Hi Matt, It is a utility requirement not an AHJ requirement, but you might be right that they are just prohibited in the meter can. I can't find the specific wording in the metering standard at the moment.
On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 9:47 AM, Matt Partymiller < m...@solar-energy-solutions.com> wrote: > Mac, > > Is this a utility or AHJ prohibition? In most jurisdictions we work in > (not CO) the utilities prohibit taps in the meter base but take no > responsibility for conductors once they leave the meter base. > > Matt > > > On Wed, May 11, 2016 11:44 am, Mac Lewis wrote: > > Hi Kirpal, > > > > > > Sounds like you are well informed but I thought I'd throw this in just in > > case. In Xcel Energy territory in Colorado they specifically prohibit > > piercing taps for solar installations. I'm not sure why, but you may > > want to run it by the utility in case there happens to be some solar > > specific regulation. > > > > Good Luck > > > > > > On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 9:36 AM, Kirpal Khalsa <solarwo...@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > >> Hi Shasta....Thank you for the reminder. Safety first as they say!! > >> Jason > >> hit the nail on the head....Coordinating with the local utility and > >> inspector is what caused us to go the route of the insulation piercing > >> taps in the first place....We also considered the ConnectDer meter > >> collar.....I am sure we will use it in the future....The local utility > >> has not already approved their use and in the middle of a project we > >> didn't want to break new ground. Luckily for us our experienced > >> electrician will be making the hot taps, I will use the opportunity to > >> remind them about safety.... Cheers! > >> > >> > >> Sunny Regards, > >> Kirpal Khalsa > >> Oregon LRT#25 > >> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional > >> Oregon Solarworks LLC > >> www.oregonsolarworks.com 541-299-0402 > >> > >> > >> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM, Shasta Daiku <mjmornings...@gmail.com> > >> wrote: > >> > >> > >>> Yes, “I get” that there is inconvenience in coordinating with the > >>> utility and inspectors, permitting, and power disruption. In my world > >>> that’s just a given part of the process. Of course there are > >>> circumstances where disconnecting a utility supply is nearly > >>> unavoidable, for instance, certain industrial processes that run 24/7. > >>> I am aware that the practice of > >>> installing line side taps on energized unfused conductors is common in > >>> the solar industry and always thought it pretty cavalier. I have to > >>> wonder just how many “installers” have had real training for live work > >>> and utilize proper personnel safety protection. Part of the classwork > >>> for this type of training is watching/viewing the results of things > >>> gone wrong, even when the best practices are applied. An indelible > >>> impression will certainly be imprinted, and an attitude of "avoiding > >>> the avoidable” second nature. > >>> > >>> Michael > >>> > >>> > >>> On May 11, 2016, at 5:24 AM, Jason Szumlanski < > >>> ja...@floridasolardesigngroup.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> In some jurisdictions and for some utilities, pulling the meter is a > >>> MAJOR ordeal. Some jurisdictions require a "service change" permit on > >>> top of the solar permit just to have the meter pulled. It also > >>> requires getting an inspector out there at the perfect time to have it > >>> inspected so the the utility will re-install the meter. The homeowner > >>> is often without power for several hours, which is usually somewhere > >>> between inconvenient and unacceptable. Insulation piercing taps are > >>> extremely common around here for these reasons. With proper safety > >>> precautions and experience, I don't see any issue specifying and using > >>> them. > >>> > >>> > >>> Jason Szumlanski > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 12:26 AM, Shasta Daiku > >>> <mjmornings...@gmail.com> > >>> wrote: > >>> > >>> > >>>> Kirpal, I’m curious what the reason is for making the tap on an > >>>> energized line. Why not have the meter pulled? While insulation > >>>> piercing taps are designed for “hot work”, there use for that should > >>>> be limited to tapping conductors that have OCP, and aren’t under > >>>> load, with generous working space, like in a piece of switch gear. > >>>> Even in that situation, > >>>> making taps on energized conductors should only be done when it’s an > >>>> absolute necessity. I’ve got a large body of “hot work” under my > >>>> belt, both line and load side and will say that face shields and hot > >>>> gloves saved my butt on several occasions and I’ve got a nice scar > >>>> on my neck from a molten piece of lug from a main breaker that broke > >>>> apart while I was tightening up it’s mounting screw. Stuff happens. > >>>> It’s always best to play it safe. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Michael Morningstar > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On May 10, 2016, at 11:04 AM, Chris Mason > >>>> <cometenergysyst...@gmail.com> > >>>> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> This is what we use - we keep a selection in the van for difficult > >>>> jobs. > >>>> > >>>> Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG > >>>> Part #IPCS2001 > >>>> Insulation Piercing Connector 2/0-10 AWG 2/0-4 Main, 10-14 AWG Tap, > >>>> Dual > >>>> Rated AL9CU, Torque Limiting Nut > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> On Tue, May 10, 2016 at 1:27 PM, Kirpal Khalsa > >>>> <solarwo...@gmail.com> > >>>> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> Hi Folks, > >>>>> We have a job requiring a supply side connection. Wondering if > >>>>> anyone could share some makes and models for connectors connecting > >>>>> to the wires between a main meter and the main breakers in the > >>>>> electrical panel. Ideally it would be able to be done hot. > >>>>> I am also looking into the ConnectDer meter collar but will have > >>>>> to coordinate with the utility for that and am looking to keep > >>>>> things simple. Thank you!!!! > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Sunny Regards, > >>>>> Kirpal Khalsa > >>>>> Oregon LRT#25 > >>>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional > >>>>> Oregon Solarworks LLC > >>>>> www.oregonsolarworks.com 541-299-0402 > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> Chris Mason > >>>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ > >>>> Solar Design Engineer > >>>> Generac Generators Industrial technician > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com/> 264.235.5670 > >>>> 869.662.5670 > >>>> Skype: netconcepts > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>> > >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > >>> > >>> > >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> Change listserver email address & settings: > >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> List-Archive: > >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist > >>> .html > >>> > >>> > >>> List rules & etiquette: > >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >>> > >>> Check out or update participant bios: > >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > >>> > >>> > >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> Change listserver email address & settings: > >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> List-Archive: > >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist > >>> .html > >>> > >>> > >>> List rules & etiquette: > >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >>> > >>> Check out or update participant bios: > >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > >> > >> > >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > >> > >> > >> Change listserver email address & settings: > >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > >> > >> > >> List-Archive: > >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.h > >> tml > >> > >> List rules & etiquette: > >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > >> > >> Check out or update participant bios: > >> www.members.re-wrenches.org > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > > Mac Lewis > > > > > > *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* > > _______________________________________________ > > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > > > > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > > > > > Change listserver email address & settings: > > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > > > > > List-Archive: > > > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.ht > > ml > > > > List rules & etiquette: > > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > > > Check out or update participant bios: > > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > > > > Matthew Partymiller > Solar Energy Solutions LLC > (877) 312-7456 > m...@solar-energy-solutions.com > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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