Re: [RE-wrenches] Static shock
HI All, Thanks for the insights and the confirmation. I've just never seen it before. jay peltz power On Jan 25, 2014, at 9:21 AM, Ray Walters wrote: > I've heard that the entire array can build a surface static charge, though I > don't recall getting zapped by the array. Seems like better grounding would > take care of that. I get popped touching ungrounded metal like my truck. It > can be very alarming, much more voltage than you might expect. > If the well has a steel casing, that makes an excellent grounding electrode. > Just tap a lug into the side of it, and bond to the array racking, and pole. > > R.Ray Walters > CTO, Solarray, Inc > Nabcep Certified PV Installer, > Licensed Master Electrician > Solar Design Engineer > 303 505-8760 > > On 1/25/2014 9:25 AM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote: >> Hello Jay, >> >> I'm in Yuma, Az where humidity is often under 5% and static discharge is a >> severe pain in the….finger. Curious person that I am, I once measured the >> distance of a static arc to estimate the voltage being generated from my >> lamb skin slippers sliding on carpet. My best guess is it was above 20kV. >> >> So, he may be experiencing quite a static shock but his mind is relating it >> to the PV solar gear. A simple test is to hold onto the wire after the >> initial discharge. If the shock stops, it was static discharge. >> >> Thank you, >> >> Larry Crutcher >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 24, 2014, at 6:56 PM, jay peltz wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> Here is a new question. >> I believe it's static electricity. >> >> System: standalone 2 x 44voc 165 watt modules in parallel >> Powering a pump sq flex( yea installer didn't do it right) dry ground. >> No batteries or any other power in the area, no LCB or other electronics. >> Pole mount, dpw in concrete with galvy pole >> Wires are not attached to pole/ rack in any way >> It's been very low humidity 5-10%, with 10-20 mph wind >> No rain totally dry >> >> Here is what happened. >> Person with one hand touched pole and and other hand touched the USE-2 >> insulated wire from the modules, got way shocked. Checked the wire no cracks >> etc and again 44voc max >> >> Happened a second time, but this time his sleeve brushed the pole while he >> was moving the wires, again shocked. >> >> Again, I think it's static as I have no other explanation. This kind of >> weather is unknown where I live. I now live in a true desert vs a rain >> forest and never moved. >> >> Thoughts? >> >> Thanks >> >> Jay >> >> Peltz power >> >> >> ___ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change email address & 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 > > Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Static shock
I've heard that the entire array can build a surface static charge, though I don't recall getting zapped by the array. Seems like better grounding would take care of that. I get popped touching ungrounded metal like my truck. It can be very alarming, much more voltage than you might expect. If the well has a steel casing, that makes an excellent grounding electrode. Just tap a lug into the side of it, and bond to the array racking, and pole. R.Ray Walters CTO, Solarray, Inc Nabcep Certified PV Installer, Licensed Master Electrician Solar Design Engineer 303 505-8760 On 1/25/2014 9:25 AM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote: Hello Jay, I'm in Yuma, Az where humidity is often under 5% and static discharge is a severe pain in the….finger. Curious person that I am, I once measured the distance of a static arc to estimate the voltage being generated from my lamb skin slippers sliding on carpet. My best guess is it was above 20kV. So, he may be experiencing quite a static shock but his mind is relating it to the PV solar gear. A simple test is to hold onto the wire after the initial discharge. If the shock stops, it was static discharge. Thank you, Larry Crutcher On Jan 24, 2014, at 6:56 PM, jay peltz wrote: Hi all, Here is a new question. I believe it's static electricity. System: standalone 2 x 44voc 165 watt modules in parallel Powering a pump sq flex( yea installer didn't do it right) dry ground. No batteries or any other power in the area, no LCB or other electronics. Pole mount, dpw in concrete with galvy pole Wires are not attached to pole/ rack in any way It's been very low humidity 5-10%, with 10-20 mph wind No rain totally dry Here is what happened. Person with one hand touched pole and and other hand touched the USE-2 insulated wire from the modules, got way shocked. Checked the wire no cracks etc and again 44voc max Happened a second time, but this time his sleeve brushed the pole while he was moving the wires, again shocked. Again, I think it's static as I have no other explanation. This kind of weather is unknown where I live. I now live in a true desert vs a rain forest and never moved. Thoughts? Thanks Jay Peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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 Change email address & 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Static shock
