Rooftop Solar (and RFI?)

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

It’s a NEC requirement that all PV systems have rapid shutdown logic.  If the utility power goes down, they don’t want PV panels back feeding the grid.

[Tom Mahon]

I kno2w that this is about RF, but the comment about shutting down power from the grid raises another issue. When this was hot 5/6 years ago, I was talking to the fire chief in Merrimack. He was telling me that, at that time, they could not send anyone into a house to respond until the utility came out and cut off the power to the street. He also said there were issues with access to the roof and many towns were altering their building codes to require a margin around the perimeter of the roof so that personnel could get on the roof to deal with the situation. I’ve been out of that loop for 4 years, so I have no idea if the codes/utility procedures have changed. Just something else to be aware of. Another issue was the local property tax deduction. The law permitted towns and cities to grant exemptions, but not required. The vendors did not train their sales forces on the distinction. If the circumstances have changes, just ignore this.

Tom Mahon
AB1NS

[Jay Francis]

Hi Tom

One salesperson did comment about an 18” clearance requirement at the peak for fire access – I think that rule is fairly new.  I live in Merrimack – sounds like I should drop in and talk with the fire dept. to get their current take on solar.

Thanks!

Jay

[Jay Francis]

Ryan:  Do you operate HF?

(I asked inside an earlier reply – probably not the best way to ask…)

–Jay

 

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Hello Jay,

I’m actively working on my shack, so I can’t definitively say (yet) if my micros are producing any noise.

 

Ryan

[Jay Francis]

Hi Ryan – Ok, fair enough.  Good luck with the shack work!

–Jay

 

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