Re: [RE-wrenches] 4/0 GEC

Hi Russ, That is how I see it too. There are times that I shudder when we connect to an underground piping system, because as far as I can tell, the inspector could require a 4/0 GEC which would not only cost a fortune in copper, but pose technical difficulties. Drake At 08:14 PM 3/3/2009

[RE-wrenches] Solar good deeds

Low-tech solar's unintended positive consequences. The print magazine bullet "Before they got the solar cookers, female refugees often were attacked." See http://www.parade.com/health/2009/03/solar-cooker-project.html Several wrenches do good work in developing countries. Please share your exp

Re: [RE-wrenches] Backup generator labor

Hi Walt, Thanks for the reply. I hope you don't mind me posting it on the wrenches list. Your experience matches mine. The genset were already installed before the owner contacted me about PV. If the owner has any money left after buying land and building a house with genset power, then buying

[RE-wrenches] AC disconnect options

Greetings! Has anyone ever used a 240V, 60A Cutler-Hammer Air Conditioning Disconnect: http://www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Markets/Electrical/Products/ResidentialProducts/AirconditioningDisconnectsACD/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=3483&ssSourceSiteId=EatonCom as an AC disconnect? They are cheaper and seem

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar good deeds

Joel: It is possible to do "good work" within the borders of one's own country. As off-grid specialists, we try to keep one or two elderly or disadvantaged customers on our books as pro-bono clients, providing services they could not afford. They buy the parts, we install and service at no

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC disconnect options

Hi Andrew, We haven't been able to get any of the utilities we work with in Arizona to accept these. They want a lockable disconnect, with a visible handle. I'd be interested to hear if any others have had luck with this. Best, Louis Woofenden Andrew Truitt wrote: Greetings! Has anyone

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC disconnect options

That's our experience here in Washington, too. Dana -- Dana Brandt Ecotech Energy Systems, LLC www.ecotechenergy.com d...@ecotechenergy.com 360.510.0433 On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 11:37 AM, Louis Woofenden wrote: > > Hi Andrew, > > We haven't been able to get any of the utilities we work with in

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC disconnect options (Andrew Truitt)

1. AC disconnect options (Andrew Truitt) We used to use a lot of those pull-out air conditioner disconnects, we liked the low price. The 60 amp version usually works fine for 15 amps or less, but I really don't think it's reliable at anything close to the 60 amp rating. We've had about a

Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar good deeds

Thanks William I now feel better for doing the same thing. I always felt like an idiot of doing this. Darryl --- On Wed, 3/4/09, William Miller wrote: > From: William Miller > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Solar good deeds > To: "RE-wrenches" > Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1:18 PM > Joel:

[RE-wrenches] Suntech modules wanted

Wrenches, Does anyone know who is distributing the Suntech modules? I need 53 of the STP 175S-24/AB-1 and Conergy no longer carries them. Kindest Regards, Larry Crutcher Starlight Solar (928) 941-1660 Renewable Energy Products, Service and Installation Mailing Address (NO SHIPPING): 11881 S

[RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

Hello Wrenches, I have a customer from Saskatchewan that is wintering in Yuma that wants to take a 10kW+/- grid tie wind turbine back home this spring. His average annual wind speed is 6.9 m/s. He will arrange for the tower and installation. It looks like there are many wind turbine compa

Re: [RE-wrenches] Suntech modules wanted

Hi Larry, we're distributing Suntech, contact me offlist m...@seesolar.com From: Starlight Solar To: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 2:02:39 PM Subject: [RE-wrenches] Suntech modules wanted Wrenches, Does anyone know who is d

[RE-wrenches] low voltage disconnect relay

Hi wrenches, I am working on a project that involves a large UPS system. The UPS system is powering all DC loads, and as such the batteries will be connected directly to the backup loads panel. I am wondering if any of you are familiar with a relay that will operate as a low voltage disconnect/r

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

Bergey, Jacobs/Wind turbine Industries, ARE (Abundant Renewable Energy) and Ventera all offer 10kW units. The first two companies have been around for decades. The latter two are newer to the market, but are being built and installed, have verifiable track records, etc. Ventera also has a 2kw so

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

Hello I am impressed with the Bergey HOWEVER they have had some inverter problems so try to get one with the new inverter, particularly in high wind areas. --- On Wed, 3/4/09, Starlight Solar wrote: > From: Starlight Solar > Subject: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine > To

