Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP test

[Glenn Burt]

My favorite part was when the test results arrived by mail, it had a postage
due notice on it.

Had to pony up more $$ to tell if I passed or failed!!

 

Glenn Burt

 

From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Nick Vida
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 9:35 PM
To: wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP test

 

my favorite part of the test was sitting for an ultra detailed exam that
expected you to have certain things memorized that no engineer or
electrician does't use resources for (like voltage drop, lag bolt ratings,
and the rest) and getting the letter with the test location with the wrong
address on it!

 

I was sent to:

810 n. Poinsettia Santa Ana 92647

 

when the actual address was:

810 n. Poinsettia St. Santa Ana 92701

 

Imagine my surprise when I drove 40 miles to a city I barley know for a test
you can't take if you are late, and I arrive in a sub-division! 

And yes, having a St, Rd or Ln is a big part of finding the place, as well
as the correct zipcode!

 

Nick I agree, but what really got me was all the "most safe" questions. I am
glad that it is hard, however, because now that a c-10 can take it after 2
installs I think it is pretty hard to really expect too much respect. That
being said, combined with my 6 years of installing, it is a nice additional
credential.

 

nick vida/

 

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Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP test

[North Texas Renewable Energy Inc]

Gives a whole new meaning to non-profit.
Jim
  My favorite part was when the test results arrived by mail, it had a
postage due notice on it.

  Had to pony up more $$ to tell if I passed or failed!!



  Glenn Burt



  From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Nick Vida
  Sent: Friday, April 01, 2011 9:35 PM
  To: wrenches
  Subject: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP test



  my favorite part of the test was sitting for an ultra detailed exam that
expected you to have certain things memorized that no engineer or
electrician does't use resources for (like voltage drop, lag bolt ratings,
and the rest) and getting the letter with the test location with the wrong
address on it!



  I was sent to:

  810 n. Poinsettia Santa Ana 92647



  when the actual address was:

  810 n. Poinsettia St. Santa Ana 92701



  Imagine my surprise when I drove 40 miles to a city I barley know for a
test you can't take if you are late, and I arrive in a sub-division!

  And yes, having a St, Rd or Ln is a big part of finding the place, as well
as the correct zipcode!



  Nick I agree, but what really got me was all the "most safe" questions. I
am glad that it is hard, however, because now that a c-10 can take it after
2 installs I think it is pretty hard to really expect too much respect. That
being said, combined with my 6 years of installing, it is a nice additional
credential.



  nick vida/


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[RE-wrenches] 2014 NEC documents

[Michael Welch]

If you have any questions or comments, please respond to me off list.

Received this from John Wiles. You may respond to him at .

I have put the documents he enclosed on the Wrench ftp site, individually and 
zipped together. You can find them here:

ftp://ftp.re-wrenches.org/pub/

Dear members of the PV Industry Forum (Chair-Ward Bower):

I have attached the first draft of 40 proposals that have been developed for 
articles 690 and 705 as well as a couple for other articles for the 2014 NEC.

They have originated from many sources and some are from proposals rejected for 
the 2011 NEC.

Track changes in future drafts by looking at the file dates.

Feel free to mark up and comment.  Don't forget the substantiations.   Submit 
new proposals to me.  Please use the 2011 NEC Handbook as a reference. I'll 
circulate responses and updates about every 4-6 weeks.  Grammatical suggestions 
may or may not be adopted.

The proposals will be put through the NEC Style Manual "wringer" at a later 
date.

Final submission to NFPA will be in late Oct to meet NEC 2014 deadlines.

Other interested parties may follow these drafts on the WWW.SOLARABCS.ORG web 
site.
  

Michael Welch
Sr. Editor
 Home Power magazine
 www.homepower.com


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Re: [RE-wrenches] portable freezers

[Jonathan Hill]

We use Sun Danzer and they're great!
Jonathan Hill, senior system design engineerSierra Solar Systems563C Idaho Maryland RoadGrass Valley, CA 95945Celebrating our 30th year in solar!tech info and foreign orders:  (530) 273-6754 order line: (888) ON-SOLAR (US only)   FAX:  (530) 273-1760e-mail:  world wide web:  Check out our 2 minute video at: http://www.sierrasolar.com/articles.php?article_id=42 Because of the high volume of e-mail to which I respond, pleaseleave _all_ of the previous messages (unless it's unbearable) in  your reply so I can better remember your original message.

On Apr 1, 2011, at 6:51 PM, Nick Vida wrote:Hi wrenches.hope you are well,Do any of you guys have any experience with portable freezer/ refrigerator units with AC and DC input? I see a couple brands out there, like EdgeStar, Dometic, and Whynter. Anyone have any or ever use any of these? are they good? durable?thanks a million,nick vida___List sponsored by Home Power magazineList Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.orgOptions & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgList-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.orgList rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htmCheck out participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org___
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[RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[Kristopher Schmid]

I have an off-grid client who tells me that his clocks lose about 1 minute
per hour while he is running his backup generator.  Has anyone seen this
before?  Do clocks use the zero crossing on a 60Hz wave for keeping time and
could a frequency discrepency in the generator cause this?

