Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar Leasing Companies in Rhode Island

[Christopher Warfel]

Hi Jerry, Just 20kW. I will call you this afternoon.  Thank you, Chris
On 10/21/2014 9:06 PM, Jerry Shafer wrote:


How big?? call me @8082912832

On Oct 21, 2014 4:01 PM, "Christopher Warfel" 
> wrote:


This is probably off topic, but I don't know where else to access
this list's amount of experience.

IF you know of companies that will lease solar electric systems in
Rhode Island, would you contact me off list.  We have several not
for profit sites that cannot use the federal tax credit.

Thank you, Chris

-- 
Christopher Warfel, President

ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
401-466-8978 

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--
Christopher Warfel, President
ENTECH Engineering, Inc.
PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807
401-466-8978

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[RE-wrenches] multiple points of grid connection and the opposite end of the bus rule

[Allen Frishman]

Wrenchers,
I am working on a multi building complex that is part of a isolated grid 
(multiple buildings are fed from one central building).All of the power 
from the utility enters one central building via a 4000AS/4000AF Service 
Switch.   The 4000A Service switch feeds a 3 section cabinet with (5) fused 
switches per section.The fused switches in each of these sections then feed 
a different building in the complex.My plan is to install a solar array 
with inverters on each of these buildings and grid connect to the conductors at 
the individual building entrances.   The majority if not all of the solar power 
will feed directly into the building that the array is located on however since 
the point of solar grid connection is to the conductors feeding the building 
that originate in the central buildings switch gear I am trying to get my head 
around the need to comply with the opposite side of the bus rule in the 3 
sections located in the central building.

I am hoping I am missing a rule in the NEC that will allow the multiple grid 
connections described to connect to all of the fused switch positions in the 
central buildings switch gear.

All feedback is appreciated.

Al Frishman
AeonSolar

(917) 699-6641 - cell
(888) 460-2867
www.aeonsolar.com


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

[peter.parr...@calsolareng.com]

As I remember, anything that needs to be inspected or manually operated needs to
be between 6'-6" and 2'-6".
 
- Peter
 
Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D.
SolarGnosis
 

> On October 22, 2014 at 12:28 AM Bob-O Schultze 
> wrote:
> 
>  If it has some sort of switch or CB, the top of the handle cannot be higher
> than 6'7". As to the lower limit, I think that would depend on the location.
> In a garage, for example, the AHJ could make a case for 18" as that's where
> outlets generally live, but there is no lower limit that I'm aware of.
> 
>  On Oct 21, 2014, at 9:02 PM, frenergy wrote:
> 
>  Wrenches,
>   
>  I can't seem to find a reference to the heights allowable for
> inverter installs, either minimum or maximum (need both).  For that matter, AC
> combiners, DC discos, any switchgear related to the inverter(s).
>   
>  Any help appreciated.
>   
>  Bill
>  Feather River Solar Electric
>  solar powered since 1982
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Mitsubishi Mini Split fighting with Outback VFX Off Grid

[Exeltech]

> We used to use capacitors, but Dan from Exeltech just poo pooed that fix
> in another recent thread, so I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve.


No poo.  Just a cautionary comment.  Capacitors connected across the output of 
an inverter can .. in some circumstances .. cause the voltage control loop to 
go crazy, resulting in unstable and unpredictable output voltage.  Just how 
much capacitance would cause trouble depends on the inverter design, so I don't 
have a specific value in mind.  And no .. it may not affect all inverters .. or 
may affect them differently  Think of it as a "do it at your own risk" fix.  If 
it works with one inverter, it may not work with another model and/or brand.


Dan



On Tue, 10/21/14, Ray Walters  wrote:

 Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mitsubishi Mini Split fighting with Outback VFX Off 
Grid
 To: "RE-wrenches" 
 Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 12:23 PM

The Outback is not a perfect Sinewave.  It still has tiny steps in the wave, 
and when electronics have a problem, its usually with the wave form as it 
crosses zero voltage .  Instead of being instantaneous, it has a few 
milliseconds of time the wave is at the zero crossing, which can drive some 
electronics nuts.  I don't understand the issue beyond that, but apparently the 
electronics use the zero crossing for timers and synchronizing, and they're 
looking for an instant "click", not a smear.

Do the heat pumps work with the generator?  Even though generators can have 
more harmonic distortion, they do usually have a clean zero crossing.

