Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-08-02 Thread bob
ick Soleil Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 2:16 AM To: RE-wrenches Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC One of our installers put a shovel through a length of romex underground today? Not even direct burial wire! Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 6

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-28 Thread Nick Soleil
From: Jeff Oldham To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Wed, July 28, 2010 1:31:16 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC IMHO one should never ever direct bury ANY class of wire, it can be a very expensive gamble making the cost of your conduit "insurance polic

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-28 Thread Jeff Oldham
IMHO one should never ever direct bury ANY class of wire, it can be a very expensive gamble making the cost of your conduit "insurance policy" an absolute bargain. This is one of the DIY'ers #1 mistake in UG wire runs. >From the Solar, Wind and Hydro powered office of Jeff Oldham/Regenerative

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-27 Thread Bob-O Schultze
Agreed with Dick on this one. First, if you are going the DB route, then you have to get it down at least 24" instead of 18". No problem some places, a HUGE problem others. Then there are the burrowing critters like ground squirrels which love to chew on anything. I have heard that there is som

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-27 Thread Richard L Ratico
The insulation on Al cable rated for direct burial is thick and tough. But, DON'T direct bury it. Carefully pull it into correctly installed PVC conduit. Use marker tape above the conduit, just below grade. If you're in an area that doesn't experience ground frost, MAYBE, VERY CAREFULLY, plant the

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-26 Thread Drake Chamberlin
Aluminum wire got its bad name during the era when it was use in 15 and 20 amp circuits, with #12 and #10 wire. That stuff is a nightmare. As an electrician that has cleaned up some of the messes, I can supply ample horror stories. #2 and larger sizes of AL work fine. It is important to use

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-26 Thread Jeff Oldham
I have used AL wire in DC circuits for 30 years and have never had a problem. If you carefully follow the protocols for working with AL you should have the same experience. As pointed out the cost difference can be staggering. I'm designing an o-t-g 3kW PV system now that has this array 1300' fr

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-26 Thread bob
.re-wrenches.org > [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf > Of Dana > Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 4:24 PM > To: 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC > > OG - Off Grid > > Thanks, Dana Orzel > > Great Solar Wor

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread R Ray Walters
n...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf > Of Dana > Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 4:24 PM > To: 'RE-wrenches' > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC > > OG - Off Grid > > Thanks, Dana Orzel > > Great Solar Works, Inc > E - d...@solarwork.com > V -

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread dan
check out NEC 110.14Dan BrownFoxfire Energy Corp.Renewable Energy Systems(802)-483-2564www.Foxfire-Energy.comNABCEP #092907-44 Original Message Subject: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC From: "Dana" <d...@solarwork.com> Date: Fri, July 23, 2010 6:54 pm To: &qu

[RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread Dana
ince 1988" -Original Message- From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dana Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 4:24 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC OG - Off Grid Thanks, Dana Orzel Grea

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread dan
on't think it maters much. dbDan BrownFoxfire Energy Corp.Renewable Energy Systems(802)-483-2564www.Foxfire-Energy.comNABCEP #092907-44 Original Message ---- Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC From: richard.l.rat...@valley.net (Richard L Ratico) Date: Fri, July 23, 2010 6:

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread Dana
enches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Richard L Ratico Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 4:18 PM To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC Dana, Thanks for the input. Excuse me please, "OG jobs" are? If the wire had be

Re: [RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread Richard L Ratico
Dana, Thanks for the input. Excuse me please, "OG jobs" are? If the wire had been copper and didn't melt, but instead continued to arc, would the resultant heat have eventually started a fire? What type of splice was it? Does no one else use Al for DC? Here in rocky Vermont/NH, we use the same

[RE-wrenches] AL wire with DC

2010-07-23 Thread Dana
The problem with Al is that, IF there is ever a loose connection, & associated arcing, that it melts not like copper in the same situation which may arc but not melt. I have come in on OG jobs where Al was employed and found J boxes that were [sometimes wet] and had loose connections and the splic