PV Codes

[wdyasq]

http://www.nmsu.edu/~tdi/pdf-resources/pdf%20version%20divided%20PV:NEC/PV-NEC%201.9/PV-NEC-V-1.9-op



t.pdf

149 page - 4.4MB file

Enjoy,

Ron

[dnix71]

This guy needs to get a real job and go away. Did you read very far? He wants all pv systems inspected by local government. Basically outlaw what we do here.

He also wants all PV components UL listed, which effectively outlaws most of our systems and would put SunElec out of business, since their house brand is not UL listed.

[bj]

  They sort of tried that stuff here, on a local level.  Said I had to fence an area 10 larger than the tower fall print, with a 8 foot frost fence.  Include warning signs etc.  I told them to pound salt.  They said they would take it down. I said Mr. Remington and I wouldn't let them.

  So far they have given up.  I wasn't serious about the Mr. Remington thing,  but they don't have to know that.  I think that basically someone

with way too much spare time had a brain fart.

[wdyasq]

dnix71,

Yes, I did read most of it and have taken many notes. It really doesn't matter what you think, it is the law, as far as the government is concerned. Here, I am required to "build to code". If one is insured, the insurance company can refuse to pay a claim if things are not "built to code".

In my small world "building to code" is going to cost me several thousand dollars additional. Our glorious leaders now require all new structures in the state to be "built to code".

My views of what this is don't matter. Like laws requiring one to stay under a certain speed on the highway, I have little say and less defense if it is claimed by one of those our glorious imperial leaders have selected to enforce such requirements I am in violation of (insert failure to comply here).

My purpose was not to be questioned about my ability to read or call the law stupid, which it may be. I am only to providing the information so those who might be required to follow the rules will have an easier time than I finding them.

Ron

[fabricator]

In order for anything like that to be workable there would have to be thousands upon thousands of electrical inspectors trained in all aspects of PV installation, not gonna happen any time soon.

[ghurd]

OR, they can use the current inspectors, and fail anything they do not understand.

Sort of like how it is done now in many places.

G-

[wingman1776]

around here they fail it unless you can prove to the it is ok. pain having to do there job for them but that is the way it goes

[fabricator]

That certainly seems to be the nation wide standard.

[wpowokal]

Thanks for the post Ron, you got all the classic responses, we here in OZ basically follow your (US) code.

It is easier to take short cuts if one chooses, when one is informed, and frequently it is no harder to comply than not, in any case codes are there for reasons most of us would not think about.

allan

[bergmanj]

Folks,

Just for everybody's information: The National Electical Code (NEC) is only one of many 'Codes' that are 'under the wing' of the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA).

The NFPA is not an agency of any government: It was formed by a consortium of insurance companies many decades ago...   ...to protect their profits.

The NFPA has lobbied many state governments for a very long time to get the states to legislate their codes into law by using the idea that the codes are there to protect all of us.  There is some truth to the fact that the codes actually do a fair job of protecting us from certain hazards like fire (in the case of the NEC and other fire codes); and, from unscrupulous builders (in the case of building codes - this, I know from personal experience).

But...   ...the codes are really there to protect the insurance companies against 'loss'; i. e., keep more profits.

So, don't neccessarily blame the local building officials (though some are defenitely overzealous for various reasons - power, job protection, etc.).

I work for a local government agency (no, I'm nowhere near any code enforcement - I service internal customers with their various communications [voice and data network support] needs) and am often very frustrated by some of the things our 'leaders' require us to do. Like most (seriously - yes - most!) of my co-workers, I also try very hard to limit any negative impact when ordered to do something stupid (quite often) - I'm also a taxpayer!

It's really your state politicians (legislators), and no one else.

Regards,   JLB

[dnix71]

That's my complaint. These rules make it impossible to experiment or construct anything "legal" that is actually affordable. Americans have become adverse to risk taking. I don't want to live in an idiot proof country full of lazy stupid people who want it all at someone else's expense.

UL rated doesn't necessarily mean safe. Their inspectors were bribed by a company in New Jersy to allow certain circuit breakers. "Federal Pacific and Challenege" brand. There were some that were safe and some that weren't. Here in Sunrise we used their breakers in most of the older homes.

[SparWeb]

Kind of disappointed to read some of the comments posted about this.  Codes and "best practices" are about making people safe.  There's a reason why so few houses burn down due to electrical faults, why so few people die from shocks.  If you have no respect for your own safety, spare a thought for the safety of other people.

I for one was very happy to see John Wiles' NEC supplement when I came across it a few years ago.  I have referred to it many times when trying to improve the wiring and circuit protection in my system.

[Tritium]

Code is good where there are actual safety issues and where crooked builders would otherwise operate BUT I am one of the fortunate that live in rural America still untouched by permits, inspections or any of the other things that most are burdened by. My home is uninsured so if I mess up and burn it down it is on me. I don't need UL marks on anything and the local electric cooperative doesn't allow grid tie of anything without a million dollar liability insurance policy in place naming them as the beneficiary so as long as my grid connection is 1 way, no one has a say in anything I build, wire, plumb or anything else. It is much like it was a hundred years ago rule wise and I like it.

Thurmond