If this is the case, I'm afraid I don't have a cure.  We used to use 
capacitors, but Dan from Exeltech just poo pooed that fix in another recent 
thread, so I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve.
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

[Garrison Riegel]

Bill,

 

See 2011 NEC 690.14(D) or 2014 NEC 690.15(A) Utility-Interactive Inverters 
Mounted in Not Readily Accessible Locations.  Basically there is no maximum 
height restriction for inverters but there are a number of requirements for AC 
and DC disconnecting means.  See NEC 404.8 for maximum disconnect height of 6’ 
7”…although exception No. 2 may allow the disconnect to be accessible by 
portable means.  I don’t know of any minimum height requirements in the code, 
although most (all?) string and microinverter manufacturers specify a required 
clearance below the inverter.  I suppose that would be the minimum. 

 

Garrison   

 

Garrison Riegel

Project Manager |   Solar Service Inc

[p] 847-677-0950 |   
garri...@solarserviceinc.com

 

NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™

 

 

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf 
Of frenergy
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 11:02 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

 

Wrenches,

 

I can't seem to find a reference to the heights allowable for inverter 
installs, either minimum or maximum (need both).  For that matter, AC 
combiners, DC discos, any switchgear related to the inverter(s).

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric

solar powered since 1982

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Mitsubishi Mini Split fighting with Outback VFX Off Grid

[Ray Walters]

Just because its worked in the past for me doesn't always make it a good 
idea.  I appreciate having an actual inverter expert on our list to 
caution us before we create a potential problem. One nice thing is that 
we've never needed to "fix" an Exeltech sine wave output.


R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 10/22/2014 7:16 AM, Exeltech wrote:

We used to use capacitors, but Dan from Exeltech just poo pooed that fix
in another recent thread, so I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve.


No poo.  Just a cautionary comment.  Capacitors connected across the output of an 
inverter can .. in some circumstances .. cause the voltage control loop to go crazy, 
resulting in unstable and unpredictable output voltage.  Just how much capacitance would 
cause trouble depends on the inverter design, so I don't have a specific value in mind.  
And no .. it may not affect all inverters .. or may affect them differently  Think of it 
as a "do it at your own risk" fix.  If it works with one inverter, it may not 
work with another model and/or brand.


Dan



On Tue, 10/21/14, Ray Walters  wrote:

  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mitsubishi Mini Split fighting with Outback VFX 
Off Grid
  To: "RE-wrenches" 
  Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 12:23 PM

The Outback is not a perfect Sinewave.  It still has tiny steps in the wave, and when 
electronics have a problem, its usually with the wave form as it crosses zero voltage .  
Instead of being instantaneous, it has a few milliseconds of time the wave is at the zero 
crossing, which can drive some electronics nuts.  I don't understand the issue beyond 
that, but apparently the electronics use the zero crossing for timers and synchronizing, 
and they're looking for an instant "click", not a smear.

Do the heat pumps work with the generator?  Even though generators can have 
more harmonic distortion, they do usually have a clean zero crossing.

If this is the case, I'm afraid I don't have a cure.  We used to use 
capacitors, but Dan from Exeltech just poo pooed that fix in another recent 
thread, so I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve.
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

[frenergy]

Bob-O, Peter, Garrison,

I appreciate the responses, will proceed accordingly.  I have seen some 
references to minimum distance to floor in some manuals.  Thank you,

Bill
Feather River Solar Electric

  - Original Message - 
  From: Garrison Riegel 
  To: 'RE-wrenches' 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 11:11 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height


  Bill,

   

  See 2011 NEC 690.14(D) or 2014 NEC 690.15(A) Utility-Interactive Inverters 
Mounted in Not Readily Accessible Locations.  Basically there is no maximum 
height restriction for inverters but there are a number of requirements for AC 
and DC disconnecting means.  See NEC 404.8 for maximum disconnect height of 6’ 
7”…although exception No. 2 may allow the disconnect to be accessible by 
portable means.  I don’t know of any minimum height requirements in the code, 
although most (all?) string and microinverter manufacturers specify a required 
clearance below the inverter.  I suppose that would be the minimum. 

   

  Garrison   

   

  Garrison Riegel

  Project Manager | Solar Service Inc

  [p] 847-677-0950 | garri...@solarserviceinc.com

   

  NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™

   

   

  From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On 
Behalf Of frenergy
  Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 11:02 PM
  To: RE-wrenches
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] Mounting height

   

  Wrenches,

   

  I can't seem to find a reference to the heights allowable for 
inverter installs, either minimum or maximum (need both).  For that matter, AC 
combiners, DC discos, any switchgear related to the inverter(s).

   

  Any help appreciated.

   

  Bill

  Feather River Solar Electric

  solar powered since 1982



--


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