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

Hi Larry: Check with Logan Bryce of Pine Ridge Products; he's been a beta-tester for several manufactures for quote a while. Here's his information: Pine Ridge Products, Logan & Jenni Bryce, PO Box 2334, Great Falls, MT 59403, 406-738-4284 wlbr...@pineridgeproducts.com I know he's installed

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage disconnect relay

Jeff, I think you can get mercury contactors at 48V and above, up to 100A and three poles, from Mercury Displacement Industries, www.mdius.com. This company made the DC contactors used for years in Ananda/APT/Pulse powercenters during the 1990s. Never known one to fail. Mercury safely contained. A

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

Yes, their newer inverters for the Excel 10 can crank that baby to a 13KW output! Chris Daum Oasis Montana Inc. -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Darryl Thayer Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Re: [RE-wrenches] Suntech modules wanted

Gro solar. Eric R. Andrews NABCEP Certified PV Installer Eco Solar, Inc. www.ecosolarnow.com PO Box 5194 Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-281-8252 cell 541-273-3200 office mailto:e...@ecosolarnow.com Saving the World... One Solar Panel at a Time! From: re-wren

[RE-wrenches] grounding UniRac Sunframe rails

Wrenches Long time reader, first time poster. I was wondering if anyone has experience with grounding UniRac Sunframe rails. We use lugs on our panels and typically place lugs on the rail as well, attaching with a through bolt. We have also used a tap and a ground screw, but none of these meth

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

We would recommend the Eoltec Scirocco 6kW that produces as much as the Bergey 10kW. We have installed these and are very happy with the performance. http://www.solacity.com/ Kind regards, Wilco Vercoelen Utopia, Ontario, Canada http://www.dommelvalley.ca

[RE-wrenches] grounding UniRac Sunframe rails

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Suntech modules wanted

Thank you all for the responses on and off list. I have not seen price offers this low since 2001. Not sure if I should be happy or scared. Larry Crutcher Starlight Solar Wrenches, Does anyone know who is distributing the Suntech modules? I need 53 of the STP 175S-24/AB-1 and Conergy n

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC disconnect options

All, These "compact pull-out A/C" disconnects are NOT suitable for PV. I don't believe they should be used for air conditioning disconnects either. The brand doesn't matter. What kind of quality do you expect to get in a 60A nonfused disconnect for $7? Or take your pick of fused 30A & 60A models f

[RE-wrenches] AC Coupling, inverter listings

Fellow wrenches, I have been following the AC coupling discussions with interest, and now have a site where this would make a lot of sense. One question remains that I have not been able to answer by reading the archives I have found. Since the AC circuit from the batteryless UI inverter

Re: [RE-wrenches] Recommendations for 10kW wind turbine

I've installed a handful of excels, and haven't had to go back. almost a put-it-up-and-forget-it machine. hard to beat 'em. We installed some of the first Tier inverters this fall, and had to go there with the inverter techs and tweak a couple of them to remove a powerline "squeal", but they

Re: [RE-wrenches] AC Coupling, inverter listings

yes the pass thru inverter (grid tie BBOBs) has the anti islanding software, once that is off line the, the grid inverter tie inverter that were connected via the pass thru relays, after 5 mins will reconnect to your pass thru inverter that has the anti island software, and feed your AC loads. No

[RE-wrenches] Lightning protection system

Hello Wrenches, Can the supplemental grounding electrode conductor be connected to a lightning protection system? We have a case where it would be difficult to run a GEC down a multi story building, but have a convenient copper wire, from a lightning protection system, that runs to a rod.

Re: [RE-wrenches] low voltage disconnect relay

On 3/4/09 2:16 PM, Jeff Blick wrote: I am wondering if any of you are familiar with a relay that will operate as a low voltage disconnect/reconnect. We are using stacks of three xantrex xw inverter/chargers for each back up battery bank. Do any wrenches know of a relay that would work for t

[RE-wrenches] larger off-grid system inverter preference

Hi all, Seems large off-grid systems are happening more frequently. Like most, I spend a lot of time trying to get my clients to lower their loads wherever possible, explaining the benefits of doing so from a financial as well as environmental perspective. None-the-less, I am currently designing