45293c] > > > > [cid:2f2cd9f6-90e8-4b1e-a1d6-62dbf28e2fd0] > [cid:fb85f1f2-2846-4c4a-807c-b3085e9bbe29] > > > So we are left with the fact that an inverter output circuit is > alternating current, as defined under NEC 2023. Definition in Section 100: > > [cid:4bd3f0a1-dd27-4c5b-a5c7-335f132f38cd] > > > We are left with Chapter 3 wiring to address this AC circuit. There is no > NEC 2023 reference to "These circuits are production and not utilization > circuits and therefore must be protected from physical damage and errant > tampering." Simply not in code. > > If you insist I put the AC wire in conduit, please tell me the > requirement. If it's "I just want it in conduit" then just ell me that. But > there is little to justify it in NEC 2023. > > > > > > Howard "Scot" Arey > Owner, Solar CenTex > > NABCEP PV Installation Professional > TECL 29755 > 254-300-1228 > [cid:f2ce8538-438b-48d0-92e0-1e00d98cc434] > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment.htm > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 136049 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 1134546 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0001.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 470202 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0002.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 46022 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0003.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 193618 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0004.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: image.png > Type: image/png > Size: 414241 bytes > Desc: image.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0005.png > > > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: Outlook-dzzqmyah.png > Type: image/png > Size: 294949 bytes > Desc: Outlook-dzzqmyah.png > URL: < > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260307/e006f320/attachment-0006.png > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > ------------------------------ > > End of RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 19, Issue 75 > ******************************************* > -- Zeke Yewdall PV Engineer NABCEP #031508-89 [email protected] 303-523-3592
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