Hello Jay, I'm in Yuma, Az where humidity is often under 5% and static discharge is a severe pain in the….finger. Curious person that I am, I once measured the distance of a static arc to estimate the voltage being generated from my lamb skin slippers sliding on carpet. My best guess is it was above 20kV. So, he may be experiencing quite a static shock but his mind is relating it to the PV solar gear. A simple test is to hold onto the wire after the initial discharge. If the shock stops, it was static discharge. Thank you, Larry Crutcher On Jan 24, 2014, at 6:56 PM, jay peltz wrote: Hi all, Here is a new question. I believe it's static electricity. System: standalone 2 x 44voc 165 watt modules in parallel Powering a pump sq flex( yea installer didn't do it right) dry ground. No batteries or any other power in the area, no LCB or other electronics. Pole mount, dpw in concrete with galvy pole Wires are not attached to pole/ rack in any way It's been very low humidity 5-10%, with 10-20 mph wind No rain totally dry Here is what happened. Person with one hand touched pole and and other hand touched the USE-2 insulated wire from the modules, got way shocked. Checked the wire no cracks etc and again 44voc max Happened a second time, but this time his sleeve brushed the pole while he was moving the wires, again shocked. Again, I think it's static as I have no other explanation. This kind of weather is unknown where I live. I now live in a true desert vs a rain forest and never moved. Thoughts? Thanks Jay Peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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
Re: [RE-wrenches] Static shock
Just wondering, does it happen at night ? Also, is the array grounded? Dry ground is a tough one and concrete is an insulator. Bob Ellison -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of jay peltz Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 8:57 PM To: RE-wrenches Subject: [RE-wrenches] Static shock Hi all, Here is a new question. I believe it's static electricity. System: standalone 2 x 44voc 165 watt modules in parallel Powering a pump sq flex( yea installer didn't do it right) dry ground. No batteries or any other power in the area, no LCB or other electronics. Pole mount, dpw in concrete with galvy pole Wires are not attached to pole/ rack in any way It's been very low humidity 5-10%, with 10-20 mph wind No rain totally dry Here is what happened. Person with one hand touched pole and and other hand touched the USE-2 insulated wire from the modules, got way shocked. Checked the wire no cracks etc and again 44voc max Happened a second time, but this time his sleeve brushed the pole while he was moving the wires, again shocked. Again, I think it's static as I have no other explanation. This kind of weather is unknown where I live. I now live in a true desert vs a rain forest and never moved. Thoughts? Thanks Jay Peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3681/7029 - Release Date: 01/23/14 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3681/7029 - Release Date: 01/23/14 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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
[RE-wrenches] Static shock
Hi all, Here is a new question. I believe it's static electricity. System: standalone 2 x 44voc 165 watt modules in parallel Powering a pump sq flex( yea installer didn't do it right) dry ground. No batteries or any other power in the area, no LCB or other electronics. Pole mount, dpw in concrete with galvy pole Wires are not attached to pole/ rack in any way It's been very low humidity 5-10%, with 10-20 mph wind No rain totally dry Here is what happened. Person with one hand touched pole and and other hand touched the USE-2 insulated wire from the modules, got way shocked. Checked the wire no cracks etc and again 44voc max Happened a second time, but this time his sleeve brushed the pole while he was moving the wires, again shocked. Again, I think it's static as I have no other explanation. This kind of weather is unknown where I live. I now live in a true desert vs a rain forest and never moved. Thoughts? Thanks Jay Peltz power ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change email address & 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
