Ground Mount Wire Protection

[inetdog]

Any idea what sized of the stainless steel wire mesh they are using over the solar panels?

Is it something like this - I am afraid a 4x4 mesh will not let enough light to get through....

I was looking into installing myself - anyone do that?

Fortunately wire is not going to cast a large enough shadow to fully block any one cell, so the problem to watch out for is just the proportional area unshaded versus total area.
I doubt that 4" mesh is going to be worse than about 95% open. Putting transparent shatterproof plastic would cost a lot more and might only transmit 90% or less of the incoming light.

Both methods will have worse shading as the sun comes in at a more and more oblique angle to the panels. But those will not be high production times in the first place.

I could not see anywhere that discussed putting wire mesh over the front of the panels anyway.

If cattle are a problem, nothing attached to the panels themselves is going to do any good (unless electrified), so plan on a sturdy fence far enough from the edges of the array.

[Florentine]

Any idea what sized of the stainless steel wire mesh they are using over the solar panels?

Is it something like this - I am afraid a 4x4 mesh will not let enough light to get through....

I was looking into installing myself - anyone do that?

[J.P.M.]

What is the difference between a dead dog in the road, and a dead lawyer in the road?


There are skid marks ahead of the dog.

I heard that one as a rat, not a dog.

[Naptown]

What do you call a cruise ship full of lawyers sinking with all hands lost.








A good start.

Married to one and both siblings are lawyers
I have heard pretty much all of them

[bcroe]

What is the difference between a dead dog in the road, and a dead lawyer in the road?


There are skid marks ahead of the dog.

[Sunking]

What do you call a Drummer in a tie and suit?





The Defendant.

[inetdog]

You picking on me LOL
Wife is lawyer and son is a drummer
( actually recreational drummer full time wooden boat builder.

Since we seem to be in an OT digression,

"Q: What do you call someone who likes to hang out with musicians all the time?
A: A drummer."

Mouse over to see the answer.

"It's 95% of the lawyers who give all the rest a bad name. "

[Naptown]

Wait till the cows and horses get lawyers. What do you call a Cruise Ship full of Lawyers at the bottom of the Sea

A good start.

At least Lawyers get more respect than a Drummer.

What do you call a drummer in a three-piece suit?

The Defendant

You picking on me LOL
Wife is lawyer and son is a drummer
( actually recreational drummer full time wooden boat builder.

[SunEagle]

Hi All,

Just as a heads up, Thom from Spiffy actually does pay for advertising on our sister site www.solar-estimate.org so dont all jump on him for trying to get free advertising, as he does actually contribute financially, cheers all.

solar pete

Thanks for letting us know. I gave Spiffy a little heads up on another post indicating he needed to talk to you before he advertised. Nice to see it is all good.

[solar pete]

This plastic mesh is a bit more substantial than deer barrier.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7160[/ATTACH]

It came from here: www.solarscrim.com

Hi All,

Just as a heads up, Thom from Spiffy actually does pay for advertising on our sister site www.solar-estimate.org so dont all jump on him for trying to get free advertising, as he does actually contribute financially, cheers all.

[Spiffy Solar]

Is deer barrier enough?

Hi Panelmal,

Do you have any images of your plastic mesh install that you could share? I would like to see what that looks like.

Thanks.

This plastic mesh is a bit more substantial than deer barrier.

Under-Panel-Scrim.png

It came from here: www.solarscrim.com

[SunEagle]

The new "smart" panels and power optimizers will still comply with the rapid shutdown requirements.

Yes they should comply. But there is still a lot of pv systems out there using standard grid tie panels and string inverters that will not drop the voltage output low enough within 10 feet of the array as long as the sun is shining.

Manufacturers are scrambling to change their hardware to meet the 2014 NEC but most states haven't adopted the 2014 code yet and it could take years to do so.

[emartin00]

My guess is this will be all mute once the 2014 NEC requirements concerning immediate shutdown withing 10 feet of the array becomes the only type of installation. Hopefully that will make it safer for both the First responders to a fire or someone accidentally adjusting the wiring at the array.

The new "smart" panels and power optimizers will still comply with the rapid shutdown requirements.

[SunEagle]

To the contrary, well versed. Try BSEE. ( Electrical Engineer ).

Stringing panels together is the biggest risk with HVDC, and using micros, for the most part, eliminates the risk of HV DC exposure ( safety- low voltage can't jump ) since the panels are not in a string.

Research the effects of DC voltage and muscle reaction. Totally different than AC. 600VDC will kill easily, without prejudice.

If someone was to rip a wire from the back of a panel of a string, that conductor can have full system potential.

If the system is outfitted with micro's the most it can have is really 48V, but more likely to be be zero since the invertor would already have shutdown.

It's a risk assessment- avoid what can be avoided. Can't avoid 240VAC+ on a system, but the HVDC can be avoided easily.

I as well have a BSEE and about 40 years experience in industrial plants so IMO we could both seemed to be well versed in the subject matter.

As for which type of voltage has more deadly potential is a matter of opinion. I have seen a few ARC flash incidents at 480volts and too many "accidents" concerning low voltage 120VAC that does not make me feel that AC is safer than 600VDC. But your opinion may also be a result of hands on experience.

It still comes down to how the "electrician" is performing their work and what PPE they are wearing to mitigate any shock or flash incident.

Micros inverters have some additional features that make it easier to wire a pv array but also create many more potential failure points. Having a lower voltage (AC or DC) only means to me that it requires bigger and more expensive wiring to reduce voltage drop.

My guess is this will be all mute once the 2014 NEC requirements concerning immediate shutdown withing 10 feet of the array becomes the only type of installation. Hopefully that will make it safer for both the First responders to a fire or someone accidentally adjusting the wiring at the array.

[NVEnergyLLC]

Safety first

Sorry. That statement indicates to my you have no actual experience or knowledge concerning electricity AC or DC.

All electrical power above 50 volts (AC or DC) can be lethal and have caused deaths from electrocution.

The biggest reason experienced electricians have died from electrical shock is because they have become complacent while they are working with something the "understand" but forget how it can reach out and kill.

To the contrary, well versed. Try BSEE. ( Electrical Engineer ).

Stringing panels together is the biggest risk with HVDC, and using micros, for the most part, eliminates the risk of HV DC exposure ( safety- low voltage can't jump ) since the panels are not in a string.

Research the effects of DC voltage and muscle reaction. Totally different than AC. 600VDC will kill easily, without prejudice.

If someone was to rip a wire from the back of a panel of a string, that conductor can have full system potential.

If the system is outfitted with micro's the most it can have is really 48V, but more likely to be be zero since the invertor would already have shutdown.

It's a risk assessment- avoid what can be avoided. Can't avoid 240VAC+ on a system, but the HVDC can be avoided easily.