Very good points, thanks for the advice. I think the AHJ will get a call and the photos I took.
Jesse Sent from my iPhone On May 7, 2011, at 2:34 PM, R Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > Even a bad solar installer isn't going to use cut up extension cords; that > install was DIY or a "knowledgable" inebriated neighbor. I lived in the > backwoods for many years, and saw even my own work get turned into horror > systems. > As far as your competitor doing bad work, we had the same problem for years > with a guy who was finally run out of Taos by the inspector and a growing > list of angry customers. > He's now in California doing Wholesale Solar. > Your best bet is to turn him in to the AHJ for illegal contracting, along > with pics of the work., but make dang sure he really did it. Enough > complaints and eventually they'll get him. > Luckily much of the system can survive without OCP; the array is current > limited and won't pop an OCP anyway, and the house wiring can't actually fry > at 2500 watts continuous, so a battery wiring issue will be the most > dangerous situation. (batteries on NEC systems are not really protected from > the most likely dangers like a wrench being dropped across the terminals) > > I've rewire dozens of such monsters, and you don't even want to have your > fingerprints on it without having approval to completely rewire it. > Also, for budget cabin systems like that, we would often just supply parts > and a wiring diagram, and let them keep the liability. > It can get cost prohibitive and unnecessary to bring the whole system up to > NEC 2011, my own beautiful house has 103 yr old Knob & tube wiring that is > going great. I only added AFCI breakers and replaced all the lights with low > current CFs. > You have to suspend some of the code junky in you, and proceed with common > sense, or don't proceed at all. > Definitely not for the faint of heart, Good luck, > > R. Walters > r...@solarray.com > Solar Engineer > > > > > On May 7, 2011, at 11:21 AM, Jesse Dahl wrote: > >> Good point, and I guess I could see work like this from a homeowner, but >> this is from a "energy solutions" company in my area. I can fix the problems >> with the solar, some new parts, some conduit, pull some wire.. >> I just don't know what to do about this "energy solutions" guy. Show him why >> it's wrong, confront him.... >> >> Thanks, >> >> >> Jesse >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On May 7, 2011, at 11:37 AM, "Jason Szumlanski" <ja...@fafcosolar.com> wrote: >> >>> Yeah – it can be scary. Retrofits/fix-its are the worst, but can be fun and >>> profitable at times. Starting from scratch is usually the answer, reusing >>> components if practical. >>> >>> >>> >>> Word of caution… be careful not to harshly criticize work in front of the >>> customer. Sometimes they claim that “another idiot PV installer” did the >>> system, when in fact it was a DIY installation. You can be matter of fact >>> about the safety hazards and code violations, but I’ve seen the look on a >>> person’s face who obviously did it himself as I tore the system apart. >>> >>> >>> >>> Jason Szumlanski >>> >>> Fafco Solar >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of >>> d...@foxfire-energy.com >>> Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 7:58 AM >>> To: RE-wrenches >>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Dangerous installs/installers.. >>> >>> >>> >>> Welcome to the Rodeo partner.. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Dan Brown >>> Foxfire Energy Corp. >>> Renewable Energy Systems >>> (802)-483-2564 >>> www.Foxfire-Energy.com >>> NABCEP #092907-44 >>> >>> >>> >>> -------- Original Message -------- >>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Dangerous installs/installers.. >>> From: Jesse Dahl <dahlso...@gmail.com> >>> Date: Sat, May 07, 2011 2:45 am >>> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> >>> >>> Wrenches, >>> >>> The other day on my travels, I came across a very scary small stand-alone >>> hunting shack install. All the wiring is cut extension cords and some UF, >>> the cable from the charge controller to the batteries is an extension cord >>> with the 14s paralleled. mice chewed wire, splices taped and laid on the >>> ground, mis matched modules (least of the problems). not a disco or OCPD to >>> be seen. >>> >>> Also a 500W wind generator 100 yards from the battery bank, feed with #10s >>> and then spliced to #12s (most of it just laying on the ground. >>> >>> Now I think the owner should have some responsibility to stop work when the >>> see things this awful, but what can/should we as an industry do about this? >>> What do we say to people that install stuff like this? Take them to court? >>> >>> A small 2500w with surge of 5000w inverter was used here with 6 paralleled >>> 12V deep cycle batteries. Powering a few lights and a vacuum at first, a >>> well pump was added later. I could see the lights and vacuum, but a pump? >>> How do you go about wiring the output of an inverter like this? From a >>> receptacle on the inverter to what? This guy cut an extension cord off and >>> splice it to some NM and ran it inside to the loads. No breaker, I just >>> can't get over the fact this guy sleeps at night... >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> You should see the photos of this mess... >>> >>> >>> Thank you for your thoughts, >>> >>> >>> >>> Jesse >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Options & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Options & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Options & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org >
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