My thanks to the brain trust...

Kris 

Legacy Solar, LLC
864 Clam Falls Trail
Frederic, WI 54837
715-653-4295
sol...@legacysolar.com
www.legacysolar.com 

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[RE-wrenches] The big valley

[William Miller]

Friends:

Two weeks ago we had a torrential downpour in our area-- about 4 inches 
overnight.  I received a call Sunday morning from a client who we had 
installed a roof mount system for almost 5 years ago.  Their roof was leaking!


I hurried right over in the rain and sure enough, there was a leak right 
below one of our feet placements.  I inspected the caulking, and though it 
was not as pretty as I might have done myself, there was no apparent leak 
path.  Seeing no other apparent reason for the leak, I assumed it was 
through our penetration.  I re-sealed the two penetrations nearest the leak 
and promised the home owner I would take care of all repairs..


That evening the client called and the roof was leaking again.  This seemed 
unlikely since I had carefully sealed my penetrations.  Upon further 
inspection, there was a valley near the leak and there was a tiny little 
sand dam in the valley.


The next clear day, I hired a local, large, well known, reputable roofing 
contractor to deconstruct the valley.  My arrangement with the client 
was:  If the leak was not caused by my work, I pay nothing.  If I caused 
the leak, I pay for everything, (including ceiling repair).  It turns out 
the valley was installed incorrectly with many deficiencies:  There was no 
paper in the valley, there were nails through the sheet metal, there was no 
mastic and the sheet metal was allowed to bulge up to allow a sub-valley 
away from the actual center of the valley and there was a hole in the paper 
right above the leak.


This same thing happened to us a year ago on a tile roof.  We were able to 
deconstruct the valley ourselves and the roofing estimator who had 
originally blamed us came right back over and verified we were not to blame.


I am relating this to the Wrenches list because any of you could have this 
happen to you.  The moral:  Don't be quick to accept blame for a roof 
leak.  Inspect valleys carefully for debris.  Shingles or tile should not 
encroach too closely to the center of the valley.  Look for mastic under 
the shingles.  Don't be afraid to lift tiles and look for water staining 
and debris trails.


Good luck out there!

William Miller


William Miller
Miller Solar
Voice :805-438-5600
email: will...@millersolar.com
http://millersolar.com
License No. C-10-773985
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[Jeff Oldham]

Your assumption is right on. We used to use clocks as an old trick to check the 
Hz of gensets. Depending on the uinit you may be able to adjust this via the 
governor. Use a modern Hz meter though, some system monitors or inverters will 
display Hz as well.


>From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative 
>SOLutions

Groupon™ Official Site
1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city's best!
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[Nathan Jones]

Kristopher,
This is not that uncommon on gensets that are close to max output during the 
bulk charge runup to absorption. If the regulation let's the frequency pull 
down the clock will slow down also. If the no load frequency is set higher than 
60HZ so the motor pulls down to this RPM under heavy load the motor may run 
well above 60HZ as the amps taper off and the clocks run fast instead of slow. 
There may be adjustment on the fuel setting on the genset but he probably has 
his choice of too fast or too slow depending on which charging phase he wants 
at dead on 60HZ.
Nathan Jones
Power Source Solar Inc
Springfield, Mo

On Mon Apr 4th, 2011 4:51 PM CDT Kristopher Schmid wrote:

>I have an off-grid client who tells me that his clocks lose about 1 minute
>per hour while he is running his backup generator.  Has anyone seen this
>before?  Do clocks use the zero crossing on a 60Hz wave for keeping time and
>could a frequency discrepency in the generator cause this?
>
>My thanks to the brain trust...
>
>Kris 
>
>Legacy Solar, LLC
>864 Clam Falls Trail
>Frederic, WI 54837
>715-653-4295
>sol...@legacysolar.com
>www.legacysolar.com 
>
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[RE-wrenches] Xantrex / Schneider recall update

[Solar Energy Solutions]

Just got off the phone with Schneider Electric, formally Xantrex.  They said, 
"bla bla bla, yada yada yada" and they are hoping our parts will be in by the 
end of the month. 
 

 
Andrew Koyaanisqatsi
President
Solar Energy Solutions, Inc.
Since 1987,
Moving Portland and Beyond 
to an Environmentally Sustainable Future.

