New NHX 12 killowatt

[JohnGyver]

Sorry but had to say it ... I am not a fan of whomever laid those bricks in the goat shed. Straw or anything flammable in the goat shed? Don't see any of those cheap spds in the combiner boxes which is probably a good thing with reports of some of them catching fire.

Did you use white pvc? I get chastised at work for using the stuff, but it's considerably cheaper, $21 vs $8, and as long as the trench is marked, afaik, it's legal.

Anyhow, things are looking pretty dang sweet.

LOL, Korn, I hate those bricks too! The house was built in 1970.... the rear 24x30 garage (now a barn for the goats) was built like a DIY kit way back in those days. The bricks look to be an upgrade on 2 of the 4 walls... but the execution was terrible. I just have to keep telling myself that "it's just an old barn". I did paint the entire outer structure to match our house.... so a bit of "lipstick on the pig". That structure will host close to 10kw in solar arrays that also provides a few extra shade spots for the goats. I am happy about that. It's definitely better that putting solar on my home's roof.... plus it is 150 feet away from the house.

There is no hay in bulk in the garage but that stuff flies everywhere with wind. So, it can buildup in corners. I plan on keeping that corner cleared out when we clean out the garage later this spring.

I am not a fan of the typical DC breakers. What DC breakers are you using for maximum safety? I really did not land on anything better from a DC breaker perspective.

Thank you. I feel like I am turning the corner here.... 2 more arrays and one more battery will get me to what I will consider stable. From there I will grow it to 2 inverters, 6 - 4.8kw arrays, 6 batteries and a partridge in a pear tree. Then I will have a full blown powerplant.... expected sometime in 2030! (Maybe slightly before that knowing me.) I am aggressively trying to get this system growing as fast as possible.... time and money being my main obstacles.

Have a great week Korn!

John

 

[JohnGyver]

Did you use white pvc? I get chastised at work for using the stuff, but it's considerably cheaper, $21 vs $8, and as long as the trench is marked, afaik, it's legal.

Korn,

I used all 3/4" PVC conduit for all DC solar wire runs with PVC conduit fittings.

On my 2" piping at the breaker panels, I may be forced to use 2" PVC piping fittings (for water) but using the gray schedule 80 45-degree fittings that are smaller than their LONGER conduit fittings counterparts. The 45-degree conduit fittings for 2" pipe are like 18" long, where the plumbing 45-degree fitting is like 5 inches. I am working in a very tight space, and the PVC conduit fittings are not helping me.

I am trying to stay within code and do it all as correctly as possible.... but when it comes to 90- and 45-degree fittings the conduit versions are stupid big.

I have researched using plumbing parts for electrical... and it looks to be a big NO-NO. But, a few 45-degree elbow exceptions shouldn't be an issue. I plan to paint all the conduit to match the brick of my house which will UV protect all of the conduit and fittings as well disguise the plumbing parts from the electrical (hopefully).

 

[mciholas]

I used all 3/4" PVC conduit for all DC solar wire runs with PVC conduit fittings.

Inside buildings, all PV DC circuits should run inside metal conduit per code.

Mike C.

 

[Kornbread]

Korn,

I used all 3/4" PVC conduit for all DC solar wire runs with PVC conduit fittings.

On my 2" piping at the breaker panels, I may be forced to use 2" PVC piping fittings (for water) but using the gray schedule 80 45-degree fittings that are smaller than their LONGER conduit fittings counterparts. The 45-degree conduit fittings for 2" pipe are like 18" long, where the plumbing 45-degree fitting is like 5 inches. I am working in a very tight space, and the PVC conduit fittings are not helping me.

I am trying to stay within code and do it all as correctly as possible.... but when it comes to 90- and 45-degree fittings the conduit versions are stupid big.

I have researched using plumbing parts for electrical... and it looks to be a big NO-NO. But, a few 45-degree elbow exceptions shouldn't be an issue. I plan to paint all the conduit to match the brick of my house which will UV protect all of the conduit and fittings as well disguise the plumbing parts from the electrical (hopefully).

You can use a heat gun to bend pvc. It can be tricky, but after a while you get a feel for it.

 

[JohnGyver]

Inside buildings, all PV DC circuits should run inside metal conduit per code.

Mike C.

Does that include a shed?

I will have to do a "re-do day" then.... luckily, that barn is not fully wired yet.

Thanks for the advice and expertise Mike!

John

 

[JohnGyver]

You can use a heat gun to bend pvc. It can be tricky, but after a while you get a feel for it.

I have bent custom curves in 3/4" conduit for those special needs.... but 2" conduit feels like it would be tricky.

I knew that there was a reason why I bought a full 10' piece of 2" conduit.... for experimentation! LOL

I have one of those mini torches that works well with the 3/4" stuff. I will give it a go with the 2" pipe to see if I can work the same magic.

Good feedback Korn.... sometimes the easiest answer is the one that you glossed over and disregarded.

I will let you know how that goes when the critical loads panel swap goes down.

Thanks Korn!

John

 

[mciholas]

Does that include a shed?

NEC 690.31(D)(1) says "Where inside buildings, PV system dc circuits that exceed 30 volts or 8 amperes shall be contained in metal raceways, in Type MC metal-clad cable that complies with 250.118(A)(10)(b) or (A)(10)(c), or in metal enclosures".

NEC defines "building" as "A structure that stands along or that is separated from adjoining structures by fire walls".

Is a "shed" a building? Well, it depends on who is interpreting the words above. If you have to open a door to get inside it, really no wiggle room on that. If it is just a roof with no walls, well, maybe that's not a building? There is always something in the gray area.

Mike C.

 

[JohnGyver]

NEC 690.31(D)(1) says "Where inside buildings, PV system dc circuits that exceed 30 volts or 8 amperes shall be contained in metal raceways, in Type MC metal-clad cable that complies with 250.118(A)(10)(b) or (A)(10)(c), or in metal enclosures".

NEC defines "building" as "A structure that stands along or that is separated from adjoining structures by fire walls".

Is a "shed" a building? Well, it depends on who is interpreting the words above. If you have to open a door to get inside it, really no wiggle room on that. If it is just a roof with no walls, well, maybe that's not a building? There is always something in the gray area.

Mike C.

Thanks for the guidance, Mike! I am thankful for the expertise... and I suspect other readers will be too.

John