Properly sized equipment grounding conductors (EGCs) ensure that fault currents are safely carried back to the source, minimizing the risk of equipment damage and electrical hazards. Getting the sizing right is crucial for reliable system performance and overall safety and understanding the factors that influence conductor selection can make a significant difference in both design […]
In the 2023 National Electrical Code updates, code now defines Energy Management Systems (EMS) and emphasizes a system’s role in controlling both loads and power generation sources to ensure busbars are operating safely. The revised 705.13, in conjunction with 750.30, provides an opportunity for a more streamlined and efficient system design. Whether you’re aimed at […]
My first ‘actual’ rodeo was in 1984, the same year Article 690, PV Systems, first appeared in the National Electrical Code (NEC). The 2026 version of the NEC marks my first official involvement in the code-making process. In 2023, I was named an alternate to Justine Sanchez on Code Making Panel (CMP) 13. This panel […]
In this installment of our Code Corner series, Ryan Mayfield focuses on the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) changes concerning cable trays, particularly section 690.31 (C). Historically, the NEC has allowed cable trays, but has lacked specific guidelines for sizing conductors and using smaller conductors like PV wire and DG cable on rooftops. The 2023 […]
Infrared thermography, while not new to NFPA 70B, now has detailed guidelines for its use in assessing PV systems. Chapter 30 of the 2023 update explicitly extends the use of this maintenance and assessment tool to photovoltaic (PV) systems — whether you’re evaluating electrical terminations, grounding and bonding, PV strings, modules, or module interconnections. New […]
In this installment of our Code Corner series, Ryan Mayfield takes up the scope, special requirements, and engineering design for large-scale PV systems not owned and operated by utilities (i.e., 2023 NEC Article 691). Section 691.4 enumerates key compliance details – access, markings, voltage ranges, monitoring – for PV systems with a minimum of 5 […]
When determining a safe and compliant location for overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs) in supply-side connections, the National Electrical Code has made some important clarifications from the 2020 to 2023 edition. Ryan Mayfield covers this code evolution in our latest episode of Code Corner. NEC 2020 705.11(C) explicitly capped the length of a conductor from the […]
In this episode of Code Corner, our founder Ryan Mayfield spells out 2023 NEC wiring methods and dc equipment location rules for systems over 1000 Vdc. Let’s take the relevant sections of Article 690 one at a time. What does NEC 690.7 say? 690.7 Maximum Voltage. The maximum voltage of PV system dc circuits shall […]
Here’s a scenario that will ring a note of familiarity for many solar and energy storage contractors. You have been dutifully following the provisions in the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) Section 705.11 that specify conductor lengths between the system disconnect and the point of interconnection. One of the jurisdictions where you work has adopted […]
This particular Code Corner is all about NEC 705.12(B)(3), which adjudicates best practices for any power system’s busbar interconnections and breakers. For the sake of illustration, we focus in this article on bus or conductor ratings as they pertain specifically to solar PV or PV-plus-storage systems. What does NEC 705.12(B)(3) say? The 2020 National Electrical […]
Ready to move your project forward? Contact our engineering team today.