503-238-4502
www.solarenergyoregon.com 
 
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Xantrex / Schneider recall update

[Bob-O Schultze]

Aw Andrew.. give 'em a break!  The parts have to come all the way from China, 
just like everything else that outfit sells.
Bob-O

On Apr 4, 2011, at 4:07 PM, Solar Energy Solutions wrote:


Just got off the phone with Schneider Electric, formally Xantrex.  They said, 
"bla bla bla, yada yada yada" and they are hoping our parts will be in by the 
end of the month. 
 

 
Andrew Koyaanisqatsi
President
Solar Energy Solutions, Inc.
Since 1987,
Moving Portland and Beyond
to an Environmentally Sustainable Future.
503-238-4502
www.solarenergyoregon.com
 
"Better one's House too little one day
than too big all the Year after."

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[Kent Osterberg]

Kris,

Even with generators using an electronic governor, the frequency changes 
with load. Also while inverters are stable their frequency is not as 
accurate as utility power. Clocks that use the ac frequency as the time 
standard will not work reliably when powered with off-grid power. Such 
should be disclosed in any contract to install an off-grid power system.


Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar


Kristopher Schmid wrote:

I have an off-grid client who tells me that his clocks lose about 1 minute
per hour while he is running his backup generator.  Has anyone seen this
before?  Do clocks use the zero crossing on a 60Hz wave for keeping time and
could a frequency discrepency in the generator cause this?

My thanks to the brain trust...

Kris 


Legacy Solar, LLC
864 Clam Falls Trail
Frederic, WI 54837
715-653-4295
sol...@legacysolar.com
www.legacysolar.com 


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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[toddcory]

I wasn't going to say anything, but electric clocks off-grid? really???

Todd



On Monday, April 4, 2011 6:20pm, "Kent Osterberg"  said:

> Kris,
> 
> Even with generators using an electronic governor, the frequency changes
> with load. Also while inverters are stable their frequency is not as
> accurate as utility power. Clocks that use the ac frequency as the time
> standard will not work reliably when powered with off-grid power. Such
> should be disclosed in any contract to install an off-grid power system.
> 
> Kent Osterberg
> Blue Mountain Solar
> 
> 
> Kristopher Schmid wrote:
> > I have an off-grid client who tells me that his clocks lose about 1 minute
> > per hour while he is running his backup generator.  Has anyone seen this
> > before?  Do clocks use the zero crossing on a 60Hz wave for keeping time and
> > could a frequency discrepency in the generator cause this?
> >
> > My thanks to the brain trust...
> >
> > Kris
> >
> > Legacy Solar, LLC
> > 864 Clam Falls Trail
> > Frederic, WI 54837
> > 715-653-4295
> > sol...@legacysolar.com
> > www.legacysolar.com
> >
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Sent from Finest Planet WebMail.
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[William Miller]

Todd:

I guess your off-grid clients don't have commitments, but my clients 
sometimes have places to go and deadlines to meet.


Your point?

William Miller



At 07:46 PM 4/4/2011, toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote:

I wasn't going to say anything, but electric clocks off-grid? really???

Todd
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[Dan Fink]

It's not exactly a difficult problem to solve, as $9.95 Walmart 2xAA 
battery circular clocks with the hands things that turn in circles run 
for a year on a set, and LCD travel alarms for far longer. The popular 
ones now have a DC wall wart to power them and you just stick your iPod 
or iPhone in the cradle.


I can certainly relate to collecting fun antiques, but that's basically 
what clocks that tell time by your 60 hz grid cycles are. So much easier 
to drop your iPhone in the cradle, it'll sync with the internet time 
server, and you are all set.


Except new years morning last year. Oh, and the time change bug.

OK, I see your point!

DAN FINK
Buckville Energy Consulting



William Miller wrote:

Todd:

I guess your off-grid clients don't have commitments, but my clients 
sometimes have places to go and deadlines to meet.


Your point?

William Miller



At 07:46 PM 4/4/2011, toddc...@finestplanet.com wrote:

I wasn't going to say anything, but electric clocks off-grid? really???

Todd

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Re: [RE-wrenches] Slow clocks

[James Rudolph]

Here in American Samoa the electronic clocks always run fast, a few minutes
gained every other day due to high frequency issues (65+Hz) that plague the
Island. The local power authority keeps the diesel generators cranked.

Hope this help a little.
.

On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 10:51 AM, Kristopher Schmid
wrote:

> I have an off-grid client who tells me that his clocks lose about 1 minute
> per hour while he is running his backup generator.  Has anyone seen this
> before?  Do clocks use the zero crossing on a 60Hz wave for keeping time
> and
> could a frequency discrepency in the generator cause this?
>
> My thanks to the brain trust...
>
> Kris
>
> Legacy Solar, LLC
> 864 Clam Falls Trail
> Frederic, WI 54837
> 715-653-4295
> sol...@legacysolar.com
> www.legacysolar.com
>
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