Ray, That's a great point it seems like people are really concerned about squirrels and I simply don't understand how adding more components and more potential points of failure helps to address a potential rodent attack, If anything it seems like MLSD just increases the amount of risk of damage from animals. Your suggestion of exempting systems from the MLSD requirement if they implement a rodent guard of some sort seems like a reasonable middle ground that the industry has a lot of experience with already.
Sky Sims https://EcologicalSystems.org <https://ecologicalsystems.org> 732-462-3858 f)732-462-3962 "Just An Old Wrench" On Fri, Jan 29, 2021 at 5:26 PM Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > Yes, I would like more info too. I'm all about safety, but it needs to be > based on reality not theory. For instance, would string level shut down > have stopped the arcs you mentioned? Also, I second the screening. Even > if MLSD stops the fire, the rodents have still won the day by taking out > part of the array. How about an exemption from MLSD for systems below a > certain voltage, and having animal guard in place, and those would still > have string level shut down. > > Ray Walters > Remote Solar > 303 505-8760 > > On 1/29/21 3:58 PM, frenergy wrote: > > Andrew, > > If these are the only two examples of justification of MLSD > and not knowing the details of the examples you've cited, I suggest there > is a more effective, equal in labor to apply, less expensive, durable > solution. For the squirrel problem, an alternate solution is one of the > available edge of array screen products. Not only does it stop the > squirrels but it works for mice, leaves, pine needles, etc. > > Can you enlighten us about the cause of the resi fires that > were caused from the lack of MLSD's? Poor wire management? And was the > hole in the metal roof caused by the squirrel having lunch on the wiring? > > I feel it worth diving into this deeper for a variety of > reasons. > > Bill > > Feather River Solar Electric > Bill Battagin, Owner > 4291 Nelson St. > Taylorsville, CA 95983 > 530.284.7849 > CA Lic 874049www.frenergy.net > > On 1/29/2021 11:56 AM, Solar Energy Solutions wrote: > > Dear All, > > I have been an outspoken critic of module level shutdown for all the > reasons folks do. However, I have come around. We have witnessed too many > systems where rooftop wiring has been chewed up by critters... mostly > squirrels. We have seen everything from residential fires to holes in > metal roofs caused by a DC arc. I never thought I would see the day when > I would not only be thinking MLSD is a good idea but advocating for it. > > Smiles, > > *Andrew Koyaanisqatsi* > *President* > > > *Solar Energy Solutions, Inc. The BRIGHT CHOICE * > *Since 1987,* > * helping you and your Portland neighbors move** towards an > environmentally sustainable future.* > > *503-238-4502 www.SolarEnergyOregon.com > <http://www.solarenergyoregon.com/> * > > > On Friday, January 29, 2021, 11:25:28 AM PST, s...@ecologicalsystems.biz > <s...@ecologicalsystems.biz> <s...@ecologicalsystems.biz> wrote: > > > So far the module level shutdown requirements have been a real blow to our > industry. The reliability and cost from a maintenance and installation > standpoint has been very hit or miss so far. It feels like this requirement > was rolled out far too quickly without enough forethought to its impact on > the industry. We are constantly going out and fixing problems with mlsd > installed by other contractors. Thankfully the problems have nothing to do > with the quality of the installations. The problems are almost all due to > premature failure of the products or some inherent defect in them. This is > a serious issue costing the industry time and resources and making our > installers less safe. It just doesn’t really accomplish the intended goal > of the requirement. > I’m curious how other wrenches are dealing with this issue. I recently > became aware of fixMLSD.com which appears to be focused on bringing a more > sensible approach to this requirement. > > Your thoughts are appreciated, > Sky Sims > Https://EcologicalSystems.biz > “Just An Old Wrench” > _______________________________________________ > > -- > > > > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=icon> > Virus-free. > www.avast.com > <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link> > <#m_6982181657532053563_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other:https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette:http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios:http://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 > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > --
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